Support.
Resilience.
Healing.

Anne Heros (formerly Lynch) heads a unique and critical community resource in Southern Maine, serving as executive director of the Center for Grieving Children. She was appointed to that position in July 2001 after serving as the Center's outreach director and education coordinator for four years and facilitating the Center's Bereavement Peer Support Program as a volunteer for three years. Her introduction to the Center was as a family participant who sought support.
As executive director, Anne spearheaded a capital campaign that began in 2005 and raised $2.8 million to provide a permanent home for the Center's vital programs. Today, the two-story building is the only facility in Maine dedicated solely to the support of grieving children and families. In 2011, Anne oversaw the Center's expansion of its bereavement support services into Maine's York County, establishing a satellite Center site in Sanford. Additionally, she was among the founders of America's Camp, a national summer camp that for 10 years included a network of grief-support "buddies" in its service to children and siblings of fire fighters and police who died in the 9/11 tragedy.

In a distinguished career at the Center, Anne's leadership also has produced a significant expansion of the Center's program to train providers and volunteers nationwide in the volunteer peer support model to help grieving children and families. Locally, she has guided the Center's leading role in providing grief support services to schools and civic associations, a notable example of which is the Center's innovative Multicultural Program, which works with Portland middle schools to support refugee and immigrant students from war-torn countries.

As a founding member of The National Alliance for Grieving Children, Anne continues to participate on its Advisory Council and help shape its annual national symposium. She has given presentations at many national conferences on the topic of grief and trauma, and was the recipient of the 2008 Advocacy Award by the New York-based National Foundation for Grieving Children, Teens, and Families.

Anne has served on the cabinet of the United Way of Greater Portland. She has been a member of the Mercy Hospital Auxiliary since 1994 and was president for two years, which included membership on the hospital's Board of Trustees. A native of Ireland, Anne received a graduate degree in Business from the University College Dublin, she also obtained post-graduate qualification in Education from Maynooth University. A book she co-authored, "Modern Irish Business," was a required text in Dublin for high school and undergraduate students of business and commerce. Anne is the mother of three children and has an extended family in Ireland. Her hobbies include reading, sailing, and international travel.

Marie B. Sheffield, Art Therapist, LCPC, Intercultural Program Advisor
Marie is responsible for the coordination of volunteer facilitators and development for the Intercultural Program. Furthermore, she creates and maintains community collaborative efforts for the purpose of promoting intercultural awareness, improving existing services and understanding the additional needs of the communities served surrounding collective loss and transition. Marie has been a consultant for the Center’s Intercultural (formerly Multicultural) Program for the past ten years. Also, she is an art therapist and clinical counselor in her private practice in Brunswick, Maine. Through her work experience, Marie has skillfulness in the areas of collective and complicated loss with children, families and groups. Marie is a firm believer that healing happens in community and in relationships.

She originally began her work with the Center in a volunteer capacity, interested in expanding grief support to children and families in York County. Since 2011, Janice is responsible for service delivery and volunteer management for the satellite program in Sanford. She works closely with community agencies and individuals to raise awareness about the service and promote community involvement. Janice first became involved in Hospice and bereavement work in 1992, serving as a volunteer for Connecticut hospice in Branford, CT. Upon moving north to Maine, she trained and volunteered for the Seacoast Hospice Bridges program for families, as a peer support group facilitator until 2008. For several years, she worked in the Wells-Ogunquit Schools as a special education technician. She lives in York County with her family and enjoys travel and gardening.

Sue is the first point of contact for families seeking to access the Center’s services. Sue manages office volunteers and maintains office supplies. She also provides administrative support for the Development Department, entering data and disseminating thank you letters to donors. She has lived in Portland since 1990, and has been active in many local organizations, including USM’s local radio station, WMPG. She has a bachelor’s degree in Spanish from Bates College, and taught high school for 15 years. She also worked at Woodfords Church, where she created the church bulletins and weekly newsletters. When not at the Center, Sue enjoys gardening, singing and contra dancing.

Sara shares responsibility for coordinating our Portland Bereavement Services programming. Prior to joining the staff, Sara maintained a long connection with the Center as an intern, volunteer and training consultant. Her current work at the Center involves working closely with families, volunteers and the community in the areas of grief and loss, program development, outreach, and training. Sara holds a Master's Degree in expressive therapies/counseling from Lesley University with an emphasis in art therapy. She developed an interest in art therapy while working as a K-12 art teacher, witnessing the ways students naturally processed their experiences through their artwork. Sara used art modalities in her private practice offering support to children, teens and adults during bereavement and other life transitions, and has worked as a clinician with adolescents in a group home setting. As well as creating art, Sara enjoys bicycling, kayaking, snowshoeing, reading, and- above all else- the company of family and friends.

Lisa helps donors fulfill their passions and interests through their giving to the Center for Grieving Children. Joining the Center in August 2015, Lisa is responsible for planning, coordinating and implementing a major gifts donor program to meet the Center's philanthropic goals. Working alongside with the Executive Director, Board of Directors and Development Team, the focus of Lisa's work is to identify, maintain and expand supporters while engaging them in meaningful opportunities.

Prior to joining the Center for Grieving Children Lisa held leadership development positions at the Alzheimer's Association, Thornton Academy and Counseling Services, Inc. "I am honored and thrilled to be part of a wonderful team making a significant difference for families in Maine." Lisa lives in Southern Maine with her husband Jerry and daughter Sydney. Lisa enjoys spending time with family, holds her friends dearly and loves opportunities to learn something new.

