Brighter Days Family Grief Center Youth Grief Programs and Camps
15764 Venture Lane, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
About
Brighter Days Family Grief Center Youth Grief Programs and Camps offers psychosocial support that includes grief counseling, grief support groups, grief camps and events, and wellness workshops. The programs also offer logistical support such as assistance with legal issues, filing Social Security, social media accounts, and probate questions, as well as financial support that includes financial questions, tax questions, financial assistance, and the Embrace-A-Family program.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Programs and services are available Monday–Friday with daytime hours, with additional availability on weekends by appointment
• Price: Brighter Days provides no cost and compassionate services to Minnesota children, adults, and families.
Brighter Days Family Grief Center has been dedicated to grieving Minnesota families since its inception in 2016. The organization describes itself as an unparalleled “family-focused” nonprofit and the only Family Grief Center in Minnesota providing no-cost care to all children, young adults, and adults who are grieving the death or terminal diagnosis of a family member. Its model of care includes one-of-a-kind support that is logistical, psychosocial, and financial, with the stated goal of determining each family member’s needs and providing services and resources to address them. The mission statement affirms the belief that “HOPE begins HERE.”
The Executive Director of Brighter Days Family Grief Center is Carolyn Kinzel. Brighter Days is the trusted partner of hospitals, hospices, schools, community foundations, and other non-profits. In 2020, it acquired the Youth Grief Services program from M Health Fairview and became the Minnesota Chapter for Camp Erin, and in 2026 it will acquire the Growing Through Grief program from the Park Nicollet Foundation. The organization is the catalyst behind Children’s Grief Awareness Day and champions grief curriculum in schools, and it also trains other hospices and grief centers in its model of care. Brighter Days does not provide walk-in counseling and is not a crisis center.
Families and professionals have shared written feedback about the center and its programs. One parent, Sandy Schlossin, described the center as “life changing” and said that when she felt she could not go on, “they were there with a lifeline.” Another parent, Missy Rogers, wrote that her family is “forever grateful” and that their only regret is not knowing about Brighter Days sooner after the loss of their daughter. A grief therapist, Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, FT, stated that every time she refers someone to Brighter Days, she hears back that they were “embraced by knowledge, love, acceptance and given hope.” Other testimonials from individuals such as Mitch Carmody, Mary Rose Casino, Dan Peso, Lori, Connie Jean, Maggie Bauer, and Beth Jones describe the center as providing encouragement, resources, and support during their grief.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
• Ages: 0–18 years old
• Schedule: Programs and services are available Monday–Friday with daytime hours, with additional availability on weekends by appointment
• Price: Brighter Days provides no cost and compassionate services to Minnesota children, adults, and families.
Brighter Days Family Grief Center has been dedicated to grieving Minnesota families since its inception in 2016. The organization describes itself as an unparalleled “family-focused” nonprofit and the only Family Grief Center in Minnesota providing no-cost care to all children, young adults, and adults who are grieving the death or terminal diagnosis of a family member. Its model of care includes one-of-a-kind support that is logistical, psychosocial, and financial, with the stated goal of determining each family member’s needs and providing services and resources to address them. The mission statement affirms the belief that “HOPE begins HERE.”
The Executive Director of Brighter Days Family Grief Center is Carolyn Kinzel. Brighter Days is the trusted partner of hospitals, hospices, schools, community foundations, and other non-profits. In 2020, it acquired the Youth Grief Services program from M Health Fairview and became the Minnesota Chapter for Camp Erin, and in 2026 it will acquire the Growing Through Grief program from the Park Nicollet Foundation. The organization is the catalyst behind Children’s Grief Awareness Day and champions grief curriculum in schools, and it also trains other hospices and grief centers in its model of care. Brighter Days does not provide walk-in counseling and is not a crisis center.
Families and professionals have shared written feedback about the center and its programs. One parent, Sandy Schlossin, described the center as “life changing” and said that when she felt she could not go on, “they were there with a lifeline.” Another parent, Missy Rogers, wrote that her family is “forever grateful” and that their only regret is not knowing about Brighter Days sooner after the loss of their daughter. A grief therapist, Kelly Grosklags, LICSW, FT, stated that every time she refers someone to Brighter Days, she hears back that they were “embraced by knowledge, love, acceptance and given hope.” Other testimonials from individuals such as Mitch Carmody, Mary Rose Casino, Dan Peso, Lori, Connie Jean, Maggie Bauer, and Beth Jones describe the center as providing encouragement, resources, and support during their grief.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
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