GROWING Through Grief:
A Breakthrough Year
Family Grief Support Center
Annual Report 2014
GROWING Through Grief: A Breakthrough Year
A Message from the President “No matter how deep the despair of unresolved
grief, there’s a breakthrough moment that
people experience with the right support.”
It’s the moment they stop avoiding the pain
and step towards grieving as a process. It’s
the moment they realize that life changing
loss does not have to be the end of the story.
With these breakthrough moments, the pain
can begin to subside and lives can transform
while in a safe place that teaches healthy
grieving.
“We realized goals
in 2014, that we
planned back
in 2007 when we
first started.”
“At Roberta’s House, we have established a
safe place to grow from grief to hope.” Our
team of trained volunteers, licensed social
workers, and professional staff are working
to rebuild lives, and help create breakthrough moments. We are reaching adults,
children and families in urban communities
who grieve in silence. Through our support
services children and youth are learning to
put words to their pain. We are addressing
the grief crisis in Baltimore as a mental health
issue, and therefore are building stronger,
and safer communities.
“Last year, 2014, was a year of breakthrough for Roberta’s House.” We reached
more than 2000 grieving victims who’ve
experienced unimaginable loss. Partnerships
were formulated that contributed to the
expansion of critically needed services in the
Annette March-Grier, CNN Hero 2014 underserved neighborhoods of Baltimore.
Through our partnership with B’More for
Healthy Babies, we launched The H.O.P.E.
Project, a support group program for mothers
who experienced prenatal or infant loss. In
Prince George’s County Maryland, we are
well under way with programs to meet the
high demands for grief support. Through
our newly formed Death Notification and
Survivor’s Advocacy Program (in conjunction
with the Baltimore Mayor’s Office, and the
Baltimore Police Department) families who’ve
lost someone special to homicide will receive
support from one of our trained advocates to
assist with death notification. “More than 70
homicide cases were opened through this
program and 10 advocates trained.”
Breakthrough growth in staff was realized.
We now have three new full-time positions
including that of Veronica Land-Davis, a
former volunteer who has taken on the role
of our first Executive Director. Our Volunteer
support services have expanded to reach
grieving students in the school systems; Our
grief camp for children (Camp Erin Baltimore)
is in high demand. The rise in new volunteer
supporters trained are a main stay.
“It’s been a break-through year. “ We are
in preparation for the launch of a capital
campaign to build a new state of the art
facility for Roberta’s House. Together, we’re
building a stronger future for people to grow
through grief; where hope can be regained,
and lives are made whole.
Annette March-Grier,
President
Roberta’s House
Vision
Mission
Families who experience loss
are able to transform their
despair to hope, become
healthy, and ultimately
create safer communities.
We believe all children and families suffering the
loss or death of someone special should have
support, and a safe place to heal and recover.
Roberta’s House addresses grief as a public
health preventive service.
1 | Growing Through Grief: A Breakthrough Year
“Roberta’s House
Helped Me Grow
Through My Grief.”
A Journey Through Grief
with Nakita
Donna J. Rice, Program Manager, with Camp Erin participant
What We Do:
One in seven children in the United States
will experience the death of someone special
before age 20, but few are prepared to deal
with the grief that follows.
Through Roberta’s House, a Baltimore based family grief support center,
founded in 2007, children and families in underserved communities
who’ve experienced a loss, learn healthy coping skills. Our free programs
are made available to entire communities. We are healing the bereaved
through our peer support services. We offer summer camps, survivor’s
home visitation, volunteer trainings, support services to school systems,
professional seminars, workshops and bereavement ministry support. Our
core value is HOPE: Honoring the memory of those who have died by
Offering opportunities to learn Positive and Empowering grief experiences.
Achieving Our Vision and Mission
4Increasing public awareness and addressing the need
of supporting children and families who are grieving
a natural or traumatic death of a family member or
significant person.
4Providing a confidential setting to facilitate the
emotional, physical and spiritual healing for grieving
children and families where grief can be expressed
and experienced safely.
4 The sharing and freedom of expression through peer
support and professional services that will encourage
healthy coping skills.
For many who find their way to
Roberta’s House, the loss that caused
them to seek support is one among
multiple losses, conflicts, and daunting
life challenges. Learning how to
process grief in a healthy way not
only brings healing and hope, it helps
people grow and make progress in
other areas of life. In 2014, it was a
privilege to be with Nakita as she
experienced break-through, to grow
from grief to hope.
Nakita’s Story
Part One:
“In September 2011, my life was full
of hope and new beginnings. I was
starting my junior year in college,
moving into my first apartment, and
planning a birthday party for one
of my younger brothers. The party, I
hoped, would help my mother and
I reconnect after not speaking for
several months,
that never
“I had to
happened. The
find the
night before the
right words party my mother
was shot in a
to tell my
brothers why parking lot near
Baltimore. She
our mother died a short time
wasn’t
later.
coming
home.”
