Whether you're a family seeking help or a professional making a referral, we’re here to walk alongside you, because no child should grieve alone.
Grief touches everyone, and while we can’t fix someone’s pain, we can walk beside them with empathy, patience, and understanding. This toolkit offers guidance for friends, educators, coworkers, and community members who want to support a grieving person with care and compassion.
For Families: Self-Referral
Has Your Family Lost an Immediate Family Member?
If your child has experienced the loss of a parent, caregiver, or sibling, Valerie’s House is here to help.
How We Support Families
We offer a range of services to meet families where they are—emotionally, developmentally, and personally.
Personalized Family Assessment
After an online inquiry and call with Valerie’s House staff, we may schedule a Personalized Family Assessment to better understand the family’s needs and determine how we can best support them. Whether it’s peer support groups, individual grief therapy, or community resources, we’ll help guide families toward the right services.
Peer Support Groups
Our peer support groups provide a safe space for children (ages 5-18) and their caregivers to connect and share alongside others who have experienced loss. These groups are best suited for children and adults who feel comfortable in a group setting, can give and receive input, and can read social cues. We also offer a Young Adult Group (19-27) – A supportive space for young adults navigating grief, and a Perinatal Loss Group – for families who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss.
Individual Grief Therapy
Some families may benefit from one-on-one counseling with our Valerie’s House Grief Counselors or a trusted therapist in the community.
Val’s Pals Mentor Program
For children and teens who might benefit from additional one-on-one support, we offer Val’s Pals, pairing them with a trusted mentor—a caring adult who provides guidance, companionship, and a little fun.
Workshops & Special Events
Throughout the year, we host workshops, activities, and celebrations, giving families a chance to learn, heal, and create meaningful moments together.
School Peer Support Groups
We bring grief support directly to schools in our local community, helping children cope with loss in a familiar setting. These groups can be arranged through the child’s school counselor or social worker.
Community Referrals & Resources
If we feel that services outside of Valerie’s House will better serve the family’s needs, we’ll help connect them with counselors, agencies, or other resources that can provide specialized care.
For Professionals: Refer a Child
Therapists, Agencies, and Social Service Providers
If you work with a grieving child or teen, we invite you to refer them to our support programs. All information is kept confidential.
For Southwest Florida referrals, contact:
Keri Tutterrow
M.A., Family Care Manager
keri@valerieshouse.org | (941) 370-3481
For Northwest Florida referrals, contact:
Jennifer Elzweig
jennifer.elzweig@valerieshouse.org
pensacola@valerieshouse.org | (850) 582-8255
For School Personnel
If you’re a teacher, counselor, or school staff member, visit our dedicated School Support page for information on how to bring Valerie’s House support groups to your school.
Have Questions?
We understand that navigating grief can be overwhelming. If you’re looking for more information about our programs, services, or how to get involved, please visit our FAQ page. It’s a helpful resource for families, supporters, and volunteers to learn more about how Valerie’s House supports grieving children and their families.
How You Can Get Involved
Contribute
Your financial gift will help Valerie’s House serve children and families. Donate and support our mission. Thank you.
Care
Join us. Volunteer your time and talents to Valerie’s House. Fill out the contact form today.
Connect
Like and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Help spread the word, follow our progress, and share with family and friends. We also produce a podcast called Grieve Love Heal, which you can follow and subscribe to on your favorite podcast apps.
