July Newsletter
In This Issue
Interested in Volunteering?

We are always looking for more volunteers! Current volunteer opportunities include: Support Group Leaders, Camp Erin-LA , Special Events, and Administrative Assistance.

Camp Erin-LA Volunteer Testimonial: 
Good Grief

"I plan on staying actively involved with Camp Erin-LA, and I encourage others who are considering volunteering to act on those impulses. I contemplated volunteering at Camp Erin-LA for 3 years before I finally signed up, and I'm now beating myself up for not doing it sooner." 

To read more click  here.
Sponsor a Grieving Child's Summer Camp Experience 


Camp Erin-LA is a special opportunity for grieving children to spend the weekend connecting with other kids who are going through similar experiences, while learning coping strategies to help them through their grief.

Your contribution will help OUR HOUSE provide the best summer camp experience for children who may not otherwise be able attend.
Grief Support Group Testimonials

"I don't know where I'd be without OUR HOUSE. I know without a doubt that the tools and perspective I gained through the program made me a better, healthier person. When the worst thing in the world happens to you, you want a place like OUR HOUSE to be there, ready to catch you when you fall and also celebrate the positive along the way. OUR HOUSE is a blessing and I will continue to recommend it to anyone in need or desire of support through grief."
- Denise, 43
" After losing both my mother and father very close together, I felt I was very alone with my grief and I was overwhelmed. I am very thankful to have found OUR HOUSE. It is an experience like none other. It helped me tremendously and I formed relationships with others going through the same thing. I was able to process and talk about my experience and I felt understood, finally. As I felt so misunderstood with all people in my everyday life. I am forever grateful for this service and the wonderful people who operate it. "
- Jacob, 39
OUR HOUSE 
BOOK CLUB

Saying Goodbye to Someone You Love, written by OUR HOUSE's Clinical Director of Adult Programs and Education, Fredda Wasserman, provides insight on navigating through grief.


To read the full description and purchase this insightful read, please click here
In Memoriam

OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center honors the memory of our treasured volunteer group leader, Charles. He is remembered fondly for his generous and caring spirit.

Mark Your Calendar
  • CEU Training
    • July 27-29
  • Camp Erin-LA 
    • Aug. 19-21 
  • Night for Hope
    • Nov. 16

Survivor's Guilt

For weeks and months after the death of her sister, Janie heard from friends, coworkers, and even family members, "Thank God it wasn't you too!" For Janie, there were moments when she felt the same. On the surface, Janie is thriving and appears grateful to be alive, and in many respects she is. She has a loving family, children and a job she is passionate about that keep her occupied and keep the memories of that tragic day at bay.  
 
But when Janie is alone, the intensity of those memories and details of that fateful day replay in her mind. She can't help but continue to wonder "why did I survive when my sister died?" Janie was physically unharmed from the fatal car crash, but it is the unanswerable questions, the guilt and the grief that have left scars on her heart. To read more click here.
When Someone Dies: A Child-Caregiver Activity Book


OUR HOUSE's Clinical Director of Child and Adolescent Programs, Lauren Schneider, is a select contributor in When Someone Dies: A Child-Caregiver Activity Book. The workbook was introduced at this summer's 20th Annual National Alliance for Grieving Children's Symposium on Children's Grief (NAGC).

We have a limited number of copies available for you in our centers to use at home with your families. We look forward to hearing your feedback on how this book helped spark conversation and better understanding in your home. 
Continuing Education Training
Grief Specialist Training For Professionals

Only a Few Days Left to Register!
 
July 27, 28, and 29 (Wed-Fri) -- 8:45am-5pm
West Los Angeles

This 3-day intensive training provides in-depth education including interventions and experiential practice for those who wish to become Grief Specialists for children and adults. 21 CEUs  provided.   
OUR HOUSE is Expanding

OUR HOUSE is excited to announce we are expanding our work space in our West Los Angeles center. In addition to adding two new group rooms, there are 7 new work spaces and a new reception area. We are excited to increase our service to the community by offering more support groups in our new space. 

We are also forming wait lists for Adult, Child and Adolescent groups in English and Spanish at our 3rd location in Mid-City/Koreatown, located at the Karsh Family Social Service Center. Call OUR HOUSE to learn more: 888.417.1444.
Meet OUR HOUSE's New Staff
Christine Sefein, MA, LMFT
Associate Clinical Director of Adult Programs 

Since completing her M.A. in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University, Christine has worked extensively with adults, children, and families impacted by trauma and grief. Christine has also served as a Clinical Supervisor working with clients and managing staff at homeless and substance abuse dual-diagnosis residential facilities. As Associate Director of Adult Programs, Christine trains and supervises Clinical Coordinators and trains therapists, educators, and medical & mental health professionals. Christine maintains a private practice in West Los Angeles. 

Joanne Weingarten, PsyD
Clinical Coordinator of 
Adult Programs 

OUR HOUSE welcomes Joanne Weingarten, Psy.D., as a Clinical Coordinator in the Adult Program. Joanne was introduced to us by a former volunteer group leader and Associate Board member. She brings ten years of clinical psychology experience, most recently with ENKI, an agency contracted with the Dept. of Mental Health. She is excited about our growing satellite expansion.

Timothy Johnson
Bookkeeper

Timothy Johnson is a local. Born and raised in Los Angeles, he graduated from Cleveland High School in Reseda. Football scholarships led him to Michigan and Idaho. Work in the hotel management business lead to production accounting and OUR HOUSE is a beneficiary of his current freelance bookkeeping expertise in the non-profit, property management and independent entertainment sectors.


Lee Slaughter
Administrative Assistant

Lee Slaughter is a graduate of Lake Forest College in Illinois, pursuing a double major in English and International Relations. Lee also studied internationally in China, attending lectures at Beijing University. Upon his return home to New York, Lee worked for a financial corporation. After ten years with the company, he decided to pursue opportunities in non-profit childhood advocacy and relocated to Los Angeles.