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The Dougy Center

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Coordinates: 45°29′40.5″N 122°36′33.8″W / 45.494583°N 122.609389°W / 45.494583; -122.609389
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The Dougy Center
Founded1982 (1982)
FounderBeverly Chappell
FocusGrief support
Location
Coordinates45°29′40.5″N 122°36′33.8″W / 45.494583°N 122.609389°W / 45.494583; -122.609389
Area served
Portland metropolitan area
Key people
Employees
18
Volunteers
140 (2004)[3]
Websitewww.dougy.org

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. This prompted Kübler-Ross to connect Chappell with Dougy and his family, and Chappell to create support groups for grieving children. Since its establishment, more than 20,000 children and their family members have received support from the organization.

In 2009, an unidentified arsonist destroyed the center. Construction on a new building began in April 2012, but in the interim, the center operated in Northeast Portland. Following $4.5 million in construction costs, the current 11,750-square-foot facility opened in February 2013 in its original location.

Mission and model

The building's exterior in 2014

The Dougy Center, established in 1982 in Portland, Oregon[4] offers support groups and services to grieving children.[5] It has been described as a "safe haven where grief is normal", and is assisted by support groups, professional staff, and trained volunteer facilitators.[3] 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.[3] Its peer support program and network of children's grief services make the organization the first of its kind in the United States.[1][3] 500 independent programs around the world are based on its model,[6] more than 300 of which have staff who were trained by the organization's staff.[1][7] Its Summer Institute offers training for the leaders of other grief support programs.[8]

The center serves 400 children and 250 adults each month,[9][10] focusing its efforts on children and teens (ages 3–18) and young adults (ages 19–30).[1] 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.[1] Support groups are offered in Canby, Hillsboro, and Portland.[11] In 2004, 140 volunteer facilitators donated more than 10,500 hours of service to the center.[3] The organization employs a staff of around fifteen individuals, and is supported by an advisory board and board of directors.[3][12][13]

One of the center's meeting rooms

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.[14] 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".[1][6]

The organization has satellite locations in Canby and Hillsboro, called The Dougy Center Walker's House and The Dougy Center Linklater Commons, respectively.[1][15] As of 2011, the Hillsboro location serves 45 children and teens in three groups.[16]

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.[3] 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.[17][18] Other funding sources have included a concert headlined by a local singer-songwriter.[19] The Dougy Center hosts an annual Reflection Benefit, which includes a silent auction, dinner, and live auction.[10] Porsche Boxsters have been raffled off at the benefit for fifteen years.[20] 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".[2]

History

Signage commemorating Dougy Tunro; Beverly Chappell founded The Dougy Center in 1982 in his memory.

Beverly Chappell founded The Dougy Center in 1982 in tribute to Dougy Turno, who died of a brain tumor at age thirteen.[1] In August 1981, Dougy wrote a letter to psychiatrist and author Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a pioneer in near-death studies, on the subject of his own death. This prompted Kübler-Ross to connect Chappell with Dougy and his family, and Chappell to create support groups for grieving children.[1] Despite Kübler-Ross' early influence on the organization, The Dougy Center does not subscribe to the Kübler-Ross model (a series of five emotional stages experienced by survivors of an intimate's death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance) and has even expressed skepticism about the model.[21]

In June 2009,[5] an unidentified arsonist destroyed the center.[14] According to Schuurman, the center suffered three arson attempts previously: a fire burned the professional building three months prior and was followed by the discovery of a soda can filled with flammable liquid, then the burning down of the center's play structure.[4] Building and content losses were estimated at $750,000. Business and financial records, as well as program materials were lost in the fire.[4] The organization spent a year attempting to recover a "fair" insurance settlement, during which the building remained vacant and was subjected to vandalism (stolen copper pipes resulted in a flooded basement).[6] Deconstruction and demolition of the building began in May 2010, following receipt of a $1.2 million settlement.[2][6] During the construction of the new center, which began in April 2012,[22][23] the center operated on Northeast Glisan Street near 22nd Avenue in Northeast Portland and reportedly never cancelled a single support meeting.[5][9]

On February 2, 2013, the center hosted a celebration to commemorate the completion and grand opening of its new facility.[5] The 11,750-square-foot building, located at its original site on Southeast 52nd Avenue in Portland's Creston-Kenilworth neighborhood, cost $4.5 million and was designed by Scott Edwards Architecture and built by Bremik Construction.[5][14] Donations and the insurance settlement supplied seventy percent of the construction costs.[22]

Reception

In 2013, Schuurman was awarded the Clinical Practice Award by Association for Death Education and Counseling, one of the oldest organizations in the counseling psychology field of dying, death and bereavement.[24] In 2014, the center's reconstructed building design earned Scott Edwards Architecture an Award of Merit (also known as the Building Industry Community Spirit award) at the Gold Nugget Awards, which recognize "design excellence of U.S. and international projects submitted by builders, developers, architects and land planners".[25][26] The firm also received the Against All Odds Award at the 2014 Design Excellence Awards, presented by the Oregon chapter of the International Interior Design Association.[27]

