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DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260414T133000
DTSTAMP:20260413T105235
CREATED:20251216T125546Z
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UID:14760-1776168000-1776173400@nacg.org
SUMMARY:From Breaking News to Breakthroughs: Creative\, Play-based Support After a Death
DESCRIPTION:One in eleven children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18” (Judi’s House\, 2025). Beyond death loss\, over 60% of adolescents and 64% of children have experienced at least one adverse childhood experience (ACE) such as natural disasters\, abuse\, or community violence (McLaughlin et al.\, 2013; CDC\, 2024). In today’s media-driven world\, children are additionally exposed to traumatic content through constant news and social media coverage\, heightening feelings of distress and insecurity. \nThis interactive session is designed to equip professionals with practical tools and strategies to support children and adolescents navigating a variety of trauma types across developmental stages. Traumas to be addressed include\, but are not limited to\, natural disasters\, manmade violence\, race-based trauma\, adverse media exposure\, refugee trauma\, sex trafficking\, abuse (physical\, sexual\, emotional)\, and terrorism. Participants will explore the unique impacts these experiences have on childhood development and working memory\, while learning trauma- and grief-informed preparation\, processing\, and intervention techniques. \nDelivering information repetitively can be both essential and emotionally taxing. This session will address the physiological and emotional toll of these tasks and provide thanatologists with self-care and self-regulation strategies\, such as grounding and mindful breathing\, to maintain presence and resilience. \nThis webinar session will allow participants to explore trauma-specific bibliotherapy resources\, multisensory play-based interventions\, and creative therapeutic activities tailored to developmental needs\, reinforcing evidence-based strategies while offering opportunities for reflection. \nAttendees will leave with at least three reputable resources—including professional toolkits\, online libraries\, and caregiver-friendly platforms—to extend support beyond the clinical setting. Collectively\, this session empowers thanatologists with confidence\, communication skills\, and holistic strategies to effectively guide children and families through life’s most challenging circumstances. \n  \nContinuing Education (CE) Credits: 1.5 continuing education credits available\nTarget Audience: Counselors\, Social workers\, Bereavement support professionals\, school professionals\nInstructional Level: Basic – This best describes a topic or issue that the prospective audience is encountering for the first time in a meaningful way\nFormat: Live Interactive Webinar \nCost: Free for NACG Members; $60 for Guests without CEs\, $75 for Guests with CEs \n     \nNot 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 → \n  \nAfter attending this webinar\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify three strategies for age-appropriate communication with children about difficult topics\, including preparation and processing based on the situation and potential trauma.\nParticipants will be able to identify how stress impacts clinicians\, caregivers\, and professionals\, while identifying two self-regulation techniques to overcome these barriers and remain emotionally present during challenging conversations.\nParticipants will learn about hands-on\, multi-sensory play experiences that highlight developmental considerations and coping skill strategies\, allowing child life specialists to rotate through interactive stations that reinforce the key talking points of the presentation.\nIdentify at least three reputable resources (e.g.\, toolkits\, online libraries\, or apps) that can be shared with families and professionals to facilitate ongoing support.\n\n  \nSpeaker Bio:\nStephanie Heitkemper\, PhD\, LPC\, RPT-S\, FT\, is the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling in Denver\, Colorado\, where she specializes in grief and trauma across the lifespan. An EMDRIA Approved Consultant and Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor\, she integrates EMDR\, play therapy\, creative expression\, and bibliotherapy to support children\, families\, and professionals navigating loss\, trauma\, and life transitions. \nHer clinical and training work emphasizes age-appropriate communication with children about difficult topics\, offering practical strategies for preparation\, processing\, and developmental support. She also guides clinicians\, caregivers\, and child life specialists in recognizing the effects of stress on their ability to remain present\, equipping them with self-regulation techniques that strengthen their capacity to respond with empathy and confidence during challenging conversations. \nAs a national presenter and published author\, Stephanie is known for her interactive and experiential teaching style. She designs multi-sensory play experiences that highlight coping skills\, developmental considerations\, and strategies that can