Cultivating inclusivity for children and all abilities in funeral planning and participation

Cultivating inclusivity for children and all abilities in funeral planning and participation

The process of planning a funeral is a multifaceted endeavor involving significant considerations such as cultural traditions, accessibility, religious/ spiritual beliefs, communities, and the ability to derive meaning from the experience (Causadias et al., 2022). It is imperative to create an age-appropriate, death-positive conversation which can then expand participation to include often marginalized communities such as: BIPOCC, LGBTQIA, individuals, and children who are neurodiverse. Understanding contemporary funeral care practices can help make it easier to advocate for the inclusion of children in funeral planning, which can reduce psychopathology among children and adolescents (Becker et al, 2021; Causadias et al, 2022; McCaughan et al, 2021). Walsh’s Family Resilience Theory supports including children in funeral rituals as it can help instill stronger familial and community relationships. Recognizing and addressing children’s emotional needs in the context of death and loss is a pivotal step toward promoting a healthier grieving process. Embracing a more inclusive and compassionate approach to funeral planning can help ensure that all individuals and communities can participate and find solace in the process.

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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:

  • Name best practices of contemporary funeral care.
  • List five key elements in developing an inclusive funeral ceremony for all ages and abilities.
  • Explain funeral procedures in age-appropriate explanations of funeral procedures for various age groups (ie: young children, adolescents) and consider the unique needs and abilities of attendees, including those with physical and cognitive challenges.

 

Speaker Bios:

Stephanie Heitkemper, PhD, is a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of Resilient Minds Counseling PLLC in Denver, Colorado and Camp Erin NYC Clinical Director. Stephanie completed her undergraduate studies in Psychology and Human Services at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA, and holds a Masters in Marriage Family Therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO. She completed her PhD in Counseling and Psychological Studies from Regent University in Virginia Beach, VA. Stephanie is a Registered Play Therapist Supervisor (RPT-S), an Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Approved Consultant and Certified Therapist, a Fellow in Thanatology (FT), and is also a Trauma and Loss Specialist (CTS) and Trauma Informed Assessment Specialist (CTA). Her main passion is working with children and families recovering from grief and trauma. Professionally, she finds the most joy in collaboration, problem solving, hands-on creativity, and interactive play. In her free time, Stephanie enjoys 5 am CrossFit, coffee, and exploring Colorado with her boxer, Frank, and her husband.

Jack E. Lechner, Jr. CFSP, MS, CT is a distinguished individual with extensive experience in both the funeral industry and United States Army. He currently holds the position of President & Chief Executive Officer of the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (CCMS). Jack’s knowledge and expertise in the funeral industry span nearly five decades. Before entering the academic field, Jack practiced as a licensed funeral director in the state of New Jersey for a decade. In 1983, he transitioned to a military career enlisting as an Infantryman in the United States Army. He went on to be commissioned as an officer in 1985. Jack’s final military assignment was at the honorable and prestigious Arlington National Cemetery. There he held several positions including Executive Officer, Cemetery Administrator, Deputy Superintendent. Jack’s dedication and contributions culminated in his appointment as Superintendent, a position he held until August 2015. Throughout his military career, Jack earned multiple military awards highlighting his exceptional service and dedication. These honors include the Defense Superior Service Medal, two Bronze Star Medals, three Defense Meritorious Service Medals, five Meritorious Service Medals and various other commendations.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

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

Introduction to Grief Support Series | The Invisibility of Child Sibling Bereavement

Despite its significant occurrence, sibling bereavement is the most understudied area of bereavement. This session will examine why the sibling relationship is so important, the effects of sibling death across the different stages of childhood, and interventions to help children who have had a sibling die. Also discussed will be how a child’s concept of death changes as the child grows, the vital changes that occur in family dynamics after a child dies, and the external factors that must be considered when working with children who have experienced sibling death. This session will also include an interactive component in which participants will examine case studies of actual children who have had a sibling die and discuss the efficacy of the care they received.

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:

  • Define 2 qualities of the sibling relationship.
  • Compare developmental concepts of death across the span of childhood
  • Identify 3 ways in which adults can assist grieving siblings.
  • Explain how the family dynamic changes after the loss of a sibling
  • List 3 external factors that must be considered when working with bereaved siblings.

 

Speaker Bio:

Maureen F. Walsh, NPFT, is a psychiatric nurse practitioner and grief therapist. She has a private practice called Grief Weavers located at Hope Floats Healing and Wellness Center in Kingston, MA, where she works with individuals, children and families who are grieving. In March 2023, Maureen was appointed the Education Outreach Director at Hope Floats. In this position she conducts grief trainings for schools, clinicians, and community organizations. She trains all Hope Floats’ group facilitators and volunteers and offers grief support to community members after sudden deaths, i.e. homicide, suicides, overdoses and accidents, Maureen is the author of Tuck Meets a Dragonfly, a children’s grief story and The Weaving Hope Club, a peer bereavement support program for school children. Maureen is certified as a Fellow in Thanatology by the Association for Death, Education, and Counseling.

 

Exploring the Role of Social Media in Child and Adolescent Grief

Social media is an integral part of almost everyone’s life today, especially children and adolescents. This form of connection can digitally put them in contact with others who may share their thoughts and feelings when physical contact is not wanted or available. These connections can provide much-needed support for a child or adolescent who is grieving while allowing them the opportunity to maintain their privacy and anonymity if so desired. While the opportunity for connection can be helpful, social media can also present challenges to children and adolescents who are grieving. The same anonymity that may allow for freer expression of thoughts and feelings may be used by others to manipulate, bully, or even extort children and adolescents. This webinar will share ways that social media can be used to support children and adolescents who are grieving, some potential challenges in its use, and ways social media can be used in the memorialization process.

Download the slides here →

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 two benefits of the use of social media by children and adolescents who are grieving.
  • Identify two potential challenges of the use of social media by children and adolescents who are grieving.
  • Identify two ways children and adolescents can use social media in the memorialization process.

 

Speaker Bios:

Adam W. Carter, Ph.D., joined the NACG in 2021 as National Clinical Director. He is a professional counselor and counselor educator who received his doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, with an emphasis in multicultural counseling, from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Adam has taught courses in CACREP-accredited master’s level clinical mental health programs and doctoral level courses in counselor education and supervision and served as the Trauma-Informed Counseling Graduate Certificate coordinator at Northern Illinois University. During his time at Northern Illinois University, he founded the Center for Grief and Loss at the University’s Community Counseling and Training Center, where he provided clinical supervision and education to counselors in training. Adam has an ongoing program of research and scholarship that focuses on early childhood grief responses and preparing counselors in-training to work with grieving children. Adam’s scholarly work also includes numerous peer-reviewed presentations focusing on topics such as trauma-informed counseling, play therapy, and developing research skills in counseling practitioners. His clinical experience is broad, having worked as a counselor and supervisor in community mental health clinics, in-home intensive settings, community advocacy agencies, and private practice. In 2014, Adam was one of two inaugural Scholars-in-Residence with the American Counseling Association and helped develop strategies for empowering clinicians to conduct single-subject design research in community settings. In the fall of 2020, Adam was acknowledged for his work in the field of grief counseling and death education by earning the designation of Fellow in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

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