AIKEN COUNTY, S.C. (WFXG) - An organization based in Portland, Oregon, is actively supporting children in foster care as they navigate the challenges of grief.
This initiative, known as the Dougy Center's L.Y.G.H.T (Listening and Led by Youth in Foster Care: Grief, Hope, and Transitions) program, aims to provide a platform for peer-based support among youth in foster care who are grieving loss.
By creating a nurturing and non-judgmental environment, the program facilitates both giving and receiving support.
In a recent press release, it was announced that the program would extend its reach to Aiken, South Carolina, through a partnership with Helping Hands, Inc.
This collaboration aims to support children who have experienced abuse, abandonment, or neglect and have been placed in emergency homes.
Aiken holds a special significance for the Dougy Center, as it was the hometown of Dougy Turno. In 1981, Dougy traveled to Portland, Oregon, for experimental treatment for an inoperable brain tumor. His journey and his courage in facing his own impending death inspired Beverly Chappell, a nurse, to establish the Dougy Center, the first-ever peer grief support program for children.
For more information about the L.Y.G.H.T program, visit dougy.org/lyght or contact lyght@dougy.org.
