Introduction to Grief Support Series | NACG Resources

Introduction to Grief Support Series | NACG Resources

The NACG has created a diverse set of resources through its dedicated workgroups, designed to provide information and strategies for those supporting grieving children in various roles. These free resources are easily accessible on the NACG website, where they can be shared directly, downloaded, emailed, or printed. In this webinar, we’ll dive into the NACG Resource Hub to explore the tools available and how they can enhance your work with families and communities. NACG staff and members will offer insights into the development process, practical applications, and the wide range of topics covered. Join us to discover how these resources can support your outreach and care efforts.

 

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or a working knowledge.
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Navigate various NACG resources on the website.
  • Utilize tools from the NACG Resource Hub in my work.
  • Understand the process of how resources are developed by the NACG.

 

Speaker Bios:

Megan Lopez, MSW, LMSW, joined NACG in 2014 and serves as the National Program Director. Megan has served as a Social Worker and Program Leader throughout her nonprofit career and has provided support to children, teenagers, and families in a variety of settings. Megan is an experienced presenter and trainer using an interactive style in her teaching and facilitating on a variety of topics related to program management, childhood bereavement support, grief in the school setting, and group facilitation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Social Work from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Social Work from The University of Texas at Arlington. Megan resides in San Antonio, Texas with her husband and two children.

Josephine Wheeler Ahart, MA, LPC, joined the NACG team in 2022 as the Marketing and Development Manager. Josephine has vast experience in marketing and communication from various industries, along with experience in counseling and grief work. She graduated with a bachelor’s in Applied Communication and a minor in Event Planning from Kent State University. She then received her master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Akron and is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor. Josephine thrives on finding innovative ways to seamlessly bridge and integrate her marketing expertise with the insights gained from her counseling and grief experience. She is involved with Leadership Portage County as a member of their Board of Directors and Cornerstone of Hope Bereavement Center, including as a member of their Crisis Response Team. Josephine resides in Northeast Ohio with her husband and enjoys spending time with family and friends, staying active, getting creative, and cheering on Cleveland and Ohio sports teams.

 

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information:

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.

“Mind”ful Camps: Embracing Practices to Create Equity for Neurodiversity

The term neurodiversity casts a wide net, so thinking about embracing practices at camp that create more equity may feel a bit daunting. How can we cater to every youth’s needs, right? Take a moment and think … what if creating these practices could help foster inclusivity, comfort, and a sense of belonging at camp? Aren’t those things we already strive for? Join us as we talk about the benefits of embracing practices that help support neurodiversity at camp. Let’s work together as we continue to learn about neurodiversity, shift our perspectives to see all of the unique opportunities our campers bring to our programs, and find creative ways forward to create equity and inclusivity.

 

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or a working knowledge.
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

 

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the importance of embracing practices to help neurodiverse campers.
  • Create a toolbox of neurodiverse-friendly  activities and outlets to be used in the camp setting.
  • Demonstrate communication skills to help caregivers identify neurodiverse needs their camper may have at camp.

 

Speaker Bio:

Kiri Meyer, MS, LPC, NCC, RYT, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin, a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC), and a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200). Kiri has spent over a decade helping to support individuals and families of all ages through individual/family counseling and camp-based programs. Kiri supports camp and other non-profit programs by acting as a Mental Health Professional throughout the camp program or as needed for other programs. She has conducted trainings in the areas of trauma and bereavement throughout her professional career and is now part of the Eluna Camp Erin team helping to support professionals in the Camp Erin network.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

 

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information:

Each 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

National 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.

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.

Attendance 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. 

CE 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.

Grievance 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.

Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children

When children experience the death of a significant person, they are at a very vulnerable time in their lives. These young grievers often struggle with emotions they may hesitate to express openly. The use of play-based interventions creates an engaging and developmentally appropriate context for addressing the unique needs of bereaved children.

This webinar will provide guidelines for working effectively with young grievers. The training will delve into a diverse range of creative activities specifically designed to engage bereaved children. Attendees will learn how to use games, art, and storytelling to help children bereaved by suicide, homicide, natural disasters, mass violence, military/line-of-duty death, drug overdose, and other types of loss. These activities are adaptable for use in various settings, including support groups and individual and family sessions.

This webinar is designed for both novice and experienced grief facilitators and professionals seeking new and innovative ways to assist children in navigating their grief journey.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the key factors influencing children’s grief reactions.
  • Identify at least 5 best practice tips when working with bereaved children.
  • Design a variety of creative activities to support children impacted by suicide, homicide, natural disasters, mass violence, military/line-of-duty death, drug overdose, and other types of loss.

