Impact Stories
Meet Dr. Micki Burns
June 4, 2024
We spoke with our new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Micki Burns, to learn more about her hopes for the organization and passion for our work.
We are thrilled to announce our new Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Micki Burns. Micki has led the Judi’s House/JAG Institute clinical team for more than 11 years and exemplifies our core values of courage, accountability, compassion, and respect. As she steps into this new role, we sat down to talk with her about her hopes for the organization, passion for this work, and love for our organization.
What is your favorite thing about working at Judi’s House?
Dr. Micki Burns: People! My life is forever changed because of the people who make Judi’s House such a vital part of our community.
Through the years, I have witnessed acts of courage from our clients—young and old. I have observed growth in our staff and our trainees as they bend and stretch to evolve with the changing demands of their work. I have worked alongside volunteers and board members who generously give their time and resources to make a difference. I have been able to partner with schools, national organizations, community resources, and so many other stakeholders who share in our vision of a world where no child has to grieve alone. These are the people who have helped make Judi’s House a home for me and many others.
What are you looking forward to in this new position?
Dr. Micki Burns: I’ve been able to watch as my predecessors have masterfully developed our presence on the local, regional, and national stage. Although I never want to lose sight of the roots that brought me to Judi’s House, as I pass many of my clinical and evaluation responsibilities to new leaders in our organization, I look forward to sharing the Judi’s House story with others. This includes academicians, clinicians, donors, and collaborators who can help bring family bereavement out of the shadows to promote healing.
I also hope this position will allow me to sit with potential client families, volunteers, and team members to learn how to best relay what Judi’s House and JAG have accomplished and our vision for the future. I hope to guide others to join us in achieving our mission.
Do you have any hopes or aspirations for the organization as you step into this role?
Dr. Micki Burns: We do an activity the first night of Pathfinders where we ask children and adults to share their greatest hope in coming to Judi’s House. For many of our families, it is their greatest fear that brought them to our home, and it is an honor that they trust us to be with them as they journey towards health and healing.
My greatest hope for Judi’s House is that we continue to adapt and grow to meet the ever-evolving needs of bereaved families and of our field. I hope we can expand our existing clinical programs and develop innovative partnerships and services to bridge gaps, like our Judi’s Rainbow program for grief in early childhood.
I hope we will continue to advance efforts to train professionals in Comprehensive Grief Care® approaches that promote best-practice standards in direct service delivery and program evaluation like our Childhood Bereavement Changemaker initiative that has impacted 50 programs throughout the US.
I hope that the knowledge and tools that emerge from our research efforts, like the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model®, illuminate needs and support advocacy efforts to secure the resources to ensure quality care is available for all bereaved youth regardless of where they live, their family income, the way their person died, or their race or ancestry.
And I hope we remain true to our roots and our humble beginnings where a 12-year-old boy’s love for his mother grew despite her death into a legacy of hope.