Writer / Ali Schneider
Photographer / Jubilee Edgell
We all have events that change the trajectory of our life. That is exactly what happened to Viki Brown in 2016.
She was a school teacher and worked full time along with her husband, Dustin Brown. Life changed drastically when Dustin died unexpectedly in 2016. As a full-time working female at the age of 34, and a mother of three little ones, Brown had to face the reality that was ahead of her.
As she tried to navigate these new waters, she was also trying to help her three little children cope as well.
Death is a tricky subject. It does not come naturally to anyone and we all deal with it differently. When children are involved and they are trying to understand what happened, it becomes even more difficult. In order to try to explain life and death to young ones, Brown realized there was not a great support system, or even counseling, in the local area to help children understand their feelings and what they are experiencing.
This led her to create Dustin’s Place, which is dedicated to providing free grief support to children aged 4 through 18. Her vision was to provide a safe space for children who have experienced the death of a sibling or family member – a place they could rely on to open up and have support.
Dustin’s Place is one of only five certified children’s grief support centers in Indiana. They rely solely on donations so children and families do not have to worry about paying the bill. Instead, they are focused on helping clients deal with the trauma, hurt and pain that goes along with experiencing death. Beyond that, clients are surrounded by others who have been, or are currently in, the same situation as them.
There is no wait list for Dustin’s Place. They accept new individuals immediately because it is crucial to start the healing process as soon as possible. Many children internalize it because they do not know where to turn, which can lead to mental health issues down the road.
In order to make children feel safe and relaxed, Dustin’s Place invites the entire family to attend their biweekly Monday meetings. The meetings are group-based, and led by one of the 21 volunteers. The get-togethers begin with a home-cooked meal and gathering with other families and children.
Brown says there are typically around 10 groups that gather at the same time at these meetings. They come from near and far, and are of all ages and races. Dustin’s Place is dedicated to reaching out to the community.
One of the ways they do this is by physically going into schools and reaching out to children that need grief support. Usually, the school counselor will be involved in this process and provide a list of children in need. However, even if the child has not shown signs of needing support, they are always welcome to sign up to be a part of Dustin’s Place.
Brown says most children need approximately eight to 12 months of support in order to begin to heal from the stress and hurt that comes with the death of a loved one. However, they do not cut children out of the program, and they are welcome to remain a part of it for as long as needed.
In 2023 Dustin’s Place helped over 400 individuals deal with their grief. They are growing exponentially and have no plans to slow down.
“The most rewarding part of my job is finding purpose to work with the community and help others,” Brown says.
Aside from grief support, Dustin’s Place also offers programs for spousal bereavement, family support, suicide bereavement, substance use disorder, and programs for adults.
For anyone experiencing the pain that comes with the death of a loved one, please reach out to Dustin’s Place. If you are interested in donating to the organization, you can visit their website at dustinsplace.org.
Dustin’s Place can be reached by phone at 574-529-0528, by email at info@dustinsplace.org, or in person at 11802 Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.
