The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families - Portland OR
About This Group
The Dougy Center is the internationally recognized pioneer in peer grief support for children, teens, young adults, and families in the Portland metro area. With locations in SE Portland, Canby, and Beaverton, The Dougy Center provides free age-specific support groups for grieving families, including the Esperanza program for Spanish-speaking families, Pathways for those facing advanced illness, and L.Y.G.H.T. for youth in foster care dealing with grief and loss.
What to Expect
The Dougy Center offers carefully structured peer support groups organized by age and relationship to the person who died. Groups use creative activities, play, conversation, and shared experience to help children and families process grief. Children’s groups are facilitated by trained volunteers who create safe spaces for expression. Young adult groups provide peer connection for those navigating grief during critical developmental years. Esperanza groups offer culturally responsive grief support in Spanish. Both virtual and in-person groups are available.
About The Dougy Center
Founded in 1982, The Dougy Center was the first peer grief support program for children in the United States and has served as a model for hundreds of similar programs worldwide. Named after a young boy who wanted to help other children experiencing grief, the center has helped thousands of families navigate the painful journey of loss.
Meeting Details
Schedule: Ongoing groups — contact for intake and scheduling
Format: In-person and virtual, age-specific groups
Locations: SE Portland, Canby, and Beaverton, OR
Who This Group Is For
Grieving children (ages 3+), teens, young adults, and their families. Specialized groups serve Spanish-speaking families (Esperanza), foster youth (L.Y.G.H.T.), and those facing anticipatory grief (Pathways).
Contact Information
Phone: (503) 775-5683
Website: dougy.org
Additional Information
Cost: All services are completely free
Registration: Contact for intake process
Confidentiality: All group discussions are confidential
This listing is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation.