Support for children and families who are grieving

August 2023

Grief education is an important component of Dougy Center's mission, reaching more than 10,000 people each year from the United States and around the world. Our education and training opportunities are available to anyone supporting children and families who are grieving. Find more here.

Registration now open for the 2024 Virtual Professional Seminar Join Dougy Center’s knowledgeable staff for an opportunity to explore the fundamentals of grief education across the lifespan. While the majority of helping professionals do not have formal grief education, the 2024 Virtual Professional Seminar, January 29 to February 2, will provide the tools and information to become grief-informed. Learn with colleagues from around the United States and beyond who support, or plan to support, children and families who are grieving. Learn more and register

Join us for these upcoming Grief Education Webinars

Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education September 7, 2023 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., PDT presented by Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT

Being grief-informed sets the foundation for understanding and responding to the needs of people who are grieving the death of someone in their lives. Misassumptions lead to misunderstanding and mistreatment. Tune in for more information on this important topic, including the ten core principles of grief-informed practice.

Gone Too Soon: Supporting Children and Teens After a Death from Gun Violence National Children's Grief Awareness Day November 16, 2023 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., PST presented by Cristina Chipriano, L.C.S.W.

Every day in the United States we are bombarded with stories of gun violence. Within every story, whether noted by the media or not, there are children, teens, and adults impacted forever by the death of someone in their lives: a parent, caregiver, aunt, uncle, sibling, or friend. In addition to grieving the death, survivors are faced with multiple additional factors which complicate their lives. Join us in this webinar as we explore these factors and ways to support children and teens who are grieving a death from gun violence.

Navigating Grief During the Holidays December 7, 2023 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., PST presented by Jana DeCristofaro, L.C.S.W.

The end of year holidays can be especially challenging for children, teens, and families who are grieving. In this webinar, we’ll explore various considerations during the holiday season for families who are grieving (e.g., expectations, pressures, rituals) and helpful ways to support families this holiday season.

Learn more about these webinars and register

Webinars are $65 per person with discounted pricing when you register for three at the same time. Registration closes at 10 a.m. Pacific the day prior to the webinar.

Flexible classes available through online learning

Supporting Children, Teens, and Young Adults Who are Grieving Cost: $375

In this introductory course, Dougy Center offers an enriching grief education curriculum addressing how to support children, teens, and young adults who are grieving. This course provides a class bundle of seven grief education classes! In addition to learning about loss and grief for children, teens, and young adults, you will have access to classes such as Becoming Grief-Informed, Grief Myths & Misconceptions, and Parents/Caregivers & Grief.

Learn more and register

Dougy Center trainings & publications

National Alliance for Children's Grief Symposium In June, Dougy Center staff presented at the Annual Symposium for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief: Brennan Wood facilitated the Region IX Forum: Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Washington forum with Bethany Garner from Eluna. Dr. Donna Schuurman presented a workshop on Flawed Foundations: Deconstructing Three Contemporary Grief Constructs Dr. Monique Mitchell moderated the Research and Evaluation Forum on the Ethics of Conducting Research with Children with Dr. Michaeleen Burns, Dr. Ben Oostrhooff, and Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa Juliette Martinez, MSW presented a poster session on our newest L.Y.G.H.T. Tip Sheets

Pictured above from left to right are Dougy Center staff including Executive Director, Brennan Wood; SC L.Y.G.H.T. State Coordinator, Juliette Martinez; Sr. Director of Advocacy & Education and L.Y.G.H.T. Co-Founder, Dr. Donna Schuurman; Director of Program Services, Alysha Lacey; Director of Equity & Community Outreach, Cristina Chipriano; and Director of Training & Translational Research and National Director/Founder of the L.Y.G.H.T. program, Dr. Monique Mitchell.

Family Justice Journal Dr. Monique Mitchell, Director of Training & Translational Research & L.Y.G.H.T. National Director, was recently invited to publish an article on Acknowledging & Addressing the Impact of Loss, Grief, & Relational Connection for Youth in Foster Care, in the Family Justice Journal (Editors Jerry Milner and David Kelly).

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