The Right Place When Nothing Feels Right
At Dougy Center, you will find support, resources, and connection before and after a death.
Grief Resources & Toolkits
Whether you’re grieving, or you’re helping someone who is grieving, Dougy Center is here for you. Find tip sheets, activities, podcasts, and more through our personalized toolkits.
Find Grief Support Near You
Locate peer grief support groups in Portland and around the world.
What We Do
At Dougy Center, we create safe spaces and free resources for children and families who are grieving. Our pioneering peer grief support model, professional training, and world-renowned programs and advocacy bring hope and healing around the world.
The Impact of Dougy Center
Read stories about the positive impact of Dougy Center on children and families who are grieving
Meet the Lucas Family
Brigitte Lucas began bringing her daughter, Braelynn, to Dougy Center’s “Littles” group twice a month after her husband, Ethan, died of COVID just a few days before Christmas in 2021. Dougy Center is one of the few places where Brigitte, Braelynn, and Blaykley can talk about Ethan and feel safe to express whatever they need. Like other young children who are grieving, Braelynn struggled after Ethan’s death as she tried to understand what happened. She was tearful sometimes, mad sometimes, and sometimes regressed to earlier developmental stages. Brigitte was amazed when these behaviors began to ease not long after they started a Dougy Center group.
Read the Full StoryGrief Out Loud Podcast
Grief Out Loud® is our internationally acclaimed podcast where we talk openly about death, dying, and grief
Latest Episode
November 1st, 2024
Let's Hear It For The Kids - Grief In Their Own Words
In honor of Children's Grief Awareness month, we asked kids and teens to talk about grief in their own words. This compilation episode includes clips from children and teens reflecting on their people who died, their varied responses to loss, and what they hope grief will feel like in future. Thank you to all the children and teens who contributed to this episode - and to their parents and caregivers for facilitating the recording process. read more...
Go to EpisodeNews & Events
November 1st, 2024
Día de Los Muertos
Día de los Muertos is a time of celebration, and gathering of families and friends, to remember their loved ones. We encourage you and your family to honor the lives of the people in your life who have died with their favorite food, drinks, and activities. On November 1 and 2, we invite you to post photos of your loved one in celebration of Día de Los Muertos to your social media. Use #dougycenterofrenda and tag Dougy Center @thedougycenter.
Read MoreEvent
November 21st, 2024
FREE TO ATTEND: Too Young to Grieve? A Dougy Center Children's Grief Awareness Day Webinar
A common myth is that children may not be impacted like adults after a death. In fact, it's not uncommon to hear comments such as "They are too young to understand" when referring to children's experiences of loss. Join Dougy Center staff for this free webinar where we dispel myths and raise awareness about children's grief.
Article
October 31st, 2024
Thank you for your support of Focus on Hope!
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we raised more than $105,000 to directly benefit Dougy Center's vital services. This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the incredible support of people like you, who attended the luncheon and/or hosted a Dougy Center Focus on Hope challenge page!
About Dougy Center
Dougy Center was founded in 1982 to support children and families who are grieving before and after a death. Today, The Dougy Center Model is world-renowned and has helped 60,000 people find hope and healing.