Publications

  • 35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child.[28]
    35 Maneras de ayudar a un niño angustiado o apenado (in Spanish). ISBN 978-1-890534-08-0.[29]
  • Helping Children Cope with Death. ISBN 1-890534-00-5.[30]
    Cómo ayudar a un niño a sobrellevar una muerte (in Spanish). ISBN 978-1-890534-09-7.[31]
  • Helping the Grieving Student: A Guide for Teachers. 1998. ISBN 1-890534-01-3.[32][33]
  • Helping Teens Cope with Death. 1999. ISBN 1-890534-02-1.[32][34]
    Ayuda para adolescents sobrellevar una muerte de un querido (in Spanish). ISBN 978-1-890534-12-7.[35]
  • I wish I was in a lonely meadow (1999)[32]
  • We don't like remembering them as a field of grass (1991)[32]
  • What About the Kids? Understanding Their Needs in Funeral Planning & Services. 1999. ISBN 1-890534-04-8.[32][36]
  • When Death Impacts Your School: A Guide for Administrators. 2000. ISBN 1-890534-05-6.[32][37]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i van der Leeden, I. "Working Through Grief in the Volcano Room". Festival of Children Foundation. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "The Dougy Center supports grieving children, Teens and families". Partnership Northwest. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Ashton, David F. (2009). "Dougy Center blaze: Arson!". East Portland News. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved June 5, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c d e Stevens, Suzanne (January 28, 2013). "Dougy Center moves to new digs three years after fire". Portland Business Journal. Portland, Oregon: American City Business Journals. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Webber, Angela (June 8, 2011). "Dougy Center ready to rebuild". Daily Journal of Commerce. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  6. ^ Wells, Aurora (July 2, 2011). "What is the Dougy Center? An Interview with Donna Schuurman". SevenPonds. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  7. ^ "The Dougy Center Summer Institute (Portland, OR)". National Alliance for Grieving Children. 2011. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  8. ^ a b Sinovic, Emily (February 2, 2013). "Dougy Center reopens: 'It feels like we have a home again'". Portland, Oregon: KATU. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "Reflection – The Dougy Center Annual Benefit Dinner & Auction". WVDO. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  10. ^ "Feldenkrais Marathon: A Fundraiser for The Dougy Center". Vital Human Community Feldenkraise Clinic. April 29, 2013. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  11. ^ "Board of Directors". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  12. ^ "Advisory Board". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  13. ^ a b c Beightel, Doug (February 2, 2013). "The Dougy Center for grief counseling celebrates new home in Southeast Portland (photos)". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  14. ^ "Contact and Directions". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  15. ^ "The Dougy Center for Grieving Children seeks volunteers for support groups in Hillsboro". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. July 14, 2011. ISSN 8750-1317. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  16. ^ Beaven, Steve (November 13, 2012). "The Dougy Center gets a check for more than $10,000 from the Rose Festival". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  17. ^ Jarvis, Rich (November 21, 2012). "Portland Rose Festival Presents $10,478 to The Dougy Center". Portland Society Page. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  18. ^ "Loss and Grief, the Dougy Center and Grief Watch". Portland, Oregon: KBOO. January 27, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  19. ^ "Dougy Center raffling off 2012 Porsche Boxster". Portland, Oregon: KPTV. May 1, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  20. ^ Cosmos, Carolyn. "After the Loss: Scientists Debate Stages of Grieving". The Washington Diplomat. Silver Spring, Maryland. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  21. ^ a b Sit, Jacqueline (April 18, 2012). "Non-profit Dougy Center rebuilds after arson". Portland, Oregon: KGW. Retrieved March 23, 2013.
  22. ^ Beaven, Steve (April 11, 2012). "After a 2009 fire, the Dougy Center will rebuild in Southeast Portland, starting with a groundbreaking on April 18". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Advance Publications. ISSN 8750-1317. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  23. ^ "The Dougy Center's Donna Schuurman Receives 2013 ADEC Clinical Practice Award". The Dougy Center. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  24. ^ "The Dougy Center". Scott Edwards Architecture. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  25. ^ Bajandas, Inka. "Two Scott Edwards Architecture Designs Win Gold Nugget Awards". Oregon Opportunity Network. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  26. ^ "Announcing the 2014 Design Excellence Award Winners!". International Interior Design Association / Oregon Chapter. Retrieved October 4, 2015.
  27. ^ "35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  28. ^ "35 Maneras de ayudar a un niño angustiado o apenado (35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child)". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  29. ^ "Helping Children Cope with Death". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  30. ^ "Cómo ayudar a un niño a sobrellevar una muerte (Helping Children Cope Death)". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  31. ^ a b c d e f Goldman, Linda (2001). Breaking the Silence: A Guide to Helping Children with Complicated Grief – Suicide, Homicide, AIDS, Violence and Abuse. Psychology Press. p. 268. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  32. ^ "Helping the Grieving Student: A Guide for Teachers". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  33. ^ "Helping Teens Cope with Death". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  34. ^ "Ayuda para adolescents sobrellevar una muerte de un querido (Helping Teens Cope with Death)". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  35. ^ "What About the Kids? Understanding Their Needs in Funeral Planning & Services". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
  36. ^ "When Death Impacts Your School: A Guide for School Administrators". The Dougy Center. Retrieved June 13, 2013.
External videos
video icon "Dougy Center reopens after fire" (February 1, 2013, KGW)
video icon "Cookie Monster & Elmo visit the Dougy Center " (May 3, 2013, KGW)
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