The grieving process takes a toll on families. Often those who have lost a spouse don’t know where to turn to get much-needed counseling and emotional support for themselves, and for their children.
Enter Adam’s House, a nonprofit grief education center that opened this week in a multi-story Victorian mansion at 241 Coram Ave.
Walking through the front door one feels as if one has entered a private home. The newly-renovated rooms feature comfortable furniture, and interesting artwork and decor.
The goal is to create a safe, welcoming atmosphere for grieving people or family.
The house was named after Adam Wysota, who died of a heart attack at age 47 on May 6, 2012.
His widow, Allison Wysota of Weston, was left with three sons, who were 18, 14, and 11 at the time.
She founded the nonprofit and serves as its executive director.
She said she was inspired to create a warm, supportive environment for grieving families when she saw what her sons were experiencing in the grief process.
“My kids were sad,” she said. “I needed them to know that other kids were going through the same thing.”
The nonprofit will offer an eight-week grief education program at no charge. Families will meet there once a week for an hour and a half session.
Wysota said her background is in education and speech therapy, and she is pursuing a master’s degree in bereavement counseling.
She and her board have been mentored by the staff of Olivia’s House, a grief and loss center for children in York, Pa.
Wysota plans to launch a widows’ support group, a lunch bunch that would meet once a week at the house, she said.
Groups for children and families are slated to start in the spring.
Wysota said they currently have about 20 facilitators to help families through the grieving process.
Megan Couch, board president, said the home had been under renovation for the past nine months. Much of the labor has been donated and the organization has been fund-raising for three years, she said.
Adults have their own gathering room downstairs, and colorfully painted and furnished rooms upstairs are set aside for young children, middle school age children, and teens.
Arts and crafts materials are available for children to use and their artwork will eventually adorn the walls.
A lending library with a separate entrance is available for families in the program to use during the day.
On Thursday the nonprofit held an open house for the community.
Shaye Roscoe, executive director, Boys & Girls Club of the Lower Naugatuck Valley, welcomed the organization to the Valley.
“There’s such a great need for an organization like this in our community,” she said.
Opportunities are available to sponsor rooms in the house.
Wysota said she and the board have been mentored by the staff of Olivia’s House, a grief and loss center for children in York, Pa.
For information about Adam’s House visit www.adamshousect.org.
