In partnership with Colorado-based Judi’s House/JAG Institute
HopeWest is one of 11 grief-centered organizations selected by Judi’s House/JAG Institute to participate in the 2024 Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program to 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 organizations like HopeWest have on the 96,000 Colorado children estimated to experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.
“HopeWest Kids plans to harness the Changemaker program’s educational gifts to maximize our data and reporting capabilities. This will help us review and formulate our program initiatives, ensure we are meeting our community’s needs, and help provide robust information on our grant applications. HopeWest Kids is completely supported by philanthropy, and relies on funding from grants and donations,” shares Jessica Boff, HopeWest Director of Bereavement Services. “It’s important to our team that no child is ever turned away, regardless of financial circumstances.”
By refining data collection processes, HopeWest anticipates not only securing greater funding for their programming, but also enhancing the program’s precision in meeting the specific needs of children experiencing grief. This step allows for more tailored bereavement services and a deeper understanding of how to engage effectively with kids and teens ages 3 through 18.
Participation as a Changemaker aligns perfectly with HopeWest’s mission to profoundly change the experiences of aging, illness, and grief—one family at a time. As the organization bolsters its program evaluation and data collection processes, it directly impacts the quality of care and support provided to families, embodying its commitment to continuous improvement and exceptional care.
“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. 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,” said Micki Burns, Judi’s House/JAG Institute Chief Clinical Officer.
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.