Our mission, vision, and core values are the foundation that drive Joshua Center to support children and families experiencing grief as they find healing and hope.

Mission & Vision

Our mission: Support grieving children and families as they embrace healing and hope.

Our vision: Every child deserves hope as they are healing from grief and loss.

Core Values

Honesty – We speak the truth in love to foster healing and hope.

Humility – We exude a spirit of humility as to support the individual needs of those connected to Joshua Center.

Healing – We support closely the movement from grief to mourning, mourning to healing, and healing to living.

Hope – We believe expectantly in the futures of our clients, even when all hope seems lost.

Joshua Center’s Story

It was February 22, 2005 when our founder Rachel Long’s heart was broken. That Tuesday morning she awoke to the news that her younger (and only sibling) brother, Joshua, had died. The night before Josh had been found dead in his home as a result of “combined toxicity” from his treatment for bipolar disorder. Joshua’s death rocked not only Rachel, but her then young children Grace and Gabe as well as her husband Jason. (The Long family also has a third child, Maverick, that was born in 2007.) Experiencing this loss as adults was hard enough, but the sadness and grief their children was heartbreaking.

The path to healing for the Long family was a rocky one. It began with a negative jolt with the first therapist they visited that would spiral Rachel into delayed grief for years. Thus, also delaying support for her entire family. After finding a competent and compassionate therapist the family’s healing journey moved forward.

It was February 22, 2005 when our founder Rachel Long’s heart was broken. That Tuesday morning she awoke to the news that her younger (and only sibling) brother, Joshua, had died. The night before Josh had been found dead in his home as a result of “combined toxicity” from his treatment for bipolar disorder. Joshua’s death rocked not only Rachel, but her then young children Grace and Gabe as well as her husband Jason. (The Long family also has a third child, Maverick, that was born in 2007.) Experiencing this loss as adults was hard enough, but the sadness and grief their children was heartbreaking.

The path to healing for the Long family was a rocky one. It began with a negative jolt with the first therapist they visited that would spiral Rachel into delayed grief for years. Thus, also delaying support for her entire family. After finding a competent and compassionate therapist the family’s healing journey moved forward.

Meet Our Team

Rachel Long, GC-C
Founder, President, and Grief Counselor

Jason Long, MBA
Vice President of the Board

Grace Long
Secretary of the Board

Gabriel Long
Board Member

Maverick Long
Peer Liaison

Crystal Olibo
Care Coordinator