page_title: The Dougy Center
section_title: Mission and model
hierarchical_section_title: The Dougy Center / Mission and model
caption_attribution_description: English: The Dougy Center, Portland, Oregon (2013)
context_page_description: The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Oregon that offers support groups and services to grieving children and young adults. Its peer support program and network of children's grief services make the organization the first of its kind in the United States. 500 independent programs around the world are based on its model, more than 300 of which have staff who were trained by the organization's staff. The Dougy Center serves 400 children and 250 adults from the Portland metropolitan area each month, free of charge. Its main building is located in the Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, and its satellite locations in Canby and Hillsboro are called The Dougy Center Walker's House and The Dougy Center Linklater Commons, respectively.
  The organization was founded in 1982 by Beverly Chappell, in tribute to Dougy Turno, who died of a brain tumor at age thirteen. In August 1981, Dougy wrote a letter to Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a pioneer in near-death studies, on the subject of his own death.
context_section_description: The Dougy Center, established in 1982 in Portland, Oregon offers support groups and services to grieving children. It has been described as a "safe haven where grief is normal", and is assisted by support groups, professional staff, and trained volunteer facilitators. Groups are separated by age (for example, the "Littles" group is for children ages 3–5) and type of death. Through a peer support model, children are encouraged to talk and play with one another, sharing their experiences in the process. Its peer support program and network of children's grief services make the organization the first of its kind in the United States. 500 independent programs around the world are based on its model, more than 300 of which have staff who were trained by the organization's staff. Its Summer Institute offers training for the leaders of other grief support programs.
  The center serves 400 children and 250 adults each month, focusing its efforts on children and teens (ages 3–18) and young adults (ages 19–30). Since its establishment, more than 20,000 children and their family members in the Portland metropolitan area have benefited from The Dougy Center, free of charge. Support groups are offered in Canby, Hillsboro, and Portland. In 2004, 140 volunteer facilitators donated more than 10,500 hours of service to the center. The organization employs a staff of around fifteen individuals, and is supported by an advisory board and board of directors.
  The Dougy Center's main building contains round rooms designed with "creative" tunnels, some geared towards specific age groups; interactive features, such as slides and toys; and an art room. There exists a popular "Volcano Room", which contains gymnastics padding, a punching bag, and soft objects, allowing children to "express their feelings in whatever form they're comfortable with".
  The organization has satellite locations in Canby and Hillsboro, called The Dougy Center Walker's House and The Dougy Center Linklater Commons, respectively. As of 2011, the Hillsboro location serves 45 children and teens in three groups.
  The Dougy Center is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that has various revenue streams. According to Partnership Northwest, the center receives little government financial support and depends on donations from businesses, foundations, and individuals. In 2012, the center received more than $10,000 from Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield and the Portland Rose Festival, via the Regence Grand Floral Walk. Other funding sources have included a concert headlined by a local singer-songwriter. The Dougy Center hosts an annual Reflection Benefit, which includes a silent auction, dinner, and live auction. Porsche Boxsters have been raffled off at the benefit for fifteen years. In April 2010, Oregon Public Broadcasting sponsored a benefit event at Oaks Amusement Park called "Cookies with Cookie Monster", featuring a walkaround plush Cookie Monster. The event raised awareness for a program from the producers of Sesame Street called "When Families Grieve".
caption: One of the center's meeting rooms
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