CBEM Key Topic Report 2025: Examining Childhood Bereavement at the County Level

CBEM Key Topic Report 2025: Examining Childhood Bereavement at the County Level

The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) developed by Judi’s House/JAG Institute in partnership with the New York Life Foundation approximates rates of U.S. children and youth who will experience the death of a parent or sibling. Each year, Judi’s House releases CBEM Standard and Key Topic reports exploring childhood bereavement across the nation, in each state, and in relation to the intersection of childhood bereavement with associated factors such as race/ethnicity, cause of death, or household income. This webinar’s focus in on the 2025 CBEM Key Topic Report examining childhood bereavement in the United States at the county level.

Geography is associated with social and health outcomes in the U.S., including patterns of bereavement. Annual CBEM estimates produced at the state level show that childhood bereavement varies substantially across states. CBEM county level findings demonstrate considerable variation within states, as within state county differences can be vast. Webinar presenters will discuss the rational for producing county level bereavement estimates, describe the data and methods used to generate the results, and summarize findings. Possible reasons for disparities in bereavement estimates across counties, and their implications for families, community organizations, advocates, and policymakers will be discussed.

 

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: Counselors, Social workers, Bereavement support professionals, school 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

 

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Calculate the magnitude of difference in CBEM results between the counties with the lowest and highest childhood bereavement in U.S. states.
  • Summarize the common characteristics of high- and low-bereavement counties in the U.S. by identifying demographic statistics that can help contextualize the variations.
  • Propose practical strategies for understanding and addressing childhood bereavement in their communities and consider approaches to address communities with the highest needs.

 

Speaker Bio:

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 as the vice president of the U.S.-based National Alliance for Children’s Grief board of directors and is an advisor to Speaking Grief, a public media initiative seeking to improve 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 she 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.

Needs Assessment Training Series #1: Community Assessment Overview

This is the first of a 3-part Needs Assessment training webinar series, along with accompanying technical assistance. The sessions are meticulously designed to equip participants with a solid foundational understanding to successfully engage in and complete an initial needs assessment process. Comprised of three comprehensive sessions, this training series aims to provide a holistic knowledge base while facilitating the application of concepts through interactive components, discussions, and practical exercises. During the first session, participants will delve into the essential components of a needs assessment, exploring the ‘Why,’ ‘Who,’ ‘What,’ and ‘How’ of the process, with special emphasis on understanding the purpose and benefits for the key stakeholders involved in programming. We will also start to discuss the initial steps for conducting a needs assessment, including steps for 3 levels of needs assessment and will provide information on steps for a basic needs assessment, steps for a more intermediate one, and steps for a more advanced needs assessment.

Download the slides here →
Download the fillable handout here → 

 

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.

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Increase understanding and knowledge of the purpose and benefits of conducting a needs assessments.
  • Increase knowledge of all of the steps involved in conducting a needs assessment.
  • Increase knowledge of the initial steps for conducting a needs assessment, including steps for 3 levels of needs assessment: Level 1- Basic; Level 2- Intermediate; 3- Advanced.

 

Speaker Bio:

Ailala Kay (she/her), MA, is OMNI’s Director of Learning and Development. Ms. Kay has been with OMNI since 2004 and has overseen the provision of learning and development-focused projects, such as training, technical assistance, coaching, evaluation, and facilitation services to multiple state and local government agencies, foundations, and non-profits. Ms. Kay brings particular expertise in the design and delivery of trainings and facilitations focused on areas of needs assessment, strategic planning, implementation, and evaluation processes while supporting groups to optimize their efficiency, cohesion, collaboration, and decision-making. She is a certified performance coach, trainer of Prevention Ethics and Substance Abuse Specialist Trainer (SAPST) training, and is also certified in Effective Facilitator Strategies, Keys to Sustainability (CAPT), and Communities that Care, and is a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) facilitator. Ms. Kay is also a staff adjunct for the University of Oklahoma Master of Prevention Science degree program.

Ona Crow (she/her), CPSII, MSW, is a Senior Learning and Development Manager and has been with OMNI for 5 years.  She brings over 15 years of experience in both direct service and project/program management with diverse populations. She values the power of community in creating systemic transformation to solve complex problems and sees strong relationships as the foundation of this work. Ona brings high-level expertise and experience in developing and delivering training grounded in adult-learning theory and interactive, and  equitable approaches. Ona brings an embodied, authentic, and joyful presence to training and facilitation. She is an expert at designing effective, engaging, and customized training processes that center equity, as well as customizing the process of knowledge and skill building to meet the unique needs of each organization or group she is working with.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

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

 

Considerations for Collecting and Interpreting Information to Improve Service Delivery During COVID 19

*This playback is available to active NACG Members Only.