Instead of giving
a birthday party,
we had a funeral.
Finding the right words to tell my
brothers why our mother wasn’t
coming home was hard. I was numb,
a part of me didn’t believe it was all
real. A part of me hoped she would still
come through the front door.”
Continued...
Continued on page X
Roberta’s House Annual Report 2014 | 2
2014 Programs: Measurable Impact
Support for Families and Adults (275)
Children and guardians joined our 10-week Family Program
support groups.
n Adults participated in our 8-week Time for Sharing support groups.
n Mothers experiencing pre-natal or infant loss were helped through our
H.O.P.E support groups.
n People connected to vital services through our Strengthening Families,
Coping Resources program in Baltimore County.
n
275
Support for Children and Teens (423)
2,109
n At risk teens gained healthy coping skills in the 24-week Changing the Game peer
support groups. Less than 1% of adjudicated youth in the program repeated offenses.
n Children grades K-12 learned how healthy grieving can transform their
lives for better in Good Grief presentations in Baltimore City Schools.
n Youth attended Camp Erin Baltimore, a three day bereavement
and adventure camp that builds hope and resilience.
n Students participated in a 10-week Growing Through Grief
support program at Mother Seton Academy in Baltimore City.
People
Served
423
n
Children discussed loss and grieving at Back to School Nights
in three Baltimore City schools.
Coping With Grief
Program Participants Are Talking:
What families are saying…
What adults are saying…
97%Report a better understanding of the grieving
74%Report improvement to positive attitude and self-image
73%Have less sadness and depression
61%Report less crying
52%Note improvements to their eating habits
55% Say they are sleeping better
77%Express reduced anxiety about the future
process and find it easier to express their grief
92% Say they are better able to cope with loss
95%Express they’ve found hope and meaning in
their loss and can share positive memories
97% Share that they are now better able to function
in life as a family
Overall, children who come to
Roberta’s House are coping better…
What children and teens
are saying…
96% Demonstrate a more positive behavior
76% Are doing better in school
75%Report reduced physical symptoms like
nIt’s easier to talk about the
stomach aches, nightmares
death now at least sometimes.
nIt’s okay to have all kinds of
feelings when someone dies.
nRoberta’s House made me
feel better.
3 | Growing Through Grief: A Breakthrough Year
5-8
AGES
9-12 13-19
58% 96% 85%
75% 100% 70%
96% 96% 70%
Our programs are rooted in a deep understanding of Baltimore’s urban culture.
179
Support for Loss through Homicide (179)
n
n
Adults participated in our Homicide Transformation Project support groups.
People were served by advocates in the Death Notification and Survivors Advocacy Program
which resulted in the opening of 72 homicide cases and referrals to holistic support services.
Training for Volunteers and Professionals (724)
724
n New volunteers participated in our 26 hour training to provide grief support
adding to the volunteer force of almost 300 people.
n Clergy and other professional caregivers received the 16-hour Bereavement
Ministry Training.
n Public service providers were trained by the Death Notification and Survivor’s
Advocacy Program.
n Professionals (social workers, educators, non-profit staff) gained grief support
expertise through continuing education workshops, seminars, and webinars.
508
Events (508)
n Alumni of the Homicide Transformation Project gathered for a reunion
Participants of Family Peer Support groups came together for a holiday party.
n Courageous survivors shared stories and hope at the Quilt Story Exchange
People gathered for the Candlelight Service right before the winter holidays.
Financial Status
Revenue
Public Support................................ $386,116
Government Grant.......................... $241,969
Special Events................................... $33,822
Other................................................... $5,672
Expenses
Fundraising
5%
General and
Administrative
15%
Revenue
Special Events
5%
Other
1%
Total $ 667,579
Expenses
General and administrative............... $77,045
Program............................................ 399,403
Fundraising......................................... 22,641
Total $499,089
Government
Grant
36%
Public
Support
58%
Program
80%
Change in Net Assets ..................$168,490
Net Assets BOY ..................................... $80,813
Net Assets EOY .................................... $249,303
Roberta’s House Annual Report 2014 | 4
Nakita’s Story
Part Two:
“After my mother’s death I felt responsible
for all she left behind, especially my
youngest brother who was a minor
at the time and already dealing with
behavioral challenges.
“Before I
There was no one
I could lean on for
reached
support
so I worked to
out for
get us stable, helping
help, I
with my brother’s
found
schooling, working
myself
part time, and trying to
remain in school myself.
in the
I dealt with the loss by
darkest
taking care of everyone
place I’ve else. Somehow that
ever been.” helped me with the
immense guilt I felt. We
made it through the holidays that year,
but my brother’s needs became too
great for me to handle and he eventually
entered the foster care system.