be readily applied in professional practice. Her contributions to national grief publications underscore her commitment to evidence-informed resources\, while her trainings consistently feature accessible tools—such as apps\, libraries\, and toolkits—that extend learning beyond the workshop. \nThrough her work\, Stephanie bridges theory and practice to create trauma-informed\, developmentally responsive spaces that support both grieving children and the professionals who care for them. \n  \nJessica Correnti\, MS\, CCLS\, is a Certified Child Life Specialist\, author\, bereaved mother\, and grief specialist. She is the founder of Kids Grief Support\, a private practice that provides therapeutic sessions and grief education to children and families in Baltimore\, Maryland\, as well as virtual services to families worldwide. Her work centers on developmentally appropriate communication strategies that prepare children for difficult conversations\, support healthy processing of grief\, and integrate trauma-informed care. \nWith nearly twenty years of professional experience\, Jessica spent 14 years as a Child Life Specialist in pediatric hospital settings at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital\, Johns Hopkins Children’s Center\, and GBMC. She supported children and families in intensive care\, emergency\, surgical\, and inpatient units\, bringing a depth of knowledge in navigating complex medical and emotional experiences. She now applies this expertise in her private practice\, offering individual therapy\, grief groups\, and collaborations with funeral homes and child loss organizations. \nJessica combines clinical expertise with expressive\, multi-sensory interventions to help children build resilience and coping skills. She also equips professionals with practical self-regulation strategies and shares accessible resources—including toolkits\, libraries\, and grief-specific apps—that extend care beyond the therapy room. \nAs the author of four children’s grief books\, including The ABCs of Grief and the forthcoming The ABCs of Grief: Coping (2026)\, Jessica is committed to creating compassionate\, developmentally informed tools that foster connection and healing for grieving children and families. \n  \n  \n \nSupported by the philanthropic investment\nof the New York Life Foundation. \n  \nContinuing Education (CE) Provider Information:\nEach professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by their licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend “live” (in real-time) to earn CEs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE process\, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider\, ACEP No. 7221. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0689. Social Workers completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0238. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 contact hours. \nNational Alliance for Children’s Grief\, #1819\, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations\, not individual courses\, are approved as ACE providers.  State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. National Alliance for Children’s Grief maintains responsibility for this course.  ACE provider approval period: 07/20/2023 – 07/20/2026. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.5 continuing education credits. \nRefund/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. \nTo 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. \nAttendance policy: To earn CEs for this event\, you must attend the entirety of the event as demonstrated by your autogenerated login and logout time on the Zoom Webinar report and complete an online event evaluation within seven (7) days of the event. Please make sure you are signed into Zoom using the name that matches your professional license and not the name of your place of employment\, as there is no way to verify your attendance after the fact if your name does not appear on the Zoom Webinar report. CE certificates will be sent out within 30 days of the educational event. The link for your certificate will come from “certificates@simplecert.net” as the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. Please be sure to add this email to your “safe sender list”. The NACG is unable to process certificates after 90 days from the date of the event.  \nCE Certificate retrieval request: The NACG maintains continuing education records for at least six years from the date of completion of the educational event which include: the name and curriculum vitae of the presenter\, a record of attendance\, an outline of the course\, date\, and location of the course\, and the number of hours for completion of the course. If you attended a CE educational event and need a copy of your CE certificate\, please complete this form to obtain a copy: https://nacg.wufoo.com/forms/qfsln7r1twqpty/. Please note if the education event was more than 90 days ago\, and a required evaluation was not completed\, a certificate cannot be provided per the policy. \nGrievance policy:  To view the NACG’s Continuing Education Grievance Policy\, you can find it HERE. Please complete THIS form to share a grievance with the NACG regarding a continuing education event.
