WATERVILLE — The Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area has announced the 10-year anniversary of Hope’s Place for Grieving Children. This program serves youth ages 3 to 18 and their parents or caregivers, according to a news release from Hospice. Hope’s Place is modeled after the Center for Grieving Children in Portland.

The fall session of Hope’s Place will be Thursday nights for eight weeks beginning Sept. 24 and continue through Nov. 12. Groups begin at 6 p.m. and end by 7:15 p.m. Participants meet at the Hope’s Place House and Hospice Community Center, 304 Main St. Families who have experienced the death of a loved one are encouraged to contact Jillian Roy, Youth Services coordinator, for more information at 873-3615 or atjroy@hvwa.org.

The mission of Hope’s Place is to provide a safe, supportive environment to grieving children, teens and families through peer support groups, which nurture and encourage safe expression of grief and loss. Hope’s Place honors each person’s individuality and their process towards discovery of resiliency and emotional well-being. Participants will join age-appropriate peer support groups that meet for one hour concurrently each week, and will include young people and their parents or caregivers. Children must be accompanied by at least one adult who will participate in the adult support group. Teens can attend without being accompanied by an adult, if deemed appropriate by staff. Groups are co-facilitated by specially trained volunteers.