I felt that I had failed. My own grief
was only an afterthought much later,
but it showed. Before I reached out
for help, I found myself in the darkest
place I’ve ever been in my life. I was
barely sleeping, eating, or even talking
to other people. I was having frequent
panic attacks and nightmares on the
rare occasions of sleep. Many nights of
insomnia drove me back to that parking
lot where my mother was shot. I’d sit
there for hours, not knowing why. I
wanted to give up. I found it harder to
find reasons to keep trying.”
Continued...
I care for you, The People Making It Happen
Our Roberta’s House Team
Staff
Survivor Advocates
Veronica Land-Davis, LCSW-C, Executive Director
Tracy Harris, LGSW, Family Service Case Manager
Deidre Gardner, LGSW, Survivor Advocate
Dorenzer Thomas, MSW, Youth Service
Coordinator
Kelli Tucker, Volunteer Coordinator
Ashton Page, Artistic Director
Patricia Smith, Administrative Assistant
Carmilla Gywnn, Data Entry
Kristina Jones, Data Entry
Kyle Berkley
Paulette Carroll
Deirdre Gardner, Supervisor
Lawrence Gillis
Jole’ Gibson
Linwood Ingram, Jr
Michelle Lee
Joanie Oneal
Gregory Prioleau
Jessica Roman
Program Managers/
Facilitators
Consultants
Kim V. Holmes, LCSW-C, Program Manager,
Homicide Transformation Program
Donna J. Rice, LGSW, Program Manager, Family
Program and Camp Erin
Darnell Baylor, M.Ed, CSC-AD-C.P.P., Program
Manager, Changing the Game Teen Program
Dearea Matthews, Facilitator, Charlie’s Circle for
Mothers with infant loss
Annette R. March-Grier, Program Manager, Time
of Sharing Adult Program
Martha Wharton, Ph.D., Consultant & Facilitator,
Time of Sharing Adult Program
Michael B. Jemmott, M.Div, Chaplain
Ewurama Taylor Shaw Ph.D., Grantwriter
Betty Hickey, HR Consultant
Katrina McCoy, MBA, Marketing/PR/
Fundraising Consultant
In 2014 we welcomed our first
Executive Director, Veronica Land-Davis, LCSW-C
2014 Board of Directors
Patricia Jessamy, Chairperson
Annette R. March-Grier,
President
Victor C. March, Sr., Treasurer
Erich W. March, Secretary
5 | Growing Through Grief: A Breakthrough Year
Dr. Steven Sharfstein
Milton A. Dugger, Jr., CLU
Nathaniel Jones, Jr.
Kim McCalla
Dr. Patricia Pender
Mary Pat Clarke,
Councilwoman
Benjamin Morgan
you care for me,.. Funders Making It Possible
...we care for each other.
Our Top Visionary Funders
We give special thanks to our top funders...
Roberta’s House is deeply grateful for the support and partnership of foundations, government agencies, and individual donors.
Because of your vision and generosity in 2014, resources were made available to expand our services. We greatly appreciate all
of our donors. Additional donors can be found on our website.
Governor’s Office
of Crime Control &
Prevention
Behavioral Health
Systems Baltimore
Community
Development Block
Grant/HUD
Governor’s Grant
CareFirst BlueCross Blue
Shield
Community Investment
Tax Credit/MD Dept. of
Housing & Community
Dev.
Harry and Jeanette
Weinberg Foundation
Inc
New York Life
Foundation
The Jacob and Hilda
Blaustein Foundation
The Annie E. Casey
Foundation
Anonymous Donor
Fund for Young
Families; The Zanvyl
and Isabelle Krieger
Fund
Marguerite Casey
Foundation
Macht Foundation
The Charles Crane
Family Foundation
WBAL Radio Kids
Campaign
The Moyer Foundation
A Little Hope
Foundation
Mister, Burton &
French, LLC
The Living Legacy
Foundation
SunTrust Foundation
Baltimore Community
Foundation
Cecil Flamer
I.S. Wong Foundation
Brown Capital
Management, LLC
Annette R. March-Grier
Erich March
Victor C. March, Sr.
The York Children's
Foundation
Patricia Jessamy
Project CONNECT
Mr. Robert L. Smith Jr.
Warfield-Rohr Casket
Co., Inc.
Cynthia M. Malloy
PSA Insurance &
Financial Services
Fresh Water Ministries
Ms. Myra A. Waters
Ms. Helen L. Dale
Eli Seth Matthews
Leukemia Foundation
Morgan Stanley
Foundation
The Nina & Ivan Selin
Family Foundation
Traffic Club of Baltimore
Sheppard Pratt
Jack & Jill of America
New Life Inspirational
Church
Dr. Steven Sharfstein
Connie Gottwald
Nate Boone
Sunshine Angels
Jones & Associates
Volunteers:
Our Greatest Resource!
