Help a grieving child find us
In a rural community, families find us through the people they already trust: school counselors, teachers, coaches, pediatricians, hospice teams, funeral directors, and pastors. Thank you for being that link.
Anyone can point a family our way
You don't need to be a counselor or fill out a form. If you know a child or teen who has had someone important die, passing along our name is the most helpful thing you can do.
- Who we serve: kids ages 5 through high school and their parents, caregivers, or trusted adults.
- Any death: a parent, sibling, grandparent, friend, classmate, or anyone important to them.
- Any time: it doesn't matter if the death was last week or years ago.
- Always free: no insurance, no cost, and help with gas if travel is a barrier.
- Families from all over Eastern Oregon are welcome.
Three simple steps
Share our information
Hand the family our referral flier or rack card. Let them know it's peer support with other kids who understand, not therapy.
The family reaches out
A parent or guardian calls, texts, or emails us. Grieving families can feel overwhelmed, so you're welcome to make that first call together.
Intake and first group
We meet with the family for a short intake to get to know them and answer questions. Then they join us on the 1st or 3rd Tuesday, 6:30 to 8:00 PM, in Pendleton.
Not sure if a family is a good fit? Call or text us at (541) 612-0828 or email info@casonsplace.org. We're happy to talk it through. Spanish-speaking families can text the same number, and a Spanish-speaking volunteer will reach out.
Keep a few on hand
Print these for your counseling office, clinic, front desk, or funeral home. Each one fits on a single page.
- Referral flier for families (PDF)A one-page flier to hand a parent, with a spot to write your name.
- Rack card in English (PDF) · en español (PDF)Small cards for a display rack or front desk.
- When a Death Affects Your School (PDF)Quick tips for counselors, teachers, and staff.
- Welcome Them Back (PDF)Helping a grieving student return to class.
When a death affects your school
A death in your school community touches everyone differently. You don't need perfect words. Students mostly need honest information, steady adults, and permission to feel what they feel.
The first few days
- Confirm the facts and talk with the family about what they want shared.
- Tell staff first, so they are ready for questions.
- Share the news in classrooms or small groups with a short prepared statement, not over the intercom.
- Use clear words like "died." Phrases like "lost" or "passed" can confuse younger kids.
- Set up a quiet space with a counselor, and send a note home to parents.
The grieving student
- Reach out to the family before the student comes back.
- Ask the student what, if anything, they want classmates to know.
- Give them a quiet signal or pass to step out, and a safe adult to go to.
- Lighten the workload for a while. Grief makes it hard to focus.
- Check in again in a few weeks and months, not just the first days.
The rest of the class
- Let students talk, ask questions, and share memories.
- Answer honestly and simply. "I don't know" is okay.
- Give them something to do, like writing cards for the family.
- Watch for close friends, teammates, and students with past losses.
Down the road
- Expect hard days around birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and graduation.
- Plan ahead for Mother's Day, Father's Day, and family tree projects. Offer choices.
- Grief can look like anger, tiredness, acting out, or falling grades.
- Take care of your staff, too. They are grieving and helping at the same time.
Follow the family's lead. Ask about cultural, tribal, and faith traditions before planning a memorial or using the person's name or photo. Some families do not say the name of the person who died for a period of time. If the death was a suicide, follow your district's crisis plan and safe messaging guidelines, and keep the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline handy.
We'll come talk with your group
We'd love to tell your school, clinic, church, team, or community group about Cason's Place: who we are, the free peer grief support we offer children, teens, and families across Eastern Oregon, and how to connect a family with us. A visit can be as short as a staff meeting.
Give us as much notice as you can, and we'll do our best to work with your schedule. Fill out the form below, or call or text (541) 612-0828.
Come see Cason's Place
School counselors, nurses, hospice staff, pastors, and other partners are welcome to stop by for a tour. Seeing the playrooms, teen space, and adult group room in person makes it easier to tell a family what to expect.
Tours are free, and we'll find a time that works for you. Use the form below or call or text (541) 612-0828.
Request a speaker or tour
You make the connection
Most families who come to Cason's Place heard about us from someone they trust. A kind word and a flier from you can mean a child doesn't have to grieve alone.
Call or text (541) 612-0828 or email info@casonsplace.org.