Early grief support is critical for lifelong health
Childhood should be a time of wonder, but for one in 12 Oregon children it also means facing one of life’s hardest experiences: the death of a parent or sibling. How that grief is tended to in those early years can shape a child’s health and resilience for a lifetime.
Grief doesn’t just hurt in the moment. When children lose someone central to their world, the effects can ripple across their entire lives. Unaddressed childhood grief is linked to increased risk of chronic illness, depression and long-term challenges with mental and social well-being. That’s where Regence’s corporate foundation, Cambia Health Foundation, comes in — investing in solutions that build resilience in children and set them up for lifelong success.
Finding solace at Dougy Center
Early, meaningful support can soften what unaddressed grief might otherwise leave behind. For more than four decades, Dougy Center has provided resources and support for thousands of Oregon families. Based in Portland, Dougy Center offers grief support groups at no cost for children, teens, young adults and their families — matching participants by age, the relationship to the person who died and sometimes even the circumstances of the death so every child walks into a room full of people who truly understand.
It’s a peer-based model that has influenced grief programs across the country and around the world. In 2025 alone, more than 3,300 children and families found support through its programs. Since 1982, Dougy Center has served more than 65,000 people — always at no cost, for as long as families need it.
But demand has never been greater. Last year, Dougy Center served more children and families than any point in its 43-year history — a 23% increase over the prior year — and still couldn’t meet the full need.
Expanding reach: Malcolm’s House
Various challenges have kept some families from accessing Dougy Center’s services. For families without reliable transportation or juggling demanding school schedules, attending a Portland-based group simply isn’t feasible. Wait times of several months — sometimes up to a year — have left children in urgent need without support.
That’s why Cambia Health Foundation recently awarded $100,000 to Dougy Center to support the expansion of its programs into Beaverton, Oregon. The new facility, Malcolm’s House, is expected to open in early 2027, doubling Dougy Center’s square footage and creating dedicated spaces for creative expression, active play, theater, small group sessions and more.
This investment builds on a nearly two-decade partnership and more than $1.1 million in prior support from Cambia Health Foundation, a relationship rooted in the shared belief that resilience built in childhood shapes the health of individuals, families and entire communities for generations to come.
“Grief is one of the most disruptive experiences a young person can face. We’re grateful for this investment from Cambia Health Foundation and for their ongoing commitment to helping us reach more children and families affected by loss,” said Brennan Wood, executive director of Dougy Center.
Regence is here, too
Community organizations like Dougy Center do irreplaceable work. Regence is proud to support that mission and to complement it.
Regence members have access to behavioral health resources including:
- Grief counseling and mental health support
- In-person and virtual appointment options
- Support for specific behavioral health conditions
If you or someone in your family is navigating loss, you don’t have to face it alone. Sign in to your Regence member account or call the number on the back of your member ID card to explore the support options available to you.
To learn more about Dougy Center and follow the progress of Malcolm’s House, visit Dougy Center’s website.
