Dougy Center’s mission is to provide peer support to children and teens who have a family member living with an advanced serious illness or are grieving a death, therefore a child or teen must be participating for the adults in the family to attend groups. The Pathways Coordinator can help direct you to other resources if your child(ren) choose not to participate. Adult groups at Dougy Center are optional, however most adults find the group supportive and helpful. Adults who choose not to participate must remain onsite for liability, medical, and safety reasons.

Yes, they can attend. Often adults find it difficult to find the words to start these challenging conversations with their children. However, talking with the other adults in the peer support group and the Pathways Group Coordinators can bring some ease to these tough conversations. Contact a Pathways Coordinator at 503-775-5683 or pathways@dougy.org for more information.

Your family member does not need to be on hospice to participate in Pathways. Pathways is here to support your family after the diagnosis of an advanced serious illness (late stage cancer, ALS, and advanced neurological disease) through that journey. Your family member can continue to seek treatments, medical care, and maintain hope. Families have shared that having support earlier on the path helps with anxiety and not feeling so alone.

The Pathways Coordinator will discuss the group with you and send forms to complete prior to attending the group. Once the forms are received by the coordinator, your family can participate in the next Pathways group that meets.