Companions on a Journey Grief Support Inc

We have a big, bold vision to create a world where no child, teen, adult, or family grieves alone. JOIN US to make our vision a reality. Together, we can intervene for the bereaved and ensure grief support is available for everyone!

Help Give Hope.  Donate Today.

Grief, and the need for grief support will touch each and every person, if it hasn't already.  Although there are many amazing organizations doing incredible things for our great city, we ask you to please support Companions on a Journey with your financial donation today.  Pay it forward.  Ensure that the services and support are available for everyone.  No amount is too small.  Give Hope Today!

Thank you for being here for COJ so we can be here for all who are grieving in our community! 

Hear from our CURRENT teen student participants & school counselor Steve Joebgen:

For 25 years, and hopefully 25 more ~

Your donation supports the children, teens, adults, and families in our community.

With your support Companions on a Journey can provide a safe space to process feelings of grief and loss, connect with a caring community of peers, and strengthen critical wellness and resiliency skills.  While keeping their loved ones close at heart, bereaved individuals and families can find a balance and create a new normal.  

In 2021, we supported:

• 1500+ bereaved individuals
• 102 monthly school groups 
• 19 crisis responses
• 10 adult & family groups

How does Companions on a Journey provide support?

Bereavement support is provided through individual and group programs in a safe environment for each person to share their grief.  All programs provide a power of connection, assuring the bereaved that their community cares and is here for them. COJ programs are provided free of charge to all in need, in a culturally appropriate, holistic and equitable manner.  Just as you have had to adjust during this pandemic, so have we.  We are working with our current participants to maintain some type of normalcy, as well as create new virtual support systems, while we focus on healing and remaining safe.

What is provided for those grieving the death of a loved one?

Bereaved Parent Group
This group is designed for any parent who has suffered the death of a child, no matter what age your child may have been at the time of death.

Footprints on our Hearts
This group offers support for parents who have suffered the death of a child through miscarriage or early infant death.

Men in Grief
This group is designed for men who have suffered the loss of a loved one. Call for information.

Understanding Your Grief
This group is designed to assist anyone who has suffered any type of death: parent, sibling or friend.

Understanding Your Grief - Young Adult
This group is designed for young adults ages 18-29 years of age who have suffered the death of a loved one or friend.

Mending Hearts
Mending Hearts Program for Grieving Children, Teens and Families seeks to restore family balance, one child, one teen, one family at a time. This is a faith based “ongoing” grief support program offering a safe and nurturing environment for all children ages 3 – 18 and their families who have experienced a death. Mending Hearts Program assists families to restore family balance. While addressing the parents’ and guardians’ needs, we help them to look through the eyes of their children in order to see their children’s needs and to show them how their responses impact their children’s lives.

Young Widowed, New Beginnings & Living Again 

Young Widow: Designed for younger widowed persons with their grief who range in age from their twenties through their early 60’s. 

New Beginnings & Living Again Combined: Designed to help widowed persons with the initial Stages of grief, typically this will be the first year and half depending on each person’s grief recovery.

Hope and Healing After A Suicide Loss
This group is designed to assist any adult who has had a loved one die by suicide.

The journey of grief is not an easy one.

It takes us deep inside the depths of ourselves – to our beliefs, our assumptions, our identity, our relationships, and more. Just as storms make trees stronger, we help equip individuals to discover newfound strength as they bravely move forward in their grief — one day, one hour, and sometimes even just one moment at a time.

Grief is unique.  

We know that healing is a long process because of the hole that is left behind when a loved one dies. Donors are a thread that help mend hearts and ensure that no child, teen, individual, or family grieves alone.  

In the words of one of our participants from the Hope & Healing After Suicide Loss:

COJ is a blessing! They listened, cared, and let me know I was not alone!

If you, a friend, or family member need support, please contact our staff at 513.870.9108 or Executive Director, Sheila Munafo-Kanoza at sheila@companionsonajourney.org.

We are here for you!