About Judi's House

Our mission, vision, and core values lay the foundation for Judi’s House/JAG Institute to provide the highest quality care to grieving children and families while being thoughtful in our approach to expanding our reach through training, education, and research.

Our Mission & Vision

Our mission is to help children and families grieving a death find connection and healing.

Our vision is that no child should be alone in grief.

Our Core Values

Accountability

We hold ourselves and each other accountable for the purpose that connects us to Judi’s House.

Compassion

We invite and value the unique and shared universal experience of grief.

Courage

We strive for continuous growth by challenging the status quo, discovering blind spots, and learning from our accomplishments and mistakes.

Respect

We value differences and promote environments where everyone can authentically express themselves to advance equity and understanding.

Our Commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Judi’s House/JAG Institute centers justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. We strive to welcome, respect, value, and support our clients, staff, board of directors, and volunteers. Grief is a universal experience. Yet, we know that there are significant barriers that prevent some from accessing grief care. Therefore, we are taking active steps to engage in ongoing learning, reflect the families in our community, respond to the cultural needs of our clients, and address discrimination and inequity.

In fulfilling our mission to help grieving children and families, we are committed to courageously fostering justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion by continually adhering to the following in all aspects of our organization:

Lead with our core values to move toward our vision that no child should be alone in grief.
Create a safe space for all.
Invite, engage, and respect every voice to inform our practices.
Show humility, recognizing who we are and what we don’t know.
Address systemic injustices and inequities that impact how communities are supported in navigating their grief.

Our Team

Learn more about the incredible people who make the work of Judi’s House possible.

Our History

When former NFL quarterback Brian Griese was just 12 years old, his mother Judi died of breast cancer. Along Brian’s path to healing, he realized he wanted to give back to children and young adults who were also grieving the loss of an important person in their lives.

Brian Griese with his mother Judi Griese, the namesake of Judi's House and JAG institute.

In 2002, Brian and his wife, Dr. Brook Griese, a clinical psychologist specializing in childhood trauma and loss, founded Judi’s House in Denver in Judi Griese’s memory.

In order to achieve this vision, Judi’s House is committed to providing Comprehensive Grief Care® services for bereaved youth and families at Judi’s House as well as in school and community-based settings throughout Metro Denver. These vital services are delivered at no cost to families thanks solely to philanthropic support.

Judi’s House is also committed to contributing to knowledge that helps identify and meet the needs of the bereaved everywhere.

In 2014, Judi’s House launched JAG Institute (named in memory of Brian’s mother, Judith Ann Griese) as a center for learning, focused on expanding the evaluation, research, and training opportunities necessary to share successful bereavement programs.

By integrating practice, research, and community, Judi’s House is uniquely positioned to create social change regarding childhood bereavement and serve as a national leader in the effort to increase access to effective, individualized care for the bereaved.