Meet Wayfinder Family Co. 

A practice rooted in compassion, curiosity, and change

Wayfinder Family Co. is here to build a more grief-literate world.
We offer grief-informed education, training, and consulting that helps caregivers, educators, leaders, and entire systems respond to loss with empathy and strategy.

Mission

To empower families, professionals, and communities to navigate grief and change with the tools, language, and support they need with compassion and tools.

Vision

A future where grief literacy is a cultural norm, not a privilege.
Where every child, family, and professional is equipped to face loss with support, not silence.
Where our systems—education, health, corporate, faith, and community—center humanity and healing, so the next generation can grow with safety, resilience, and hope.

With Jessica Portè, Founder | Grief Educator | Consultant | Adaptive Leadership

I help people make sense of what feels unexplainable.

I’m Jessica Porté, grief educator, consultant, and the founder of Wayfinder Family Co., a practice dedicated to helping children, families, and professionals navigate the complexities of grief, loss, and change—with compassion, creativity, and clarity.

Where it All Began

This work started in circles—with children.

As a young group facilitator, I had the privilege of holding space for kids processing death, change, and loss. I watched them find language for their emotions, grow into their stories, and reclaim a sense of agency—even in the midst of pain.

It was humbling and transformative.

But as I supported these children, I began noticing something: many of the adults around them—parents, teachers, leaders—struggled to find the same language and tools. They felt unsure, overwhelmed, and often powerless.

And I realized: witnessing children discover their inner strength in the face of grief is one of the most empowering experiences there is. It’s where my work began—and where it will always be centered.

But it also raised a deeper question:
If children rely on the systems around them to grow and heal, how healthy are those system?

What the Research Says

Most of our institutions aren’t equipped to hold space for grief and change:

  • 1 in 5 children will experience the death of someone close to them by age 18 (JAG, 2020)

  • 57% of grieving children say their family doesn't know how to talk about grief (NAGC, 2022)

  • Over 70% of workplaces lack formal grief policies or support structures (SHRM, 2021)

  • Schools and community agencies rarely receive training in trauma-informed or grief-responsive practice

We’ve created cultures that avoid hard conversations—and children, families, and entire communities are left unsupported in moments they need it most.

From Personal Practice to Collective Purpose

The more I listened to individual grief stories, the more I saw the cracks in the systems around them.

That’s why I expanded my work—to help not just individuals, but also the families, communities, and organizations who shape their everyday lives. My work now spans schools, nonprofits, crisis recovery, corporate leadership, and community-based healing.

Because when we support systems in becoming grief-informed and person-centered, we don’t just reduce harm—we foster resilience, innovation, and long-term wellbeing.

QUESTIONS? LET’S CHAT.

It’s important to determine what resources and support fit.
To support that process, please book a free 30 minute consultation to determine if my services are in the scope of you or your organization’s needs.