Tag: children's bereavement center

Dealing with the death of a loved one can be a cold time.

Fortunately, there’s an organization in Fort Worth that helps, appropriately named The Warm Place. It’s an acronym for What About Remembering Me Center, Inc.

The nonprofit is a place where youths ages 3 1/2 to 18 and their families, as well as young adults 19 to 25 who have experienced the death of a mother, father, sister, brother, or other loved one can receive year-round support. They attend peer support groups in a nurturing environment where they can express their feelings and see that they’re not alone.

In 1984, after the death of her 14-year-old son Michael from bone cancer, Peggy Bohme recognized that her 9-year-old daughter, Meghan, also needed a place to express her grief and feel understood. Alongside pediatrician Dr. John Richardson, Bohme co-founded Texas’ first children’s grief support center.

Since opening in late August 1989, The Warm Place has served more than 52,000 people, and has 527 youngsters enrolled.

“Dr. Richardson and I shared the experience of seeing firsthand the need for the children in our community to have a safe place to talk about their feelings after a death loss, to know they are not alone and find hope,” said Bohme. “The Warm Place has been that for thousands of children and families and I’m so proud of how much we have grown and continue to meet the needs of our community. Children grieve, but they should never have to grieve alone.”

Bohme serves on The Warm Place Board of Directors as an ex-officio and is actively involved in the organization. She retired from serving as the executive director of the organization in 2010.

The Warm Place lays claim to being the first children’s grief support center in Texas and the seventh in the nation.

“Our program from day one has been based on peer support, where children meet with other children the same age that have experienced a similar death loss,” said Katy Roussey, Warm Place spokesperson.

All of their peer support groups are led by trained volunteers who facilitate activities, crafts, and grief-related discussions. Each night, a team of licensed mental health professionals oversee programming at The Warm Place.

Group meetings take place in the evenings Monday through Thursday year-round. “Our groups are divided by the relationship the child had with the person who died so children can connect with peers who have experienced a similar death loss,” Roussey explained. “While children are meeting in their group, parents and caregivers are given the opportunity to meet and connect in a peer group setting as well.”

“Being at The Warm Place smooths the sharp edges of our grief. Here, you can cry. You can speak their name,” current WARM Place parent Angela Horn said. “You can be surrounded by people who understand. No one walks the same path – but no one has to walk it alone.”

Horn has been coming to The Warm Place with her daughter Ramey and son Declan since September 2024 after the death of Justin Horn, husband and father.

“I was desperate to connect with people who knew what living with grief is — people I didn’t have to tiptoe around,” said young adult participant Salma Paredes. “It was liberating. I didn’t have to soften my words for the sake of others. We could all relate, offer real advice, and be fully ourselves.”

The Warm Place is funded through the donations. It also receives help from grants, though it does not receive any state or federal funding.

It also host three major fundraising events each year, one of which is the Race 2 Remember Them on Saturday, March 7.

The race begins at Acme Brick Co., 3024 Acme Brick Plaza, along the Trinity River. It will consist of a timed 5K and a 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk.

The day will will begin at 8:30 a.m. with warmup and a Remembrance Ceremony. The 5K race will start at 9 a.m., with the Fun Run getting underway at 9:05.

The R2RT, also known as the John M. Blackwell Memorial Race, was created by WARM Place alumnae Katherine and Parks Blackwell, in memory of Parks’ father. “What started as a small event for families attending The WARM Place has now transitioned into a community-wide memorial event bringing nearly 1,000 participants together to race and remember their loved ones,” Roussey said.

This year’s race will feature a special Remembrance Ceremony led by members of a Warm Place family. Alison Cutshall, along with her children, Holden and Harper, will share their story and connection to The Warm Place.

The Cutshall’s began attending peer support groups at The Warm Place following the death of Holden and Harper’s father, Lance, in 2023.

All participants are encouraged to bring a photo of a loved one to place in a memory holder, which they may wear during the race.

Anyone interested in participating can register up to the morning of the race on site.

Other fundraisers include:

• Sixth Annual WARM Place Classic golf tournament at Squaw Creek Golf Course, April 24, 9:30 a.m. check-in, 10:30 a.m. shotgun start.
• A Cool Night, Painting Hope, Saturday, Oct. 17, 5:30 p.m., Amon G. Carter Stadium. Guests will enjoy thoughtfully curated cuisine, engaging music, exciting auctions, and moments designed to spark connection and celebration.

Looking ahead, Roussey said they are always brainstorming new ideas to generate support for the mission. Currently, they are hosting a lunch-and-learn series throughout the year inviting folks to learn more about The WARM Place, come tour our facility, and find out how they can get involved through volunteer and donor opportunities.

For more information, or to register for any events, visit the warmplace.org.