Support for Minnesota School Districts
Effective December 1, 2025, Brighter Days Family Grief Center has acquired the Park Nicollet Growing Through Grief program.
As the driving force behind Children’s Grief Awareness Day in Minnesota, and an advocate working to bring grief curriculum into schools, this step deepens our commitment to walk alongside school communities as they navigate the complexities of grief.
By weaving elements of the program content into Minnesota school districts, we can expand specialized support, equip educators with vital training, and strengthen their ability to respond compassionately in times of crisis.
Although school-based support will look different, our tiered services guarantee that Minnesota schools have access to meaningful options. This includes the full range of Brighter Days programming such as our grief camps and family grief support series, ensuring comprehensive support for students and families.
While the Growing Through Grief team will remain employees of Park Nicollet through the school year, Brighter Days future staffing needs will be continually assessed to ensure resources align with demand. This approach empowers schools to build self-sufficiency in grief awareness and response, fostering environments rooted in care and resilience.
For current Growing Through Grief districts, contact: Nicole Barnes, Growing Through Grief Program Manager, nicole.barnes@parknicollet.com
All other Minnesota school districts or colleges, contact: Josie Robinson, Brighter Days School Support Liaison, josie@brighterdaysgriefcenter.org
Become a Grief Sensitive School
Brighter Days is proud to offer our comprehensive Grief Care Plan, designed specifically for Minnesota school districts. This initiative supports schools in fostering compassionate, inclusive environments for students, educators, and staff who are navigating the return to school following the death of a loved one.
We recognize that grief touches every member of a school community differently, and that creating a safe, caring space is essential for healing and resilience. Our Grief Care Plan combines elements of our Growing Through Grief program with a structured care plan for grieving faculty and students that equip schools to respond with sensitivity and confidence.
To meet the diverse needs of districts across Minnesota, our program offers tiered levels of service. These options allow schools to select the level of support that best aligns with their budget and priorities, while ensuring that every participant receives meaningful tools for understanding and supporting grieving students.
Through this plan, Brighter Days seeks to empower schools to:
• Build awareness and understanding of grief among staff and students.
• Provide practical strategies for supporting grieving students and adults.
• Strengthen community connections by normalizing conversations about grief.
• Create sustainable systems of care that honor both individual and collective experiences of grief.
• Build awareness and understanding of grief among staff and students.
• Provide practical strategies for supporting grieving students and adults.
• Strengthen community connections by normalizing conversations about grief.
• Create sustainable systems of care that honor both individual and collective experiences of grief.
For more information or to explore how the Grief Care Plan can be tailored to your district, please fill out our request form HERE.
"As a school counselor for 17 years, I have witnessed many students and staff navigate grief without the level of support they truly need. It’s far more common than most people realize, and when those needs go unacknowledged, it can lead to isolation. Kudos to your team for stepping forward and leading the meaningful change our schools have needed for a very long time."
Jessie L.
School Counselor