News from Dougy Center, September 2021 |
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Upcoming Events
2021 Portraits of Courage Campaign
October 18 - November 18
November 18
Tickets on Sale Soon!
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Dougy Center Welcomes New Staff |
Dougy Center recently welcomed four new staff members to our team! With their professional expertise, we look forward to growing our peer grief support programs and serving more families both in person and virtually.
Cristina Chipriano, L.C.S.W.-S. comes to us from Bo’s Place in Houston and is our Director of Equity & Community Outreach and the Esperanza Program Coordinator, a brand-new position for Dougy Center. Cristina works to support children who are grieving, particularly those who historically have not had access to services. Cristina said, “When I first walked through the doors of the Dougy Center, I thought to myself, ‘I need to find a way to be a part of this work!’ Fast forward a few years, I am honored to call myself a member of Team Dougy.”
Valenca Valenzuela, M.S.W. is our new Volunteer & Group Coordinator. A volunteer facilitator since 2009, Valenca will continue to serve families in her new role and help our amazing volunteers who are an integral part of our mission. Outside of Dougy Center, Valenca enjoys time spent in nature, camping, beach combing, gardening, traveling, doing art, and spending time with her beautiful children.
Parker Sczepanik has joined Team Dougy as the Operations Manager. Also a volunteer for more than five years, Parker is applying her organizational and analytical skills to create and maintain Dougy Center systems, and keep things running smoothly.
Rounding out our team is Melissa Peede, M.S. As a Group Coordinator, Melissa directly serves families who are grieving. Melissa said, “My personal life experience in loss and death has created a passion for normalizing and validating grief. I am thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Dougy Center and those who enter our doors.”
Welcome Cristina, Valenca, Parker, and Melissa! Find more about Dougy Center staff here.
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Portraits of Courage Has a New Look for 2021 |
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You can make an impact for kids and families who are grieving during Dougy Center's month-long Portraits of Courage Campaign. This year, we wanted to create something more in alignment with Covid safety protocols, including a series of smaller events and online connections.
With the theme, “Making Memories and Remembering Loved Ones,” the Portraits of Courage campaign will launch on October 18, 2021. Throughout the month, you are invited to show your support and learn more about Dougy Center's important work through fundraising incentives and peer-to-peer challenges.
The event culminates on National Children's Grief Awareness Day, November 18, 2021, with a virtual celebration open to everyone.
Stay tuned for more details coming soon!
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Is Someone Grieving at Your School? |
As students return to school across the country, some in-person and some virtual, many may have a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Heading to school with grief is never easy and it's even more challenging in the current context of the ongoing pandemic.
If you are a parent, caregiver, teacher, school counselor, or administrator, visit Dougy Center's online Toolkit for School Personnel to find tip sheets, activities, podcast episodes, and other free resources to help you support students who are grieving.
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