 

Speaker Bio:

Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S, is a Registered Social Worker, Certified Play Therapist-Supervisor, and Certified TF-CBT Therapist who has been working with children and their families in Toronto since 1988. Liana’s 15 books are used by helping professionals all over the world, and several have been translated into Chinese, Korean, and Turkish. Her latest books, Cory Helps Kids Cope with Grief: Playful Activities for Young Children, and Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children, Second Edition, help children, youth, and families impacted by suicide, homicide, drug overdose, natural disasters, mass violence, war, military/line-of-duty death, and other types of loss. Liana is a frequent keynote speaker at international conferences and agency training events, and has provided workshops throughout North America and abroad, including China, South Africa, Israel, England, New Zealand, Australia, and Slovenia. Liana is winner of the Monica Herbert award for outstanding contribution to play therapy in Canada.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information:

Each 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.

The 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.

The 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.

The 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.

National 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.

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.

Attendance 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. 

CE Certificate retrieval request: The NACG maintains continuing education records for at least six years from the educational event’s completion date. Records include the name and curriculum vitae of the presenter, a record of attendance, an outline of the course, the 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. 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.

Grievance 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.

Integrating EMDR to Support Children Who Are Grieving

Children who are grieving often face challenges in processing emotions and adapting to loss in developmentally appropriate ways. This presentation explores the integration of EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) with play-based approaches to support children navigating the complexities of grief. Participants will delve into the core principles of EMDR, including its eight-phase protocol, and discover how to tailor it specifically for children who are grieving.

The session highlights the role of play and creative expression as vital tools to complement EMDR, making interventions more engaging and effective for young clients. Attendees will learn at least three practical, play-based techniques to help children externalize emotions, process their grief, and rebuild a sense of stability.

Additionally, participants will gain insights into three trauma-informed strategies for integrating EMDR into grief work. These strategies are designed to address the unique developmental, emotional, and cognitive needs of children, ensuring a holistic and compassionate approach to care.

The presentation includes guided worksheets to help attendees create a structured framework for future EMDR and play-based interventions tailored to their clients. By combining EMDR’s structured, evidence-based methodology with the creativity and adaptability of play, participants will leave equipped to support grieving children in processing emotions, building resilience, and discovering paths toward growth and adjustment after loss.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or a working knowledge.

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify the core principles of EMDR and describe its eight-phase protocol with specific applications for grieving children.
  • List at least three developmentally appropriate, play-based approaches to enhance EMDR interventions for children experiencing grief.
  • Describe at least three trauma-informed strategies for integrating EMDR into children’s grief support to facilitate emotional processing and foster resilience.
  • Demonstrate practical skills in applying EMDR and play-based interventions to address the complexities of childhood grief effectively.

 

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie Heitkemper, PhD, LPC, RPT-S, FT is the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling which specializes in working with individuals, children, and families around change including grief and trauma. Stephanie finds energy in utilizing play therapy (as a Registered Play Therapist-Supervisor), creative expression, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) (EMDRIA Approved Consultant) and. bibliotherapy in her counseling practice, program creation, and presentations. Stephanie serves on the board of directors for Heart Light Center (2017), a Denver-based grief support and education center as well as Camp JoJo (2020), a camp dedicated to supporting teens impacted by suicide. In addition to Resilient Minds Counseling, Stephanie is the Clinical Director of Camp Erin NYC, which is part of Cope. Stephanie’s self-care includes early morning coffee, CrossFit, and Ironman training as well as exploring Colorado with her husband and beloved boxer.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

 

Introduction to Grief Support Series | Grief-Tech: The Intersection of Grief and Technology

In today’s digital age, technology is reshaping how we experience and process grief. This webinar introduces new professionals to the evolving landscape of grief-tech, exploring its history, current applications, and future potential. We’ll examine how digital platforms and tools are being used to process and support grief expression and discuss the ethical considerations of using technology in grief support. The webinar will also explore practical ways to incorporate grief-tech into professional practice. We’ll conclude by considering the future of grief-tech, including developments in AI and machine learning for personalized grief support.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only. 

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

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: Novice – 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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Understand the evolution of grief-tech and its current applications
  • Identify ethical considerations and best practices for implementing technology-based interventions
  • Explore at least three ways to incorporate grief-tech tools or platforms into your professional practice to enhance bereavement support

 

Speaker Bio:

Melissa Lunardini, PhD, MA, MBA, FT, is the Chief Clinical Officer for Help Texts and CEO of Radical Grief. Melissa has 20 years of experience in program design and development in grief, loss, and trauma for healthcare, academia, for-profit, and non-profit industries. She is an international speaker and trainer. Melissa strives to remain current with trends and research in the industry as a published researcher and peer reviewer.

