News from Dougy Center, July 2025

Upcoming Events

WEBINARS

Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education, September 11, 2025. Find out more and register

Navigating Grief During the Holidays, October 16, 2025. Find out more and register

FREE TO ATTEND WITH REGISTRATION

Grief in the Teenage Years: What We Miss & What They Need, Children's Grief Awareness Day, November 20, 2025. Find out more and register

The need for grief support among children, teens, and young adults is on the rise

The number of children in Oregon who have had a family member die is increasing. According the JAG Institute’s latest Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, 67,000 or 1 in 13 children in Oregon will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they turn 18. This is an increase of nearly 29 percent from just five years ago.

For young adults, the number more than doubles. The latest findings show that 169,000 Oregonians will experience the death of a parent or sibling before turning 25.

The death of a family member is one of the most disruptive experiences in a child’s life, and without appropriate support, can lead to adverse long-term health and wellness outcomes. For example, bereaved youth are 175 percent more likely to develop issues around substance misuse, 97 percent of educators report that grief adversely impacts learning, and one in four youth who die by suicide are bereaved.

But there is good news! Recent studies show that youth who participate in support groups based on The Dougy Center Model have increased feelings of hopefulness, self-worth, and social support; and perceived problems felt better and more bearable.

To find more about Dougy Center's grief support programs, free resources, or grief support programs in your community, visit Dougy Center's website.

Free webinar focuses on supporting teens who are grieving

Teens navigating grief often respond with phrases like, "I'm fine" or "It's no big deal," leaving adults uncertain whether to inquire further. Yet, beneath the surface, many teens carry the weight of their loss in silence.

On Children's Grief Awareness Day, November 20, join Dougy Center staff for Grief in the Teenage Years: What We Miss & What They Need to explore the unique ways teens experience and express grief, dispel common myths, and offer strategies for creating safe spaces where they feel seen, heard, and supported.

This webinar is free to attend with registration, thanks to a generous grant from the New York Life Foundation. Learn more and register here.

Summertime Picnic: An activity for children, teens, and adults who are grieving

Gathering with family and friends, eating special foods, and sharing memories can be a meaningful way to remember your person who died. This summer, pack a picnic in honor of your person.

What foods would you want to include in your picnic basket that remind you of them? What foods would they have packed for a picnic? Do you have special memories of your person that are associated with certain foods?

Download this activity sheet to plan your summertime picnic.

Dougy Center offers online professional development opportunities for educators

It's likely that most teachers, school counselors, support staff, and administrators will work with a student who is grieving. Supporting anyone in grief can be intimidating, and especially when it’s a child or teen.

Dougy Center's comprehensive course bundle, Grief Education for School Personnel, can equip educators with the knowledge and skills to effectively support students who are grieving. This bundle includes two essential courses: Becoming Grief-Informed: Foundations of Grief Education and Supporting Students Who are Grieving. Courses are online and can be taken on your own schedule and at your own pace.

If you work in a K-12 environment and want to be able to better support your students who are grieving, this is the course for you. Find more information and how to register here.

Grief is hard. Your monthly gift helps.

Your monthly gifts ensure Dougy Center's critical resources remain free and available to the families we serve. For as little as $10 a month, you can cover the cost of grief support services for a child and their family for 30 days. For $125 a month, you can cover their costs for an entire year — the length of time most families receive support from Dougy Center. Find more about Dougy Center's Smooth Stone Circle here.

dougy.org · help@dougy.org · 503.775.5683