[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 157 (Friday, September 27, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1226-E1227]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         IN RECOGNITION OF THE EXEMPLARY SERVICE OF ELE'S PLACE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DEBBIE DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 27, 2019

  Mrs. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Ele's Place 
for its tremendous service to the children of Michigan and celebrate 
the grand opening of its new Ann Arbor center.
  In 1991, Ele's Place was founded in the basement of a church by a 
group of grieving parents, healthcare professionals, and other 
volunteers to support children experiencing the death of a loved one. 
Realizing children and teenagers process grief in entirely different 
ways than adults, the organization knew it needed to find a way to 
properly help youth cope with their feelings of sadness, anger, and 
loss. Through a great deal of research, the organization determined 
that peer support programs offered the best way for children to work 
through their grief and began extending these services to children and 
their families multiple times a week.
  Since its humble beginnings, Ele's Place has significantly expanded. 
With the addition of its new Ann Arbor space, Ele's Place today

[[Page E1227]]

offers peer support services at four centers in Michigan, aiding dozens 
of communities across the state. Decades after its establishment, Ele's 
Place still works tirelessly to find new ways to support children 
experiencing loss and is fully dedicated to reaching its mission of 
ensuring no child in Michigan ever has to grieve alone. The efforts of 
Ele's Place are critical and have a real impact on our community, as 
its services help hundreds of children and teens each week.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Ele's Place 
for its commitment to grieving children throughout Michigan and 
congratulate the organization on the opening of its new home in Ann 
Arbor. We are grateful for its impact on the children of our community 
and wish it continued success ahead.

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