For more than 40 years, Dorothy Clark Brooks has poured her heart into the children, families, and students at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital (LLUCH) and the Loma Linda University School of Behavioral Health. In her 21 years as Bereavement and Community Education Specialist, she helped create programs that have touched countless lives, from grief camps and bereavement resources to community events like Children's Day, which just celebrated its 40th year. As she prepares to retire from her specialist role in 2026, she looks back with gratitude on the foundation she has helped build for grieving families and the legacy of care that will carry forward. While stepping out of her hospital position, she will continue teaching the "Grief and Loss" course in the Child Life Specialist MS program, ensuring that future child life specialists will continue to learn, grow, and carry her legacy into their own practice.
Dorothy began working with Loma Linda University Medical Center (LLUMC) in 1983 as a Child Life Specialist, initially serving all three pediatric units. She recalls experiencing deep sadness when working with patients and families facing death, yet also recognizing the importance of being present during such a critical time; she saw that Child Life meant recognizing the vital importance of providing bereavement support, not only to the needs of the dying patient but to the entire family. This realization led her to devote herself to increasing her understanding of grief and the needs of families. As she was asked to provide support beyond the Child Life Services department, the opportunity naturally expanded into the Bereavement and Community Education Specialist position, which she later accepted.
In 1985, the Child Life team created Children's Day. Dorothy has continued to coordinate this child-focused health-education event that has now become a community tradition. Over the past four decades, Children's Day has reached thousands of children, offering interactive learning that is both fun and engaging while helping them prepare for common hospital and clinic experiences. Over the years, Dorothy has also had the privilege of working with many groups who bring both incredible support and fun to the children in the hospital. The Loma Linda Guilds, The Painted Turtle, Spirit of Children, Cops for Kids Fly-In, and Partners in Play are just a few of the many groups who have blessed the patients at LLUCH over the years. Dorothy has greatly enjoyed working with all of them.
As Bereavement and Community Education Specialist, Dorothy has also helped lead LLUCH grief support camps that provide children with opportunities to process loss in a safe and supportive setting. Her leadership with Camp Good Grief has been especially meaningful. What began in 1996 for siblings of oncology patients has expanded to include children who lost parents, as well as the Camp Good Grief Special Victims Program for children whose parents or sibling died due to violence. She recalls a former camper who reached out a couple of years ago to say, "I have many friends who do not know what to do when they have a loss in their life. But I know what to do after a loss because I gathered those tools at Camp Good Grief and I am able to provide help to my friends." That camper plans to return to serve as a counselor, hoping to help other children the way she has been helped. "Stories like these are a reminder of the significant impact our grief camps are having on those who attend," says Dorothy.
"One of the most important gifts we can offer a grieving person is that of fully listening. Our presence is more important than our words."
In 2005, when Loma Linda University launched its first Child Life academic program, Dorothy was invited to join the School of Behavioral Health [then called the School of Science and Technology] as adjunct faculty and to teach the "Grief and Loss" class. She describes this opportunity as both a blessing and very rewarding. One of the most powerful parts of teaching for her has been hearing from students who overcame their own initial fears about bereavement work. As she explained, "I constantly hear from students who say, 'I was apprehensive about working with grieving families, but now I am so grateful that I am able to apply what I have learned in my Grief and Loss class.'" Even after her retirement in 2026, she plans to continue teaching this course, helping prepare the next generation of Child Life professionals.
When asked what sustains her in such emotionally demanding work, Dorothy highlights the support of colleagues, friends, and family. She values nature walks, prayer, reflective journaling, and celebrating small victories. These practices help her remain grounded and renewed.
She also shares advice for students and new professionals: "One of the most important gifts we can offer a grieving person is that of fully listening. Our presence is more important than our words." She encourages students to remember that grief is a natural response to loss and our gift to grieving families is to help them with that process. This, she says, helps them gather tools for facing future losses.
As she looks toward retirement, Dorothy expresses both gratitude and reassurance. "I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to be a part of our Child Life team," she says. She also believes that with LLUCH's new bereavement coordinator, support for grieving families will continue to grow stronger.
Dorothy's reflections show the depth of her commitment to children, families, and students, and the lasting foundation she has built for future generations.
Interview and article by Audrey I. Perez, AMFT, Systems, Families, & Couples PhD student
