Announcing Family Ties, a new resource for when a family member is facing an advanced serious illness

When a loved one is diagnosed with an advanced serious illness, everyone is affected. Life is changing in every way, the future is uncertain, and everything can feel overwhelming. For children, teens, and adults, it can seem like you’re trapped in a maze.

Family Ties, a new resource for when a family member is facing an advanced serious illness, was developed by Dougy Center staff through our Pathways program. With activities, games, and practical information, Family Ties can help you strengthen relationships, spark meaningful conversations, create lasting memories, and have fun too!

Made possible by a generous grant from First Tech Federal Credit Union, the Family Ties kit includes:
- An activity journal for kids and teens
- An adult guidebook with activities for families
- A Huddle or Hoopla game
- Heart Note cards

The Family Ties kit is $29.95 and available through The Dougy Center bookstore.

For information about Pathways support groups and additional resources to help kids and teens facing the advanced serious illness of a family member, visit the Pathways page on our website.

Portraits of Courage, The Dougy Center's Fall Luncheon, is October 25

Want to learn more about The Dougy Center’s work with grieving children and families? Event chairs, Thane and Marnie Eddington, invite you to Portraits of Courage, The Dougy Center’s Fall Luncheon, sponsored by KinderCare Education.

The annual event is Friday, October 25, 2019 at the Sentinel Hotel, 614 Southwest 11th Avenue in Portland. The reception begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by the lunch and program from noon to 1 p.m. This year’s event will feature a gallery of art created by Dougy Center participants.

Join us as a guest or host a table of 10 people in support of The Dougy Center. There is no cost to attend this fundraising luncheon.

To find out more or to RSVP, contact Rebecca Sturges at 503-542-4827 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Tips to help grieving children & teens cope with fear

It’s common for children and teens (and even adults) to have an increased sense of fear and anxiety after a death. Acknowledging that this is a normal reaction can help children who feel overwhelmed. Here are some things to keep in mind if your child is coping with fear after a death.

1. Listen and ask questions
It’s natural to want to reassure children and teens and take away their fears, but it can be more helpful to start by listening and hearing their worries. If you want to offer reassurance, do so without making promises that can’t be kept.

Look for opportunities to ask children and teens what they need and validate their suggestions.

2. Talk together
When fears arise, children can feel overwhelmed and want to push the fears away. As scary as fears are, it’s more helpful to start by acknowledging them. Saying fears out loud can be a positive step toward facing and coping with fear.

Some fears and worries are rooted in a lack of knowledge. Ask children and teens if they have questions about the death or the person who died. Answer honestly, in language they can understand.

3. Provide comfort
Predictability can go a long way towards helping children and teens feel safe after a death. Routines around going to bed, mealtimes, school, and activities can provide reassuring structure. It’s also good to remain flexible and allow for things to shift and change when needed.

Fears often show up as a repetitive thought or image that children can’t get out of their minds. Encourage children and teens to come up with a phrase or an image that they find comforting. Every time the scary fear or thought arises, they can replace it with their comfort thought or image.

Knowing how to help your child or teen through fears can be challenging. We’re here to offer resources and support. Please contact us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Dougy Center teens tell their stories through film

Four Dougy Center teens recently had the opportunity to share their grief stories by creating their own short documentaries.

Hosted by NW Documentary and MyVoice Music, the Recording Resilience program pairs teens who attend Dougy Center support groups with professional filmmakers. Through the week-long workshop, teens learn the fundamentals of digital storytelling and create a documentary about themselves and the person in their life who died. Here are their films.

Special thank you to NW Documentary and MyVoice Music for making this unique program possible!