About Us
OUR STORY
In the Summer of 2025, as Patricia walked the Camino in Spain, she kept thinking of how to honor her daughter Kati, who passed away in 2002. Kati was a fierce champion for her nonverbal, developmentally delayed sister, Meredith, and she wanted the world to see and respect her. It was on that walk that Patricia realized she could create a program for youth with developmental challenges—one that would help them be seen, respected, and empowered to communicate, socialize, and have fun. During her time practicing, Patricia saw a real need for all youth to enjoy skill-building in a playful way. Drawing on Dr. Goetz’s knowledge of youth development and desire to honor her family, Kati’s Place was born.
OUR MISSION
Kati’s Place is a community which provides services to Northeast Ohio youth aged six to eleven, built on friendship, self-expression, and the transformative power of the arts. We bring together youth of all abilities to create, connect, and belong side by side. Through the arts and beyond, dedicated volunteers and experienced educators empower every child to build the skills to communicate, socialize and self-express.
OUR VISION
Our Founder, Patricia Goetz, experienced first-hand, the transformative qualities that friendship and the arts have on empowering children. Through her time as a licensed Child Psychiatrist and parenting a child with developmental delays, Patricia envisioned an inclusive experience which fosters community, joy, and self-expression. A space for all unique talents and interests, she created Kati's Place, where creative expression knows no bounds!
Our Team
Dr. Patricia Goetz
Dr. Patricia Goetz is co-director and founder of Kati's Place. As a Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, she's spent years working alongside developmentally delayed individuals and their families.
That clinical experience showed her something simple: every kid needs friendship, fun, and a place to belong. Kati's Place is her answer - a space built on that idea.
Patricia is also the mother of a daughter with developmental disabilities who doesn't walk or speak. That journey shapes how she leads - with a deep, personal commitment to making sure every child who comes through Kati's Place gets the chance to thrive.
Allison Factor
Allison is co-director of Kati's Place and the Board's Curriculum Coordinator. After five years as a special educator in public schools, she brought her expertise in trauma-informed care, educational psychology, and social-emotional learning out of the classroom and into work directly with families.
Allison's been building inclusive communities since high school when she started an all-inclusive theater group and cheerleading squad in her hometown, and stayed involved in clubs that brought together youth of all abilities. She brings that same drive to Kati's Place: meeting every family exactly where they are, and creating space for every child to express themselves through the arts.
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