L.Y.G.H.T. News, April 2026

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

Issue 21, April 2026

A Milestone Worth Celebrating: Five Years of Support and Commitment

This month, we celebrate a meaningful milestone in the L.Y.G.H.T. program as our longest participating youth member recently completed her journey after five years of involvement.

She first joined L.Y.G.H.T. at 13 years old as part of our very first research study in South Carolina. At the time, the program was just beginning, and participating meant taking a chance on something new. Over the years, she embraced the program as her safe space and remained committed to the community built within it.

Her journey highlights an important aspect of the L.Y.G.H.T. program: youth can remain involved for as long as the program serves them and as long as they are eligible. Her five-year commitment reflects the trust she placed in the program, our facilitators, and the L.Y.G.H.T. members in her groups. Her feedback about her experience has helped and will continue to help strengthen the importance of peer grief support for youth in foster care who are grieving.

2025 Annual Impact Report Coming Soon

The L.Y.G.H.T. team is preparing to release our 2025 Annual Impact Report, which will highlight key data and outcomes from the past year, offering insight into program participation, delivery, and the feedback of youth involved in L.Y.G.H.T.

The report will also recognize the partnerships and facilitators who help make this work possible and support youth in foster care through peer grief support.

As we head into another year of L.Y.G.H.T. program delivery in both South Carolina and Oregon, we remain committed to strengthening partnerships and expanding support for youth in foster care who are grieving.

We look forward to sharing the 2025 Annual Impact Report soon and another year of impact together.

Looking Ahead: National Foster Care Month

As we approach May, we want to recognize National Foster Care Month, a time to raise awareness about the experiences of youth in foster care and the people who support them.

This month highlights the strength and experiences of young people in foster care and the importance of stable relationships, supportive communities, and access to resources.

With L.Y.G.H.T., our work focuses on supporting youth in foster care who are grieving by creating peer support spaces where they can connect, share their experiences, and feel less alone.

We encourage our partners and communities to join in raising awareness through our #GetGriefInformed campaign and continue the commitment to support youth in foster care.

Find information and free resources here.

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

Follow L.Y.G.H.T. on Instagram: @lyghtprogram and Facebook: @lyghtprogram for updates, upcoming events, and grief resources for supporting youth in foster care.

Make a Referral in South Carolina or Portland

As we continue to expand the L.Y.G.H.T. program, there are two key pathways for a youth to be referred to receive peer grief support:

Youth can refer themselves here

Youth can be referred by a care provider here (e.g., caseworker, foster parent/resource parent, advocate, therapist, etc.)

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