 

Crossing the Grief Bridge: Supporting Siblings Coping with Loss

Sibling loss can have a significant impact on children. Children may struggle to understand why their sibling has died, and they may feel responsible or blame themselves for what happened. The loss of a sibling can also affect a child’s sense of identity and place within their family. They may feel like they have lost a part of themselves and struggle to navigate their new role in the family dynamic. This experiential workshop will allow attendees to learn a new therapeutic activity that can be used for siblings individually or within a group. Through the metaphor of crossing over a wooden bridge with planks representing struggles and hopes, attendees will have a deeper understanding of their grief journey. After self-reflection and discussion, attendees can facilitate this therapeutic activity with a diverse population coping with grief and loss.

Materials needed for this webinar include:

  • Preferably different-colored popsicle sticks. If those aren’t available, regular popsicle sticks with several different colored markers will work as well.
  • A hot glue gun or craft glue.
  • A large piece of cardstock or cardboard.
  • A small paper bowl.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks. 
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify grief reactions in children coping with sibling loss.
  • Demonstrate self-reflection skills to deepen the learning process.
  • Create a therapeutic activity allowing children to process, explore, and express grief.

 

Speaker Bios:

Shani Thornton, MS, CCLS, has been a Certified Child Life Specialist for 17 years. She started her career in a pediatric inpatient rehabilitation setting, transitioned to the community, and launched a private practice in the Sacramento region of Northern California. Shani supports families coping with life’s challenges of illness, trauma, loss, and transitions. Using therapeutic play, creative arts, education, and empathy, she helps children process these challenges and create a coping plan to support their needs. She offers in-home visits, phone/virtual consultations, caregiver workshops, and support to community programs, hospice agencies, and schools. Shani’s expertise has been working with families coping with a terminal diagnosis, end-of-life support, and grief. She recently co-authored a chapter on private practice in The Role of Child Life Specialists in Community Settings. She has been a chair member of the Association of Child Life Professionals and the California Association of Play Therapy and volunteers as a burn camp leader for the Firefighters Burn Institute. Shani is a sought-after presenter for many local, regional, and national conferences and reaches many followers through her insightful blogs and publications.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

Supporting Adolescents and Young Adults in Their Grief Journey

This engaging presentation will provide helpful strategies when working with adolescents and young adults who are grieving the death of a loved one. We will discuss grief reactions and changes in family dynamics, as well as ways to promote supportive relationships. We will examine interactive activities and creative approaches in young adult programming.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only.

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks. 
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
Instructional Level: Intermediate – This best describes a topic or issue the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or working knowledge.
Format: Live Interactive Webinar

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe helpful strategies when working with adolescents and young adults who have experienced a death.
  • Identify various creative activities that are helpful when working with young adults.
  • Create various interactive activities for young adult programming.

 

Speaker Bios:

Dana Minor is the Program Director at The WARM Place, a grief support center for children, in Fort Worth, TX. She started at The WARM Place in 1994 and has served as a houseparent, facilitator, monitor, and group director. Dana has over 25 years of experience working in children’s bereavement and began her work at El Tesoro de la Vida Grief Camp. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor and Certified School Counselor. Dana served on the Speaker’s Bureau for the National Center for Youth Issues and has taught a variety of courses in the field of psychology at Tarrant County College.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

CBEM Key Topic Report 2024: The Relationship between Childhood Bereavement and Household Income

The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) developed by Judi’s House/JAG Institute approximates rates of U.S. children who will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the time they reach adulthood. Each year, Judi’s House releases standard estimates of childhood bereavement rates in the U.S. and all 50 states, as well as a CBEM Key Topic Report exploring factor of interest, such as geography, cause of death, race/ethnicity. This webinar reviews the 2024 CBEM Key Topic Report examining the relationship between childhood bereavement and household income in the United States. Income is a critical social determinant of health that is associated with a range of outcomes, including early mortality. Overall, findings from CBEM analyses show that lower income is powerfully associated with higher childhood bereavement rates. In the vast majority of U.S. states, children in the lowest income counties had the highest bereavement rates, and the magnitude of the difference was typically substantial.

During this webinar, the presenters will review the process employed to create income categories in each state, describe the methodology for the analyses, and summarize the results across the 50 states. Implications of the findings for families, community organizations, advocates, and policymakers will be explored along with recommendations for transformational change.

Download the slides →

 

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 →

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the relationship between median household income and childhood bereavement rates in the United States.
  • Quantify the magnitude of the difference in CBEM results for children in each US state’s lowest and highest median household income counties.
  • Propose policies and practices that can address childhood bereavement using income disparities as an important context.

 

Speaker Bios:

Jeff Lin, PhD, is the Director of Evaluation and Research of Judi’s House/JAG Institute. He has a passion for applying research evidence to develop public policies and practices that best serve the community. With decades of experience working in partnership with public and non-profit agencies, he has seen the impact that good research can have on people’s lives. Jeff was a sociology professor for 15 years, focusing his research and teaching on addressing pressing public issues such as criminal justice and youth services reforms. This experience deeply informs his commitment to producing data and evidence that can help bereaved children and families.

