In classrooms across Starke County, there are students carrying more than homework and backpacks.
Nearly one in ten children in Indiana will experience the death of a parent or sibling before turning eighteen. In Starke County alone, that means hundreds of young people navigating grief, often quietly and often without the tools or space to process what they are feeling.
At Dustin’s Place, they are working to ensure that no child has to grieve alone.
The Starke County Community Foundation recently awarded a $10,000 grant to Dustin’s Place to expand its grief support programming throughout Starke County schools. This funding will allow the organization to extend school-based grief groups to every school district in the county, strengthen partnerships with educators, and equip school communities with the tools needed to compassionately respond when loss occurs.
Dustin’s Place was founded in 2019 after the unexpected death of Dustin, husband of co-founder and executive director Viki Brown. What began around a kitchen table with family and friends who understood the pain of loss has grown into one of only three physical child grief centers in Indiana. Today, the organization serves hundreds of families each year through free, peer-based grief support for children ages four through eighteen and their caregivers.
Inside their Plymouth facility, children and teens find spaces intentionally created for healing. There is an art room where memories are honored through creative expression, a low sensory room for moments when emotions feel overwhelming, adult spaces for caregivers, and even a volcano room designed for safe emotional release. Twice each month, families gather for shared meals and structured peer groups where they can laugh, cry, remember, and support one another in community.
Dustin’s Place has already begun bringing this care directly into Starke County schools. The organization currently facilitates school-based grief groups at Culver Community Elementary School and Oregon-Davis High School. At Oregon-Davis alone, four facilitators guide small groups of six to ten students, each of whom has experienced a personal loss. Across its school partnerships, Dustin’s Place serves approximately 350 students each week.
The need for this work is clear. According to the 2025 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model developed by Judi’s House and the New York Life Foundation, Starke County falls within the 8.1 to 11.1 percent range for childhood bereavement. National research consistently shows that unaddressed grief in youth can contribute to anxiety, depression, behavioral challenges, academic struggles, and social withdrawal. In rural communities where access to mental health services can be limited, schools often become the first and sometimes only line of support.
Through this expanded project, Dustin’s Place will provide grief education and training for teachers and staff, develop a Crisis Care Toolkit for schools responding to the death of a student or staff member, and ensure that structured, compassionate support is available within the school day. By meeting students where they are, barriers such as transportation, scheduling, and cost are removed.
Every service offered by Dustin’s Place is provided completely free of charge. There are no fees, no insurance requirements, and no waitlists. The organization is 100 percent funded by the community and relies on the generosity of donors, volunteers, and local partners to continue its mission. In addition to financial contributions, Dustin’s Place welcomes donations of snacks, craft supplies, and other materials that support its programming. Community members can also participate in special events such as the upcoming “_ & Me” Dance, which invites children to bring a special person in their life for an evening of connection and joy.
Grief touches every community, including Starke County. With this grant and with the continued support of generous individuals across Northern Indiana, more children will have access to a place where their grief is acknowledged, their memories are honored, and hope for life after loss is gently restored.
To learn more about Dustin’s Place or to make a donation, visit http://www.dustinsplace.org.
