In 1968, Dougy Turno was born in Aiken, South Carolina. In his brief 13 years of life, Dougy Turno would inspire a new model of care, The Dougy Center Model, which would serve thousands of children, teens, young adults, and parents throughout the world. Diagnosed and living with an advanced serious illness, Dougy's bravery and compassion for children and teens who were also living with advanced serious illnesses initiated the first peer grief support program for children and their families grieving a death. Dougy Center, respectfully and affectionately named after Dougy Turno, offered its first group in 1982 to 4 children at our founder's home. Since that first group on December 29, 1982, to the present day, we have used The Dougy Center Model to provide support in a safe place for thousands of children, teens, young adults, and their families who are grieving. This book explains Dougy Center's history and the model that has been used to build and grow more than 500 programs throughout North America and into other continents as well.

Start the conversation around grief--a normal and healthy experience we all share as human beings. Grief is a small word for a BIG experience. Grief affects us emotionally, but also physically, socially, spiritually, and really in every part of our lives. But the important thing to know is that grief is natural, normal, and healthy, and it's an experience we all have because we're human.

Welcome to the Grief Club - a place where one human who experienced a terrible loss, Janine Kwoh, is at the door to welcome other humans who are grieving. It is not an instruction manual, or a step-by-step playbook, or a memoir. It is, rather, a fresh, empathetic approach to all of the surprising, confusing, brutal, funny, and downright bizarre parts of grief. Combining her own experiences with grief - the author's partner died when both were in their late 20s - with what she learned from others in her 'grief club', Kwoh uses brief writings and observations, hand-drawn illustrations, and diagrams to explore all the different ways grief happens. Plus, wisdom and understanding in every line - there is no right or wrong way to grieve - and permission to grieve in whichever ways you need, for however long you need to. What to do when the world is your grief trigger. Signs you have grief brain. And gentle assurances: Grief isn't linear, but it does change and will soften over time. It is a book to put into the hands of anyone who is grieving, because from its very first page, that person will know they are no longer alone.

This guidebook presents 35 simple and practical suggestions for supporting a child who is grieving. Drawn from stories, suggestions and insight shared by children and their family members at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families, this book explores behaviors and reactions of children at different ages and stages of development; outlets for children to safely express their thoughts and feelings; and ways to be supportive during difficult times, such as a memorial service, anniversary or holiday.

Through the stories, thoughts and feelings of other kids who have experienced a murder, this hands-on- workbook allows children to see that they are not alone in their feelings and experiences. Includes drawing activities, puzzles and word games to help explain confusing elements specific to a murder, such as the police, media and legal system.

This guidebook outlines the many thoughts, challenges and reactions unique to grieving teens. Drawn from stories, suggestions and insight shared by teens and family members, it explores how teens view death and how it impacts their lives as well as offering suggestions as to ways of support and understanding.