A professional life devoted to helping children has been great preparation for Dr. Crystal Cederna-Meko's latest appointment: A position on the Program Advisory Committee for Ele's Place of Michigan, a program devoted to helping children who are grieving.
Cederna-Meko PsyD will be working with the Flint-area branch of the nonprofit organization, which supports healing for kids and teens experiencing grief and bereavement.
The Ele's Place Program Advisory Committee is made up of CEO Daniel Layman, program directors, program staff, and mental health providers from the communities served.
"I'm thrilled to participate and offer my expertise in pediatric psychology, strengthen Hurley's relationship with others concerned with child welfare in our community and state, and represent our community and its children in such an important and meaningful way," said Cederna-Meko in an email, after learning of the appointment.
Cederna-Meko also holds these roles:
- Director, Hurley Pediatric Clinical Health Psychology Fellowship Program, Flint, Mich.
- Director, Pediatric Behavioral Health Services, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
- Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Program, Hurley Medical Center, Flint, Mich.
- Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Mich.
- Pediatric Psychologist
Ele's Place - Greater Flint and Genesee County is located on the campus of the Michigan School for the Deaf off of Court Street, Flint, Mich. It was founded in 1991 after Betsy and Woody Stover lost their 11-month-old daughter Ele and saw that their three other children (ages 3-7 at the time) were grieving in a different way from adults. After three decades, Ele's place now serves four communities in Michigan, offering peer support and other services to help kids and teens cope with their feelings of grief, sadness, anger, and loss.