This webinar is part of an ongoing series that will provide a foundation of introductory information for anyone working with or providing support to children, teens, and families who may be grieving. This series is not progressive; sessions can be viewed in any order.

Talking to children about an impending death can feel overwhelming, yet avoiding these conversations can deepen uncertainty, confusion, and fear. Children notice the altered routines, the whispered conversations, the difference in moods, and begin trying to make sense of it in their own way. This session equips participants with the knowledge and practical skills needed to compassionately guide children through anticipatory grief. Attendees will explore what shapes a child’s emotional response when someone is dying and how their development influences their understanding of illness, loss, and death. Emphasis will be placed on demonstrating appropriate communication techniques, equipping participants with the skills to speak honestly with children about an impending death. In addition, attendees will develop and explore strategies to prepare children for visiting someone who is dying. By integrating practical tools and best practices, this session will empower participants to address “the elephant in the room” and walk alongside children with confidence, presence, and care during one of life’s most vulnerable experiences.

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for this webinar.
Target Audience: Students, interns, individuals entering the field of childhood bereavement, new staff members, new counselors, group facilitators, volunteers, anyone who wants to invest in their practice.
Instructional Level: Basic – This best describes a topic or issue that the prospective audience is encountering for the first time in a meaningful way.
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

Cost: Free for NACG Members; Non-Members: $20 per session, $50 for Whole Series

Not currently a member? Become a NACG member today! Your membership will provide access to free monthly webinars with CEs on current topics to support you in your work, discounts on educational events, access to all webinar playbacks, and more. To learn more and become a member to access this webinar for no additional cost, visit HERE →

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

• Analyze key factors involved in supporting children experiencing anticipatory grief and apply appropriate strategies to meet their emotional and developmental needs.
• Examine how developmental stages influence children’s understanding and experience anticipatory grief.
• Demonstrate best practices on appropriate communication techniques for informing children about an impending death.
• Implement strategies to prepare children for visits with a dying individual while providing ongoing emotional support before, during, and after the experience.

Speaker Bios:

Mimi Dambro, MSW, LSW, has been the Assistant Director of Programs at Peter’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children & Families for the past 5 years. Through her experience, she has run onsite and school-based peer support groups for children ages four through high school as well as groups for adult caregivers. In addition to her facilitation experience, Mimi has created numerous curriculums, grief modules, and activity book bags for middle school and high school aged youth. Prior to her time at Peter’s Place, Mimi worked with children and families at the University of Pennsylvania’s Interdisciplinary Child Advocacy Clinic working with youth in foster care. She has spent time as well working for Child Guidance Resource Centers in their school-based program working with children grades kindergarten through 8th grade. Mimi is a licensed social worker who earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Bloomsburg University and her master’s degree in Social work from the University of Pennsylvania. Mimi’s passion for supporting youth and families is what connects her to working in the realm of childhood bereavement.

Lizann McLaughlin, M.Ed. Lizann has been a group facilitator at Peter’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children & Families for the past five years. Lizann designs and runs peer support groups for children ages four through high school, as well as groups for adults caregivers. Lizann earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Georgetown University and her master’s degree in Community Agency Counseling from George Mason University. Her experience as a certified child life specialist, helping hospitalized children and families cope with medical procedures, surgeries, and diagnoses, has deeply informed her understanding of grief and loss. Lizann has additional experience providing therapy to children and families with hearing loss as part of her Post-Master’s Program in Counseling for Licensure Readiness through Arcadia University.

Refund/cancellation policy: If you need to cancel your registration, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688. Please note that no refunds will be given.

To request accessibility accommodations: The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is committed to providing universal access to all our events. Please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688 to request disability accommodations. Advance notice is necessary to arrange for some accessibility needs.