URL:https://nacg.org/event/from-breaking-news-to-breakthroughs-creative-play-based-support-after-a-death/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Live Interactive Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260422T130000
DTSTAMP:20260413T105235
CREATED:20251209T155317Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T155401Z
UID:14702-1776859200-1776862800@nacg.org
SUMMARY:Data and Evaluation Series Training #3: Theory of Change
DESCRIPTION:Given limited resources and stretched capacity\, data collection procedures and program evaluation strategies at the individual program level often fall short in terms of identifying gaps in service\, areas for growth\, and program impact. Today\, philanthropic giving demands quantifiable return on investment in exchange for donations and grants. Combining nearly 20 years of experience in designing bereavement-focused evaluation protocols with the power of the CBEM\, with philanthropic support provided by the New York Life Foundation and in collaboration with the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG)\, Judi’s House/JAG Institute offered a series of free basic trainings in 2022-23 to share best practices in data collection and program evaluation. \nIn 2024-2027\, JH/JAG will continue to support the field in growing their capacity for evaluation and data analysis. This third workshop on Theory of Change will focus on how organizations can define their program model and why going through a theory of change process\, including creating a logic model\, is the first step in developing evaluation and data collection plans. Presenters will provide key information on what theory of change and logic modeling is. Presenters will discuss the purpose of conducting a theory of change process and how it helps organizations in reaching goals. The workshop will review the core steps in conducting a theory of change process\, enabling participants to walk away with clear next steps for how to implement this important evaluation best practice to inform their work. \n\nContinuing Education (CEs): 1.0 continuing education credits available\nTarget Audience: Counselors\, Social workers\, Bereavement support professionals\nInstructional Level: Basic – This best describes a topic or issue that the prospective audience is encountering for the first time in a meaningful way\nFormat: Live Interactive Webinar \nCost: Free for All \n\n  \nObjectives:\nBy the end of this presentation\, participants will be able to: \n\nUnderstand the purpose of conducting a theory of change process\nIdentify the cores steps of theory of change/logic modeling\nExplain how to use the theory of change and logic models to achieve evaluation goals\n\n  \nSpeaker Bio:\nMaria Bartini\, PhD\, is the Evaluation Manager at Judi’s House/JAG Institute. With a doctoral degree in Life-Span Developmental Psychology from the University of Georgia\, she has over 20 years’ experience teaching research methods\, statistics\, and child development at the college level. In her academic career\, she also conducted evaluation research in schools\, colleges\, and youth sports organizations with the overarching goal of improving the lives of children and adolescents. In addition to heading the organization’s Childhood Bereavement Changemaker Initiative\, Maria contributes to the evaluation and research activities at Judi’s House. Her work focuses on building evaluation/data utilization capacity in the field of childhood bereavement and evaluating the impact of Judi’s House services. She can be reached at mariab@judishouse.org. \nMaddy Saunders\, MS\, works as a Research Associate at Judi’s House/JAG Institute. In her role\, she helps lead the Childhood Bereavement Changemaker expansion\, collaborating with organizations across the country to support implementation of data-informed strategies in decision-making\, program implementation\, and evaluation. Maddy holds a Master’s Degree in Applied Psychology with concentrations in Evaluation Research and Industrial/Organizational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Stout. She can be reached at maddyv@judishouse.org. \n  \nContinuing Education (CE) Provider Information:\nEach professional is responsible for the individual requirements as stipulated by their licensing agency. Please contact your individual licensing board/regulatory agency to review continuing education requirements for licensure renewal. Please note: You must attend “live” (in real-time) to earn CEs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the CE process\, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or at (432) 288-4688. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider\, ACEP No. 7221. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. The National Alliance for Children’s Grief is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.0 contact hours. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0689. Social Workers completing this course will receive 1.0 contact hours. \nThe National Alliance for Children’s Grief is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0238. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.0 contact hours. \nNational Alliance for Children’s Grief\, #1819\, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations\, not individual courses\, are approved as ACE providers.  State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. National Alliance for Children’s Grief maintains responsibility for this course.  ACE provider approval period: 07/20/2023 – 07/20/2026. Counselors completing this course will receive 1.0 continuing education credits. \nRefund/cancellation policy: If you need to cancel your registration\, please contact Megan Lopez at megan.lopez@childrengrieve.org or (432) 288-4688. Please note that no refunds will be given. \nTo 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. \nAttendance policy: To earn CEs for this event\, you must attend the entirety of the event as demonstrated by your autogenerated login and logout time on the Zoom Webinar report and complete an online event evaluation within seven (7) days of the event. Please ensure you are signed into Zoom using the name that matches your professional license and not the name of your place of employment\, as there is no way to verify your attendance after the fact if your name does not appear on the Zoom Webinar report. CE certificates will be sent out within 30 days of the educational event. The link for your certificate will come from “certificates@simplecert.net” as the National Alliance for Children’s Grief. Please be sure to add this email to your “safe sender list”. The NACG is unable to process certificates after 90 days from the date of the event.  \nCE Certificate retrieval request: The NACG maintains continuing education records for at least six years from the date of completion of the educational event which include: the name and curriculum vitae of the presenter\, a record of attendance\, an outline of the course\, date\, and location of the course\, and the number of hours for completion of the course. If you attended a CE educational event and require a copy of your CE certificate\, please complete this form to obtain a copy: https://nacg.wufoo.com/forms/qfsln7r1twqpty/. Please note that if the education event was more than 90 days ago\, and a required evaluation was not completed\, a certificate cannot be provided per the attendance policy. \nGrievance policy: To view the NACG’s Continuing Education Grievance Policy\, you can find it HERE. Please complete THIS form to share a grievance with the NACG regarding a continuing education event.