A very special thank you
to our volunteers....
The love, wisdom, and time you share rekindles hope
day after day. Thank you for a phenomenal year!
The Value of Volunteer Time
6,306 Total Volunteer Hours
$163,956 Total Value
Roberta’s House volunteers with Annette-March-Grier
A Community of Church Supporters
Beth El Temple Church of Christ
Bethel A.M.E. Church
Bibleway Christian Fellowship
Christ Power Church &
Ministries
Church of the Redeemed of
the Lord
Empowerment Temple
Faith Assembly of Christ
Baltimore
Faith Tabernacle Apostolic
Church, Inc.
First Baptist Church
First Mount Carmel Christian
Community Church
First Mt. Olive Free Will
Freedom Missionary
Community Church
Fresh Water Ministries
Friendship Baptist Church
Godly Hearts Outreach
Ministry
Greater Harvest Baptist
Greater Mt. Nebo AME
Holy Covenant Episcopal
House of Judah Ministries
Inner Court Ministries
of MD, Inc
Interdenominational
Church Ushers Assoc. of
Maryland, Inc
Maryland Covenant of
Ministers’ Wives, Inc
Morning Star Baptist
Mt. Calvary AME Church
Mt. Calvary Pentecostal Church
Mt. Hebron Baptist Church
Mt. Pleasant Church &
Ministries
Mt. Zion Hill Baptist Church
National Baptist Deacons
Convention of America, Inc.
New All Saints Church
New Bethlehem FWB Church
New Christian Memorial
Church
New Friendship Baptist
Church
New Life Church of
Deliverance
New Life Inspirational Church
New Psalmist
New Zion Baptist Church
of Baltimore City, Inc
Oblate Sister of Providence
Omega Baptist Church
& Ministries
Pennsylvania Avenue AME
Zion Church
Pleasant Hope Inc
Power House World Ministry
Rock City Church
School Sisters of
Notre Dame
Set The Captives Free
Outreach Center
Shiloh Christian
Community Church
Shining Stars
St. Philip’s Evangelical
Lutheran Church
Southern Baptist Church
Southern Baptist -Hospitality Zion Baptist Church
Ministry
St. Ann’s Ladies Auxiliary,
Court 331
St. Ann’s Roman Catholic
Church
St. Paul Community
Baptist Church
Roberta’s House Annual Report 2014 | 6
Nakita’s Story
Part Three:
Actor, Taye Diggs and Annette March-Grier
A Visionary Leader... and Now a Hero!
Annette March-Grier Receives
CNN Heroes Award in 2014
Roberta’s House Founder and President, Annette March-Grier, receives a Top Ten
CNN Heroes Award, 2014; a prestigious global recognition for changing the
world. March-Grier’s visionary leadership is making a powerful impact beyond
Baltimore for her work in providing family grief support services to the bereaved
in underserved communities.
Get Involved!
Support Our Capital Campaign
Goal: $6,000, 000
Other Ways to Help
n
Dear Donors,
We need your support! In order to
continue to meet the needs of the many
children and families we serve, it is vital
for our capital campaign to be a success.
Please help us raise $6 million dollars
for the building of our new location.
For instruction on how to donate to
our capital campaign, please visit our
website www.robertashouse.org. Thank
you in advance for your support.
n
n
“Then I heard about Roberta’s House. The
night I hesitantly agreed to go was the
beginning of my grief journey. At first, I
was withdrawn, rarely spoke, and could
barely be heard when I did. But I kept
coming. I learned about the grief process
and realized that more than a year later,
I was still grieving and that it was okay.
At Roberta’s House,
“At Roberta’s they helped me to
House, they make meaning of
helped me my experience and
more than anything,
to make
I realized that I was
meaning
not alone or at fault
of my
for my struggles.
experience
and more
than
anything, I
realized that
I was not
alone or at
fault for my
struggles.”
My life is still very
much affected by
my loss, but I am
a stronger person
today because of
what it taught me
about myself. When
I walked across the
stage at my college
graduation in 2014,
I could feel that big
smile on my mommy’s face and that she
is still so much a part of the woman I
have become.”
Offer healing and hope as
a trained support group
leader or facilitator.
Deepen your organization’s
expertise by hosting a
professional development
workshop.
Make a donation to
increase impact at
www.robertashouse.org
Annette March-Grier
Roberta’s House, future location, 2019
A Family Grief Support Center
United Way and Combined Charities # 7987 • 1900 N. Broadway, Ste. 101, Baltimore, MD 21213
Phone: 410/235-6633 • Fax: 410/235-6636 • www.robertashouse.org
Camp Erin, 2014