News from Dougy Center, February 2023

Upcoming Events


26th Annual Porsche Boxster Raffle

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Dougy Center Grief Education Webinars:

Inclusivity, Intersectionality, and Grief

February 16, 2023

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Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education

March 9, 2023

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Reflection Benefit & Auction

May 12, 2023

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presented by

2023 International Summer Institute

July 24-28, 2023

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Tips for dealing with stigma and shame

While any type of death can leave families feeling isolated, some are met with more shame and stigma than others. Suicide, substance 

use/misuse, homicide, and now COVID, are deaths that often evoke more disapproval or blame toward the person for how they died. 


Children, teens, and their families will react differently to an implied stigma, but here are some common ways they can be affected: 

  • Being hesitant or nervous to talk about how their person died. 
  • Choosing to keep how the person died a secret to avoid judgment from others. 
  • Experiencing a lack of opportunities to remember and talk about how their person lived when everyone is so focused on how they died. 
  • Experiencing shame, blame, and guilt. 
  • Feeling isolated or distancing themselves from others. 


How to support children and teens: 

  • Be honest about the death and open to their questions. This helps children and teens know you can be trusted to tell the truth. 
  • Practice ways they can respond. Examples include, “I’d rather talk about my dad and not how he died,” or “I’m not comfortable answering that,” or, “That’s not a helpful question.” 
  • Remember and talk about how the person lived. Their life was unique and important. You can help by sharing pictures, stories, and details about the person’s life. Sometimes just remembering to say the person’s name can be very meaningful. 
  • Depending on the child’s developmental level, talk with them about factors that can contribute to stigma related to how the person died, such as racism, classism, personal beliefs, lack of access to medical care, and other issues relevant to your family and community. 
  • Find ways to connect with others who have had someone die in a similar way — this could be a support group, advocacy efforts, or remembrance events. 

Regardless of people’s intentions, hurtful and insensitive comments can negatively impact children and teens. Sharing these tips with family, friends, teachers, and other adults in a child’s or teen’s life may help.  

Buy a ticket. Help a child. Win a 2023 Porsche!

Don't miss your chance to win a brand new 2023 Porsche Boxster valued at $69,970! Tickets are just $100 each and only 2,500 tickets will be sold. All proceeds will help fund peer grief support groups, resources, and community outreach programs for kids, teens, and families.

 

All ticket-holders will be entered to win three $500 cash prizes! The first $500 drawing is THIS FRIDAY, February 10, 2023. Cash prize winners will be included in all drawings. Purchase your tickets before noon on February 10 to be eligible. The ticket for the Porsche Boxster will be drawn on May 12, 2023.


Find complete rules and purchase your ticket here.

Applications now available for 2023 International Summer Institute Scholarships

In partnership with the New York Life Foundation, Dougy Center is awarding four International Summer Institute scholarships for free tuition, a waiver of $1,650. The 2023 International Summer Institute will be held at Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon from July 24-28.


International Summer Institute participants will join Dougy Center’s knowledgeable staff for an opportunity to discover the fundamentals of developing and operating peer support groups for children, teens, and families who are grieving. Learn with colleagues from around the United States and beyond who plan to start or who have already directly established programs for children and families who are grieving.


Scholarship applications must be received by April 1, 2023. Find more information and the 2023 scholarship application here.

Save the date for the 2023 Reflection Benefit!

Join us to celebrate Dougy Center’s Reflection Benefit & Auction, presented by KinderCare Learning Companies, on Friday, May 12, 2023, at the Portland Art Museum and online. This fabulous evening of connection will feature original works of art made by Dougy Center participants and an amazing auction. The event culminates as we draw the winning ticket for the 26th Annual Porsche Boxster Raffle! Find out more at dougy.org/benefit2023

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dougy.org · help@dougy.org · 503.775.5683