In a symbolic ceremony marking the start of a new grief care center in Casper, Wyoming, community members, hospice staff, and project supporters gathered Thursday at a former Wyoming Medical Center facility on South Fenway, Oil City News reports.
Attendees donned construction hats and took turns hammering down an interior wall, marking the beginning of renovations for what will become Wyoming’s first dedicated grief counseling center.
Central Wyoming Hospice & Transitions Executive Director Kilty Brown addressed the group assembled in the building’s stripped-down lobby, which will soon be transformed into a comfortable reception area with a “living room feel.”
“This center is a response to a significant need for grief resources in our community,” Brown said.
She shared findings from hospice surveys showing that 76% of people grieving a loved one reported depression or anxiety, while 56% lost interest in activities they once enjoyed, and 8% experienced self-harm thoughts.
“These are needs we simply cannot overlook.”
The new facility, which will be converted into a 7,000-square-foot grief care center, is set to open next summer. Since launching a grief support service in August 2023 at a temporary location, Central Wyoming Hospice has worked to address gaps in mental health resources in the Casper area. The new location will offer services to the public free of charge, expanding beyond families who have experienced hospice care.
Hospice Business Developer Liaison Taryn Houser explained that the grief support program includes personalized follow-up with families for over a year after the loss of a loved one, helping them navigate anniversaries, birthdays, and other milestones.
“The goal is for this center to become a welcoming, accessible space where people can come for a variety of grief support services.”
Project partners emphasized the importance of the center to the Casper community. Brandon Daigle, director of development at MOA Architecture, shared plans to create a comforting, daylight-filled space with group therapy rooms, counselor offices, and a chapel.
“This isn’t a large project, but its community impact will be substantial,” Daigle said.
John Griffith, vice president of Sletten Construction, echoed the commitment, noting that many team members had personal connections to hospice care.
The grief care center will help provide Casper residents with much-needed support services for coping with loss, while also expanding access to mental health resources within the community. Central Wyoming Hospice plans to complete renovations by summer 2025.
