Since 1975, the Wendt Center for Loss and Healing has helped people in the Greater Washington area rebuild a sense of safety and hope after experiencing a loss, life-threatening illness, violence or other trauma. Nationally recognized for our expertise in grief, trauma and mental health, we provide an array of holistic services for children, teens, adults, families, and our local communities.
Through our office and community-based service sites across the area, and with a focus on the needs of the underserved, the Wendt Center is a unique and critical resource for thousands of children, adults and families each year. Services are provided on a sliding scale basis according to need, or free under grants for those who qualify. Many insurances accepted.
Individual and Group Therapy is at the heart of our work. Our programs range from providing support to adults grieving the loss of a loved one or facing life-threatening illness to highly specialized treatment for children and adults victimized by violence and suffering the consequences of trauma.
C.H.I.L.D. (Child Healing to Improve Learning and Development) offers a holistic set of healing services for children and teens, including Camp Forget-Me-Not/Camp Erin DC, a free, annual, therapeutic grief camp, and our school-based Resilient Scholars program.
HOPES provides healing services to crime victims (survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, homicide, and other violent crime) at our offices or at partner sites.
RECOVER located at the DC Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) since 1999, where we have provided support and psycho-education to individuals who must come in to identify a deceased loved one. As the OCME has shifted away from requiring in-person identifications, our RECOVER program now focuses on structured support groups for family members as well as support sessions for OCME staff.
Community Outreach and Crisis Intervention includes community healing events, education/training, and crisis response services.
Training for emerging/existing mental health and other professional service providers, locally and nationally.
Volunteers provide critical program, client and administrative support.
Our Mission
We help children, youth and adults rebuild their emotional lives after loss, illness, violence and trauma.
The Wendt Center is a not-for-profit organization that receives donations and grant support to sustain its services. 20% of our operating funds come from individual donations. The Wendt Center was recognized by the Catalogue of Philanthropy in 2003 and 2013, as one of the best charities in the Washington DC region. The Wendt Center gratefully receives support from the DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants, DC Department of Health, the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, and other private and family foundations.
