L.Y.G.H.T. News, April 2025

A program of Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families

Issue 17, April 2025

Get Grief-Informed for Youth in Foster Care

Whether it's a death or non-death loss, many youth in foster care are grieving. Grief is a natural and normal response to loss, and the way we support these young people can make a life-changing difference.

Dougy Center will soon be building upon our #UnderstandGrief campaign to raise awareness on grief-informed best practices for youth in foster care. Our Get Grief-Informed for Youth in Foster Care webpage will include numerous resources for child welfare professionals who support youth in foster care. Professionals will be provided with information on what it means to be grief-informed and how to take action to make meaningful change in a youth’s life.

The webpage and resources will be available starting May 1 in recognition of National Foster Care Month and can be accessed here.

The L.Y.G.H.T. 2024 Annual Report is Now Available

Hot off the press! The findings and feedback from youth who participated in the L.Y.G.H.T (Listening and Led by Youth in Foster Care: Grief, Hope, and Transitions) program in 2024 are now available!

Here are high-level highlights and youth feedback from the report:

8 out of 10 eligible youth chose to participate in the voluntary L.Y.G.H.T. program

75% of youth who participated in the program were from historically racially minoritized communities

From January - December 2024, the L.Y.G.H.T. program was accessed more than 225 times by youth in foster care

Youth who engaged in the program reported INCREASED social support, INCREASED hopefulness, and INCREASED self-worth

Two-thirds of L.Y.G.H.T. participants reported that their problems had improved since participating in L.Y.G.H.T.

100% of youth who provided feedback on the program said they would recommend the program to other youth in foster care

Here's what youth participants had to say:

“I feel like L.Y.G.H.T. gives me the time and space to speak openly and safely, without being judged about what I’ve been through or what I have lost throughout the years. I feel like I can say anything. That’s why I like to come almost all the time, the only time I don’t come if I am having a really hard day and can’t express how I feel because I am hurting. Mainly it is a place I can talk openly without me ever feeling not listened to. I feel safe.”

“I heard that it was a great opportunity to talk about the things that I grieve about and things that are difficult to speak about in most places. I choose to participate in L.Y.G.H.T because I feel that I need to be heard every once in a while, and L.Y.G.H.T gives me that chance.”

“I would recommend it to other teens. I feel that it is a good experience and for people to know that they are not alone.”

Find the complete report here.

L.Y.G.H.T. Welcomes Newly Trained Facilitators

Twenty-one new facilitators completed the L.Y.G.H.T Facilitator training February 4-6, 2025 in Columbia, South Carolina. As the Listening and Led by Youth in Foster Care: Grief, Hope, & Transitions (L.Y.G.H.T.) program expands across the state, these wonderful facilitators will help to start up and support program delivery of teens and young adult peer grief support groups across all four regions of the state. We extend our deepest gratitude to our existing and newest facilitators for all they do to enhance well-being for youth in foster care throughout South Carolina!

New Community Sites to Offer L.Y.G.H.T.

A warm welcome to our newest L.Y.G.H.T. community groups in South Carolina!

Helping Hands, located in Aiken County, South Carolina, is currently offering a teen L.Y.G.H.T. group (ages 13-17) and will expand its program delivery to offer a L.Y.G.H.T. group for young adults (ages 18-23) in April 2025.

Landmarks for Families, located in Charleston County, South Carolina, is offering a L.Y.G.H.T. group for teens (ages 13-17) .

Palmetto Place, located in Richland County, South Carolina, is offering teen (ages 13-17) and young adult (ages 18-23) L.Y.G.H.T. groups.

Additionally, LY.G.H.T. continues to be offered in the Upstate and PeeDee regions:

Thornwell, located in Laurens County, South Carolina, is offering a L.Y.G.H.T. group for teens (ages 13-17).

Crosswell, located in Sumter County, South Carolina is offering a L.Y.G.H.T. group for teens (ages 13-17 years old).

All group offerings welcome residents at a community site, as well as teens or young adults who are in foster care homes or in transitional or independent living in the local area.

If you are in South Carolina and would like to learn more about making a youth referral to one of our L.Y.G.H.T. community sites in the Lowcountry, Midlands, Upstate or PeeDee regions, please click here, contact SC L.Y.G.H.T. State Coordinator, Juliette Martinez, MSW, or visit our program finder.

Stay Connected with L.Y.G.H.T.

Follow all things L.Y.G.H.T. on our Instagram and Facebook social media platforms where you will find weekly posts and L.Y.G.H.T. updates, including upcoming events and grief resources for supporting youth in foster care.

Like our page on Facebook: @lyghtprogram

For more information about L.Y.G.H.T., send us an email or visit our website.