The Dougy Center

The National Center for Grieving Children and Families

 

A safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences

 

In this video Show Me Portland video host, Jessica interviews Donna L. Schuurman, the Executive Director of The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon. Founded in 1982, The Dougy Center is the National Center for Grieving Children and Families. Its mission is to provide support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and their families grieving a death can share their experiences, so that they can transform a very difficult, painful situation into growth.

 

During this video interview, Donna gives us an overview of the history and purpose of The Dougy Center and provides details about their groundbreaking grief support group model. She also tells us about volunteering opportunities that are available with The Dougy Center, and the kinds of donations that the Dougy Center welcomes.

 

Finally we learn about the remarkable global impact of The Dougy Center. From a small, grass-roots program that started in someone's basement, it has grown to be replicated throughout the United States and in Japan, Australia, Dubai, Germany, Italy, and beyond as a way to help families after a death. It is estimated that over five hundred organizations around the world use the Dougy Center peer support group model, and credit the Portland Dougy Center with their founding.

 

The Dougy Center is a non-profit organization that is supported entirely by donations. They are always looking for volunteers and donations. If you'd like to reach The Dougy Center in Portland, Oregon, you can do so by calling them at (503) 775-5683 or toll free at (866) 775-5683. You can view their web site at www.dougy.org, or you can contact them by filling out the form on this page.