URL:https://nacg.org/event/data-and-evaluation-series-training-3-theory-of-change/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Live Interactive Webinar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260424T120000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260424T130000
DTSTAMP:20260413T105235
CREATED:20251216T124853Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251216T130744Z
UID:14758-1777032000-1777035600@nacg.org
SUMMARY:Introduction to Grief Support Series | When One Grieves\, We All Grieve: Family Systems–Informed Strategies for Grief Support
DESCRIPTION: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. \nWhen one member of a family is grieving\, the entire system feels the ripple. Family systems theory reminds us that families don’t just contain grief—they express it\, shape it\, and sometimes even silence it across generations. For grief professionals\, recognizing these dynamics opens the door to more holistic and sustainable healing. \nThis interactive\, intermediate-level workshop explores strategies rooted in family systems theory. Through reflection\, dialogue\, and experiential activities\, participants will learn to recognize family patterns\, support healthier communication\, explore intergenerational grief\, foster flexibility in disrupted roles\, and build rituals that honor culture and memory. They will leave with adaptable strategies for diverse settings and a renewed lens for seeing grief as a collective journey. \n  \nContinuing Education (CE) credits are not available for this webinar.\nTarget 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.\nInstructional Level: Basic – This best describes a topic or issue that the prospective audience is encountering for the first time in a meaningful way.\nFormat: Live Interactive Webinar \nCost: Free for NACG Members; Non-Members: $20 per session\, $50 for Whole Series \n       \nNot 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 → \n  \nObjectives:\nAfter attending this webinar\, participants will be able to: \n\nIdentify and describe common grief roles within families and their impact on the system.\nApply family systems–informed strategies to strengthen communication and boundaries in grieving families.\nFacilitate rituals and practices that promote shared meaning-making across diverse cultural contexts.\n\nSpeaker Bios:\nAnnette Mendez is a certified grief educator through David Kessler and the Training & Curriculum Manager at Good Grief. Raised in Newark as a first-generation college graduate\, she earned her B.A. in Human Development and Family Studies from Montclair State University and a Master’s Certification in Developmental Models for Autism Intervention. Annette is also a Certified Child Development Specialist\, with experience as an educator and as Special Services/Mental Health Coordinator for Head Start programs in Morris County. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work with grieving families. \nAriana Locascio is the Senior Family Services Manager at Good Grief. She has experience in hospital\, mental health\, and nonprofit settings\, including work as a Child Life Specialist and Case Manager. A former volunteer facilitator at Good Grief\, she joined the staff in 2021. In her current role\, she orients new families\, facilitates groups\, and supervises staff\, serving as the first point of contact for families beginning their grief journey. Ariana’s passion is helping others and building supportive spaces where healing is possible. \n  \nRefund/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. \nTo 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.
URL:https://nacg.org/event/introduction-to-grief-support-series-when-one-grieves-we-all-grieve-family-systems-informed-strategies-for-grief-support/
LOCATION:Zoom
CATEGORIES:Introduction to Grief Support Series,Live Interactive Webinar,Members Only Playback
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