After losing her father as a teenager, Katy McCourtney longed for support she hadn’t received. After her death, her family partnered with the Park Nicollet Foundation to create Growing Through Grief, offering in-school grief groups. At its peak, it served up to 16 districts – but Minnesota has over 570. The need eventually exceeded the program’s capacity.
Rather than allowing Katy’s legacy to fade, the Park Nicollet Foundation sought a steward who could thoughtfully carry key components of the Growing Through Grief program into the future. In 2025, their search led them to Brighter Days Family Grief Center: widely recognized across Minnesota for its expertise in grief, and a proven leader in sustaining youth-focused programs.
Brighter Days had previously demonstrated this capacity in 2021, when it acquired Youth Grief Services from the Fairview Foundation and successfully expanded its reach statewide. That achievement showcased the organization’s ability to honor a program’s core strengths while elevating its impact for grieving children, teens, and families.
“With Growing Through Grief, we saw an opportunity to broaden its scope in a way that preserves its content while better meeting the needs of today’s schools,” said Carolyn Kinzel, founder and president of Brighter Days Family Grief Center. “For years, educators have told us they need a true culture of preparedness; one where grieving students and staff feel supported throughout the entire school day, instead of only within a group setting. Evolving the program allows us to meet those needs and ensure it thrives as a statewide model.
Brighter Days brings a uniquely comprehensive model to this work. As Minnesota’s only nonprofit family grief center providing no-cost care to all individuals grieving the death or terminal diagnosis of a family member, their structure addresses the logistical, psychosocial, and financial challenges that often accompany grief. For school staff and parents, this knowledge is invaluable. It helps them understand the full range of support available, including youth and family grief camps, family support groups, and one-on-one counseling, all at no cost. “As the parent of a grieving child, I had no idea there were other options I could offer my son outside of his school,” said Carolyn. “Knowing he had a choice in where and how he received support would have meant so much. That sense of agency, even in the smallest way, would have mattered deeply to him.”
Brighter Days’ vision for Growing Through Grief is for every school in Minnesota to view the organization as a trusted partner. They want grieving students and staff to return to school environments that feel prepared to support them. “Growing Through Grief is now offered as a selection of services that allows each school to choose what best fits its needs,” said Josie Robinson, school support liaison for Brighter Days. “If a school wants grief support on campus, our team trains their staff and volunteers. If a school community is facing a crisis, we provide postvention care and situational grief groups. If they want grief knowledge, they can select from different training topics through our education program.
“For schools seeking a proactive approach, our Grief Care Plan helps create compassionate, inclusive environments for students and staff returning after the death of a loved one. It is one of the most meaningful enhancements we have brought to the Growing Through Grief program.” The plan recognizes that school employees may also be grieving a student, colleague, or family member, helping districts become truly grief sensitive by acknowledging that grief is universal and not limited to students.
To support a smooth transition, Nicole Barnes, current program director for Growing Through Grief, will join the Brighter Days team in July, bringing invaluable experience and continuity to this next chapter. “Joining Brighter Days and helping unite school districts with their mission is an honor I carry with great care,” said Nicole.
For individual educators seeking foundational grief knowledge, Brighter Days offers virtual webinars that meet Minnesota education requirements, along with their annual All Things Grief conference featuring a dedicated track for school professionals. To help sustain Brighter Days’ work statewide, visit BrighterDaysGriefCenter.org.