Last chance to register for the 2026 Virtual Professional Seminar | |
Monday, January 26 – Friday, January 30, 2026
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, Dougy Center's Virtual Professional Seminar provides 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.
Find more information and register for this course here.
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Uncharted Territory: Supporting Children and Families Living with an Advanced Serious Illness
January 22, 2026
10 - 11:30 a.m., PST
presented by Rebecca Hobbs-Lawrence, M.A.
| In this webinar, we will explore the unique challenges faced by children, teens, and families living in the shadow of serious illness. We’ll discuss the needs of children at various developmental stages, the importance of honest and age-appropriate communication, and how professionals and caregivers can provide meaningful support. | | |
Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education
February 19, 2026
10 - 11:30 a.m., PST
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. | | |
More Storied than Storybook, Grief and Complex Relationships
March 19, 2026
10 - 11:30 a.m., PDT
presented by Jana DeCristofaro, LCSW
| Navigating grief after the death of someone in our lives can be inherently complex, because relationships are complex. Just like grief, there can be complicating factors that make a loss even more challenging. Join us as we discuss the challenges people face when grieving the death of someone with whom they had a complex and complicated relationship. | | Grief and Valentine's Day | | |
When it comes to grief and holidays, especially at this time of year, it can feel hard to catch a break. Even if someone has never felt connected to Valentine’s Day, advertisements and casual conversations about plans can sometimes lead to feelings isolation after a loved one had died.
If you are supporting someone who is grieving, here are some ways to help them acknowledge the day:
- Decide ahead of time which traditions you and your family want to keep and discuss who will be responsible for what. Reassure yourself and others that it is okay to not continue certain traditions.
- Schedule some self-care that feels replenishing to you — go for a hike, watch a movie, meet up with friends, journal, or cook a nourishing meal.
- Volunteer for an organization or event that is meaningful to you.
- Send a card, flowers, or an email to friends and family who are going through a hard time.
- Write a card or letter to the person who died. You might include events you wish you could talk with them about, things you are grateful to them for, ways you and your family have grown or changed, or anything that comes to mind.
Learn more and find additional ideas here.
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Registration is now open for the 2026 International Summer Institute
Scholarships available!
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Join us in Portland, Oregon from July 20 to 24, 2026 for the International Summer Institute. This is your opportunity to learn the basics about The Dougy Center Model, the world-renowned peer grief support model for children, teens, and their families. You’ll be joined by dynamic colleagues from across the United States and beyond who plan to implement The Dougy Center Model in their community. Find details and register here..
In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, each year Dougy Center awards four International Summer Institute participants with a scholarship for free tuition, a waiver of $1,850. In addition to completing the application form, applicants will be required to submit supporting documentation and an essay. Applications must be received by March 31, 2026. Find scholarship information here.
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National Presentations
- Dr. Donna Schuurman presented a customized training for Randall Children's Hospital on November 6, 2025.
- Dr. Monique Mitchell and Juliette Martinez held the L.Y.G.H.T. Facilitator training in Portland, OR on November 11-13, 2025.
- Rebecca Hobbs-Lawrence presented a customized training for Hallmark on November 12, 2025.
- Dr. Donna Schuurman presented a customized training for the Canadian Alliance for Children's Grief (CACG) on November 13, 2025.
- Brennan Wood and Dr. Donna Schuurman presented for Unlikely Collaborators - Spark Salon on November 18, 2025.
- Grief in the Teenage Years: What We Miss & What Teens Need, a Dougy Center grief education webinar, was conducted with Alysha Lacey and Jana DeCristofaro as panelists and Ben Toledo as moderator. It was held on Children's Grief Awareness Day Webinar, November 20, 2025.
- Dr. Donna Schuurman presented a customized training for the Suicide Resource and Response Network on November 20, 2025.
- Alysha Lacey presented a customized training for North Clackamas School District on November 21, 2025.
- Dr. Donna Schuurman presented a customized training for the Suicide Resource and Response Network on November 22, 2025.
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We love to hear from you!
Thank you to everyone who attended our annual Children’s Grief Awareness Day webinar last November. It was our most attended webinar to date, and we were thrilled to connect with so many of you. Here’s what a few attendees had to say about the experience:
“Thank you so much. I always leave with so many tools from your trainings.”
“The clips were great for showing evidence of the themes then addressed by the staff. Excellent presentation.”
“Really well done — great info presented and it was really nice to see some videos that featured teens.”
“This was a truly great training. Both presenters gave clear and compassionate answers without repeating themselves or inserting anything excess.”
“Thank you for offering these webinars. Your organization is vital to supporting those of us who want to be available to support grieving children and families”
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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.
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