Welcome
Mission statement: The Stephan Center is a service organization dedicated to those journeying through life transitions. We are committed to providing educational programs, information, and resources to professionals and lay persons as they offer support and understanding to those seeking peace and acceptance in their lives.
We all experience a variety of life losses which include separation from important people, places, items or events unique in our life. Our website is designed to help you with loss.
A message from the Director:
Whenever we experience a loss of any type we process that loss through a series of steps as we adjust to the change in our life. This process is called grieving. These steps include:
- Difficulty accepting the loss and trying to minimalize or find alternative explanations (Often called denial)
- Feeling angry about the loss and blaming other people or events
- Trying to maintain the old patterns, behaviors or routines before adjusting to the new necessary changes. Often referred to as holding onto the “Old normal” (Called “bargaining”)
- A period of sadness as the permanence of the loss is realized
- Acceptance of the changes resulting from the loss
This grieving a loss is normal for all people even while the process will be experienced uniquely by each person. Understanding, compassion and kindness by each person toward each other person will provide needed support while the grief is processed.
In this global pandemic all the people of our world are grieving the changes in our old ways of living even as we make adjustments to save lives and our planet.
We can support ourselves and other by implementing the following:
- Share our feeling with others and offer caring responses
- Help each other with necessary tasks and needs
- Stay connected through social media and other methods to reduce isolation and loneliness
- Think positively fostering hope and well-being
- Reduce stress through exercise, balanced meals, deep breathing
- Cultivate spirituality through prayer, meditation, walks in nature, music
Follow us on social media for weekly tips on Mental health.
Read articles on this website to find additional support.
Together we will create a stronger, safer and secure living environment based on
love, compassion , kindness and understanding.
The Stephan Center is here to support you and your family

If you need help right now dial 2-1-1 from any cell or land-line phone for immediate Health and Human Service assistance in the county in which you call. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with ‘live’ Resource Specialists to assist you. Learn more about Life losses and transitions for children, teens and adults . Visit our page on Life Losses.
Support Us Today!
Donate today and support our commitment to providing information, education and resources on life transitions to all!

Donate to The Stephan Center
The Stephan Center depends on several revenue sources to support our mission of providing information, educational programs, resource and referral connections. These revenue sources include: Program fees, Grants, Sponsorships, and Private donations.
Walking A New Path
Join us on our next series in Walking A New Path: After Your Spouse.


Healing Through Art
Appropriate for youth in Foster care, out of home place or experiencing loss through death, illness, homelessness, parental deployment, incarceration, deportment, divorce or other loss/trauma.
Spring-Summer 2023 List of FREE Classes for Foster Parents
UPDATED! View our latest list of FREE classes for Foster/Resource parents, Kinship Caregivers and Grandparents. Classes begin January 19, 2023 to June 27, 2023.

CAIRS Webinar - Creating Trauma-Informed Environments for 211 Clients and Staff
Presented on October 20, 2021 by Victoria Stephan, Director, The Stephan Center
Fathers Speaking Out is a six (6) video series created with men who are fathering. Three (3) videos are offered in Spanish and three (3) are offered in English. Each session provides both a facilitated video and group discussion around a topic impacting men and the children in their lives. Each session is 90 minutes in lengthen and includes guided discussion questions. Videos are designed to be facilitated by any professional trained in group interactive programs. Click Here For More Info
View Online at onlineclasses.thestephancenter.org or purchase directly through us.
Latest Articles

Learning From Other’s Grief
Learning From Other’s Grief We all experience loss for which we grieve. This is, unfortunately, part of being human. While we each grieve our losses in our own way there are some common elements to the grieving and healing process. Because the losses we experience are often overwhelming it can be helpful to hear about…

Maintaining Positive Mental Health during Displacement
Maintaining Positive Mental Health during Displacement We can choose to be displaced from our home and separated from our family for school, employment and personal growth. Even when we make this choice there is a sadness and a sense of loss. However, for too many children and adults, displacement comes with no choice and is…

Collective Trauma: A Global Impact
Collective Trauma: A Global Impact With the worldwide COVID pandemic and most recently the war in Ukraine the term collective trauma is being used in many discussions. Collective Trauma is defined as the psychological reactions to a traumatic event that affect an entire society. Collective Trauma is not a new experience just currently being more…
Follow us for Weekly Mental Health and Foster Tips!
Problem displaying Facebook posts. Backup cache in use.
Click to show error
9 months ago
Monthly Newsletter
Trauma Informed Certification Program
This online, self-paced 12 module, 24- hour certification program is designed to provide all aspects of the trauma impact on children and adults for professionals in the fields of Social Work, Foster Services, Education, Law Enforcement and Faith Leaders. Special rates available for agencies and school districts.
Individual Online classes
Individual, 2-hour courses on a variety of topics in relation to trauma, grief/loss and parenting/Fatherhood appropriate for Social Workers, Educators, Foster/Resource Parent, and Faith Leaders.