Beth joined as Volunteer Coordinator June of 2016. She brings to the Center 35 years of marketing, communications and strategic planning experience. Beth has worked for Central Maine Power, Idexx Laboratories and Daymark Energy Advisors. A life-long, enthusiastic volunteer, Beth served as a facilitator at the Center from 2012 to 2016 and prior to that was a fundraising volunteer for the Center. She was also a Portland Public School volunteer for 14 years.

"My own experiencing volunteering at the Center has one of the best things I have done in my life. I am proud to live in a community where so many generously offer their time, talent and treasure to support our children at a painful time in their lives. I look forward to connecting people with the work of the Center in a way that supports the families and is rewarding for volunteers."

Diana is primarily responsible for leadership of the TLC volunteer facilitators, maintaining contact with families who participate in the TLC program, and raising community awareness about children’s grief issues, the TLC program and other Center services. Diana also assists with the Center’s Facilitator Training, Bereavement and Intercultural Programs.She has co-facilitated the Center’s Overdose Loss Bereavement Group, as well, as bereavement groups for students at Biddeford High School.

Diana has experience working with families facing serious illness and loss both through her time at the Center, and in her small private clinical counseling practice in Falmouth, Maine. She holds a BA in Art History from Colorado College and an MS in Counseling with an area of expertise in family systems from the University of Southern Maine. Diana has been a classroom teacher and the director of the arts and crafts program at a day camp. She is happily married and considers herself very fortunate to be the mother of five children, and step-mother to two.

Deqa is a passionate advocate for the immigrant community with extensive experience in social services, public health, and assisting torture survivors. Formerly, she worked for The Opportunity Alliance as a community builder. Deqa is the board President for the Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition and serves numerous other boards and advisory boards in Maine. Deqa holds a Master’s Degree in Development Policy and Practice from the University of New Hampshire and an MSW from the University of New England. She is a certified language tester and cultural skill trainer and has been providing broad mediation for patients/clients in different settings with service providers to ensure unmet needs of immigrant communities are met.

Lucy joined the staff of the Center for Grieving Children in May of 2018. She works to ensure the organization achieves full-service capacity and service delivery throughout Southern Maine through meeting and exceeding marketing/communications goals; foundation and targeted grant relations; and communications and marketing strategies that engage donors, volunteers, media, and additional target audiences. Lucy has more than 25 years of experience working on behalf of nonprofit organizations committed to creating a culture of belonging and connection and to providing educational resources for children, youth and families. Prior to joining the staff of the Center, she served as the Director of Development & Communications for the American Camp Association, New England—a regional nonprofit serving ME, MA, NH, RI, CT, and VT. Lucy and her husband settled in Maine full-time after decades of being summer visitors. Both of their adult children are thriving at graduate schools in Boston. Lucy is passionate about child development and literacy. Reading, writing, exploring the magnificence of Maine, and adventures with friends and family fill the time she’s not at the Center.

Florence joined the Center in July 2018 and in her role is responsible for the Center’s program delivery including ensuring excellent care and service for families, high quality support and training for volunteers, and working with the Executive Director and Director of Philanthropy to identify and implement new opportunities for service and a comprehensive organizational strategy.

Florence brings extensive experience in serving individuals and families in our community, as well as program development, implementation and evaluation. Florence has previously held positions at United Way of Greater Portland, Casey Family Services, Preble Street Resource Center, and Shalom House. Florence graduated from University of New England MSW program and currently sits on the UNE School of Social Work Community Advisory Committee.

Alongside the development team, she is responsible for building impactful relationships with corporate sponsors as well as organizing and coordinating the Center’s special events to reach fundraising goals. Most recently, she has worked as a campaign associate for the United Way of York County, presenting at numerous companies throughout York and securing corporate and employee donations. Emma lives in Portland with her husband, and enjoys spending her time with family and friends, writing, and frequenting local restaurants. She is incredibly grateful and proud to be a part of this generous and thoughtful community.

Mary is responsible for ensuring smooth and effective process for families seeking to access support services from first contact with the Center to placement in group. She provides oversight for bereavement staff and volunteers to deliver effective programming and ensure fidelity with the Center’s model. Mary also coordinates internship experiences for bachelor and master’s level students.

Mary brings extensive experience in serving children and families, as well as program oversight. She has previously assisted children and families with adoptive and foster care related issues, provided outpatient counseling, managed a residential center for adolescent girls, coordinated intake into mental health services for a large state-wide provider, and assessed mental health disability claims. Mary graduated from the Smith College School for Social Work. She enjoys biking, camping in remote locations, and reading non-fiction.

Patty joined the Center in July as Annual Giving Associate. She will work alongside the Development team and the Director of Philanthropy, and is responsible for the successful implementation and management of individual annual giving at the Center for Grieving Children. Prior to joining the Center, Patty has worked in various organizations in development, communications and sales roles. In her most recent previous role in the nonprofit sector, Patty served as the Development & Communications Manager of the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE), Inc. During that time she oversaw major media communications, publications, and assisted with national presentations and oversight of SAVE’s National Youth Advisory Board. Patty is thrilled to be part of such a cohesive team, and to share her passion for the welfare of children and their families at the Center for Grieving Children. Patty enjoys continuous learning, athletics, music, art, spending time with family and friends and travel.