In partnership with Colorado-based Judi’s House/JAG Institute
Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People, Inc. is one of 11 grief-centered organizations selected by Judi’s House/JAG Institute to participate in the 2024 Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program.
This initiative will build capacity for data collection and program evaluation through a series of trainings, workshops, and collaborative learning sessions.
Over the course of a year, Changemakers will receive guidance and practical recommendations to address data and evaluation needs that can inform strategic planning, support funding opportunities, and enhance the overall impact Brooke’s Place has on the one in 10 Indiana children estimated to experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.
“Brooke’s Place is excited to have the opportunity to participate in this data-driven initiative that will help us to learn more about the grieving children and families in central Indiana and develop strategic initiatives to achieve success in our therapy services outcomes,” Brooke’s Place Executive Director Theresa Brun said.
Founded in 1999, Brooke’s Place provides ongoing grief support groups, therapy services, and community education to empower children, teens, young adults, and their families to thrive in the midst of grief. This year, Brooke’s Place celebrates its 25th anniversary of providing grief support, having helped over 30,000 children and their families.
“Through the Childhood Bereavement Changemaker initiative, the JAG Institute team walks alongside bereavement professionals nationwide who want to strengthen their programs using solid evaluation methods,” Judi’s House/JAG Institute Chief Clinical Officer Micki Burns said. “Together, we learn about innovative interventions that are changing the trajectory for grieving children and their families across the nation and build competency in using data to tell impactful stories.”
The Childhood Bereavement Changemaker initiative was conceived by Judi’s House/JAG Institute, an Aurora, Colo.-based grief care organization with philanthropic support from New York Life Foundation – the largest corporate funder in the childhood bereavement space – and in collaboration with the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, the only professional member organization specifically addressing issues around childhood bereavement.