Introduction to Grief Support Series | Create Engaging and Meaningful Activities for Individual and Group Grief Support

Introduction to Grief Support Series | Create Engaging and Meaningful Activities for Individual and Group Grief Support

The development of activities that effectively address the topic of grief aids in the retainment of grief-related education. The incorporation of activities can enhance the learning, growth, and connection that grief support provides. Participants will learn how to design and implement activities that are both interactive and therapeutic, as well as see examples. In addition, they will better understand the importance of incorporating current interests of youth into the activities for further engagement. Attendees will explore the various types of activities, including physical activities, artistic expression, and mindful practices. Also, participants will learn various ways to measure the effectiveness of their activities in age-appropriate ways. The session will equip attendees with the knowledge, tools, and strategies needed to enhance their grief care by incorporating activities into 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 →

 

Continuing Education (CE) credits are not available for webinar playbacks.
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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Develop interactive activities for children and teenagers that facilitate productive discussion.
  • Identify relevant trends and interests of youth to incorporate into activities and maximize engagement.
  • Create activities that foster expression by incorporating various art mediums and levels of instruction.
  • Apply developmentally appropriate modifications to activities to maximize comprehension and effectiveness.
  • Utilize a variety of activity types to ensure different types of learners are engaged.

 

Speaker Bios:

Laurel Neitling joined the team in July 2023 as the Circles of Hope Program Manager. She previously graduated from Central Michigan University with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and minor in management, and she graduated with an MBA from Western Governor’s University in 2024. She previously volunteered with New Hope as a support group facilitator. She experienced the loss of her father as a young child, and that led to a passion for helping bereaved families get the support they need. Laurel has presented at numerous Grief Sensitivity Training sessions and the 2024 NACG Grief Conference. Laurel has had the privilege of watching many of our participants grow through their grief journeys, and she is grateful to work alongside such dedicated volunteers and staff members to offer grief support services to the bereaved.

 

The Power of Goodbye Rituals: The Importance of Involving Children in the Bereavement Process

This presentation will focus on the importance of goodbyes and the surrounding rituals that families participate in during times of bereavement. The death of a loved one is a significant life event which often occurs within the healthcare environment. Child Life Specialists support children and families in various settings during critical stress points in their lives. In the hospital setting, Child Life Specialists provide procedural preparation, support, distraction, play, education, bereavement support, legacy activities, memory making, and help promote positive coping mechanisms. Additionally, Child Life Specialists provide emotional safety during distressing situations which aids in minimizing both short- and long-term effects associated with trauma. The American Academy of Pediatrics’ Policy Statement (2021) highlights that “child life services are associated with improved quality, outcomes, and patient and family experiences as well as decreased costs in pediatric care.”

“An estimated 6.3 million children in the United States will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age eighteen” (Judi’s House and JAG Institute, 2024). The death of a loved one may impact the psychosocial and emotional development of a child and can lead to anxiety, depression, behavioral related problems, poor school performance, social withdrawal, and feelings of insecurity and vulnerability. Muriel et al. explain the “profound impact” a parent’s early death has on “children and the adults they become,” (Muriel et al., 2019).

Rituals provide personal connections between the bereaved child and dying family member. Incorporating legacy building and memory making into bereavement interventions may enhance a child’s ability to cope with death and loss. In addition, these activities provide the opportunity for children to take an active role in the process of saying goodbye to their loved one. Goodbye rituals, done with or apart from the dying loved one, help children recognize, grieve, and honor special relationships in their lives.

 

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:

  • Summarize the necessity of providing goodbye opportunities for children and adolescents.
  • Restate the importance of respecting families’ unique values, spiritual beliefs, and traditions.
  • Identify 2-3 legacy building and memory methods.

 

Speaker Bio:

Olivia Buzminsky, holds a MS in Child Life, Administration, and Family Collaboration with Post-Baccalaureate Certificates in Family Professional Collaboration and Autism Studies from Towson University and a BA in Psychology from Mount Saint Mary College. She currently works as a Child Life Specialist at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital in the pediatric emergency department and University of Maryland Medical Center in the pediatric emergency department, PICU, and proton radiation unit. Olivia is newly married, lives in Northern Baltimore with her husband and has a passion for animals especially dogs.

Cami Frickman received her BFA with a Certificate in Art Therapy from School of Visual Arts in New York. Cami is a Certified Child Life Specialist, Certified Grief Support Specialist and completed her Certification in Thanatology from Hood College. Over the past twenty-five years, Cami has worked in various hospital and school settings with children and families. She currently works as Child Life Specialist for Adult Services at Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital/Inova Fairfax Medical Campus supporting children of adult patients and teens hospitalized on adult units. Cami lives with her husband, 5 children, and one pup in the Northern Virginia suburbs.

Alicia Field received her BS in Family Child Development from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Alicia has close to 30 years as a Child Life Specialist. She began her career at Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC and transitioned to Inova L.J. Murphy Children’s Hospital/Inova Fairfax Medical Campus supporting children of adult patients, teens hospitalized on adult units. Her most prized award was from The EVAN Foundation, where she was honored for her dedication and service to children with cancer in 2020. She lives in Northern VA with her husband and 3 children and their lovable dog Cooper.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

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

 

Continuing Education (CE) Provider Information →

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.

Children & Funerals in a Global Pandemic

Activities and Tasks of the Adolescent Grief and Loss Group

*This playback is available to active NACG Members Only.

Kicking Off Spanish-Language Programs

*This playback is available to active NACG Members Only.