Scholarship deadline is March 31

Are you interested in supporting children and teens through peer grief support groups? Dougy Center's International Summer Institute 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.

Join us in Portland, Oregon from July 20 to 24 where 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.

Upcoming Grief Education Webinars focus on topics related to support for children, teens, and families

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.

Context Matters: Navigating Grief Through an Intersectional Lens

April 9, 2026

10 - 11:30 a.m., PDT

presented by Cristina Chipriano, L.C.S.W., F.T.

Grief is contextual — it is influenced and impacted by personal and social factors. Identity is multifaceted and this intersectionality can create complex encounters or paradoxical experiences for people when they are grieving. Join us in this webinar where we will explore inclusive practices to support people who are grieving and the multifaceted layers that can impact grief.

Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education

June 25, 2026

10 - 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.

Find the complete 2026 schedule and registration information at dougy.org/webinars.

Dougy Center offers online grief education for school personnel

Are you a professional working directly with K-12 students? Dougy Center has a comprehensive, two-course professional development bundle to meet your grief education needs.

This bundle, Grief Education for School Personnel, is designed to equip school personnel with the knowledge and skills to support children and families who are grieving.

The first course, Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education, provides learners with the essential knowledge and skills to understand the core principles of grief-informed best practices. Through engaging modules and real-world examples, learners will gain clear action steps to apply these principles to their personal and professional lives.

The second course, Supporting Students Who Are Grieving, equips education professionals with practical strategies to effectively support students who are grieving someone in their life who has died. This course provides actionable tools for educators and school staff to help support students who are grieving in kindergarten through high school environments.

Find more information and to register for the bundle here.

Training Highlights

National Presentations

Jana Decristofaro presented a customized training for Oregon Center for Excellence on January 22, 2026.
Uncharted Territory: Supporting Children and Families Living with an Advance Serious Illness, a Dougy Center grief education webinar, was presented by Rebecca Hobbs-Lawrence on Thursday, January 22, 2026.
Dougy Center hosted its annual Virtual Professional Seminar on January 26-30, 2026

We love to hear from you!

We are so grateful to have connected with individuals from all over the world for this year’s Virtual Professional Seminar. Here’s what a few attendees had to say about their experience:

“The seminar helped me better understand the depth of grief and how to respond with compassion, patience and wisdom. It strengthened my skills and renewed my commitment to walk alongside individuals and families in a more sensitive and informed way.”

“I have come to the Virtual Professional Seminar for a few years now and I find it to be very insightful, engaging and moving experience every time. I enjoy it very much and learn something new every time I come.”

“The training met my overall goals by deepening my understanding of grief and equipping me with practical, compassionate ways to support others. It strengthened my confidence and aligned well with my desire to serve individuals and communities with greater sensitivity and care.”

About Dougy Center

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.