Michaeleen (Micki) Burns, PhD, is the Chief Executive Officer at Judi’s House/JAG Institute (JH/JAG) and adjunct faculty at the University of Colorado. JH/JAG is a comprehensive family bereavement center in Metro Denver. She serves on the board of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief and is an advisor to Speaking Grief, a national public media initiative seeking to the grief experience. A Licensed Psychologist with more than two decades of experience providing therapeutic assessment and support to families facing adversity, Micki has witnessed the lasting impact of unaddressed grief. Her practice is focused on supporting families who have experienced the loss of a child and specializes in working with those grieving suicide and overdose deaths. She is dedicated to ensuring appropriate care is available for all and raising childhood bereavement to a level of critical public importance. Before becoming the CEO, Micki oversaw the direct service, research, and training departments at JH/JAG, working towards a vision where no child is alone in grief.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.

Introduction to Grief Support Series | Attachment Theory and the Enduring Impact on Grief

Attachment Theory offers profound insights into how individuals form and maintain emotional bonds, regulate their emotions, and adapt to change throughout their lives. From birth, our attachment style is formed within the context of relationships and influences our sense of self, identity, and values. When experiencing grief and loss, our attachment style directly impacts how we grieve and relate to others. Throughout this presentation we will discuss attachment styles across the lifespan, how those styles can impact grief reactions, attachment theory’s role in healing, and strategies and interventions to navigate grief within the framework of attachment theory.

members only iconThis playback is available to active NACG members only. 

Members must be logged into the member portal to access the playback. 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 →

 

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: Novice – 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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Describe the four attachment styles and discern the potential difference in grief responses.
  • Identify how attachment styles can be utilized to promote healing.
  • Gain skills in applying attachment theory in therapeutic settings.

 

Speaker Bio:

Jordan Park, LMFT, received her Master’s Degree at Oklahoma State University in Human Development and Family Science with an option in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2017. She has served in various roles throughout her 5 years of employment at Calm Waters, and is currently a full-time therapist, seeing individuals, families, and couples who have experienced a death and/or divorce. She is very passionate about healthy relationships and encourages individuals to know they are worthy of love and of being seen, heard, and valued.

Heather Gaglio, LMFT, received her Master’s degree at Oklahoma State University in Human Development and Family Science with an option in Marriage and Family Therapy in 2012. She is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist (LMFT) and an Approved Supervisor through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT). Heather has over 10 years of clinical experience and has worked in non-profit and private practice settings. Heather has been involved in supporting research in the field of Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood programs as well. As the current Clinical Director at Calm Waters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Heather oversees a team of therapists and clinical interns who provide over 250 hours of grief counseling to nearly 150 clients each month. She is passionate about increasing access of grief support and educating the community about healthy and helpful ways to support children and families through grief and loss so that no one has to grieve alone.

 

Terrific or Terrifying? How to Engage Tweens in a Peer Support Grief Group

Are you afraid of tweens? There seems to be a universal belief that they are a bit of an anomaly. They lie in this no man’s land between child and teen. Their peers are the mirror they hold up to themselves and so is society and social media. The adolescent is trying to discover who they are as an individual while fiercely craving to fit in with their cohorts. Grief is a deeply personal and complex emotional process that can profoundly impact adolescents’ lives, relationships, and academic performance. When you combine the awkwardness of being a tween and grief, you’ve got a recipe for a complicated population of grievers. By gaining a better understanding of the unique challenges faced by grieving middle schoolers, we can offer the support and resources to help them navigate through this difficult journey. This presentation identifies the developmental and social factors that come into play for adolescents and how those may impact peer support group dynamics. Participants have the opportunity to integrate this knowledge into action by practicing activities that can foster engagement and connection among tweens in peer support groups.

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Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks. 
Target Audience: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals
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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Identify developmental factors that influence a middle school-aged child’s grieving process.
  • Restate the relation of development to social factors and how they impact the peer support dynamic.
  • Demonstrate activities that can be adapted to a peer support grief group for middle school-aged children.

 

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 3 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.

Pat Wong Connolly, LCSW, CT, is an Onsite Group Facilitator at Peter’s Place: A Center for Grieving Children & Families, located in Radnor, PA and serving the Greater Philadelphia area. Her work focuses on developing and facilitating peer support groups for children and caregivers as well as designing and implementing volunteer training. She has over 10 years of experience working with various populations in bereavement, private practice and higher education settings. Pat earned her master’s degree in college counseling and student development from the University of Delaware and her master’s in social services from Bryn Mawr College. She is a licensed clinical social worker and certified thanatologist, who maintains a private practice, supporting individuals through grief and life transitions.

 

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Supported by the philanthropic investment
of the New York Life Foundation.