From Breaking News to Breakthroughs: Creative, Play-based Support After a Death

From Breaking News to Breakthroughs: Creative, Play-based Support After a Death

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.

This 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.

Delivering 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.

This 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.

Attendees 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.

 

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, 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:

  • Identify three strategies for age-appropriate communication with children about difficult topics, including preparation and processing based on the situation and potential trauma.
  • Participants 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.
  • Participants 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.
  • Identify at least three reputable resources (e.g., toolkits, online libraries, or apps) that can be shared with families and professionals to facilitate ongoing support.

 

Speaker Bio:

Stephanie 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.

Her 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.

As 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.

Through 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.

 

Jessica 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.

With 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.

Jessica 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.

As 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.

 

 

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

Introduction to Grief Support Series | Silent Grievers: Supporting Siblings After Infant Loss Through Honest Communication and Connection

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.

Siblings of infant loss are often the “forgotten grievers.” While parents receive the focus of support, children frequently navigate their grief in silence. Some spend months joyfully anticipating a new baby, only to have that hope shattered in an instant. Others meet their baby sibling only to say goodbye, while many never meet the baby at all yet still live with the weight of their absence.

This session equips professionals, caregivers, and parents with research-backed strategies to validate and support these siblings while fostering emotional resilience. A key focus will be on the language we use to explain death and how vague statements like “went to sleep” or “we lost the baby” can cause confusion, fear, and mistrust. Participants will gain tools for delivering clear, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate explanations that help children process their grief safely.

The session begins with “Through Their Eyes,” a reflective group activity where participants examine real-world vignettes and step into the perspective of grieving siblings. After exploring evidence-based principles for supporting siblings of infant loss, participants will engage in “Find the Words,” a hands-on exercise to practice reframing confusing or euphemistic statements into language that promotes trust, clarity, and connection.

Attendees will leave with practical tools, including language guides, sibling-support strategies, and memory-making prompts to help families foster open communication and inclusion. This session blends research and real-world application, giving participants confidence and actionable skills to better support siblings affected by infant 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: 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:

  • Identify the unique grief experiences of siblings after infant loss, including children “born into grief” after a loss.
  • Demonstrate clear, compassionate, and developmentally appropriate language when explaining a sibling’s death.
  • Recognize subtle signs of sibling grief and validate overlooked emotional needs, including shattered anticipation and lack of closure.
  • Create opportunities for siblings to participate in memory-making and ongoing conversations to foster inclusion and resilience.

 

Speaker Bios:

Michelle Cramer is the Founder and Executive Director of On Angels’ Wings, a nonprofit organization providing therapeutic photography, grief support, and long-term wellness resources to families navigating infant and child loss or caring for medically fragile children. As an Advanced Certified Grief Recovery Method Specialist, Michelle has spent 18 years supporting grieving families and developing tools to foster healing. Her expertise lies in helping families, caregivers, and professionals validate and include siblings impacted by infant loss while modeling healthy communication and coping strategies.

 

Tender Moments: Guiding Preschoolers and Families Through the Journey of Grief

Participants will explore how preschoolers understand and process loss, effective ways to foster emotional expression in safe and supportive environments, and how to engage family members in meaningful conversations about healing. Drawing from both professional expertise and lived experience, this session equips educators, caregivers, and community members with tools to recognize the signs of grief, provide comfort, and build resilience for children and families navigating difficult times.

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, 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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize developmental differences in how preschool-aged children understand and express grief compared to older children and adults.
  • Identify signs of grief in young children and family members, including emotional, behavioral, and physical responses.
  • Apply developmentally appropriate strategies (such as play, storytelling, and routine support) to help preschoolers process loss in a safe and nurturing way.
  • Engage families with sensitivity and empathy, providing resources and communication tools that promote resilience and healing within the home and classroom.

 

Speaker Bio:

My name is Doris McCoy, LBSW/MSW-IPR, and I bring more than 37 years of experience as a Social Work Consultant in health care, managed care, and early childhood education. I hold a Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Houston, where I now serve as Vice President of the Graduate College of Social Work Alumni Board Association. Much of my career has been dedicated to addressing the great needs of the communities I serve, providing advocacy, education, and practical support to families, children, and professionals. Early in my career, my retired professor, Sandra Lopez, affirmed that I have a gift and unique skills in the area of grief and bereavement. That insight has guided my path and deepened my commitment to supporting individuals and families during life’s most difficult transitions. In addition to direct service, I am a certified Community Health Worker Instructor, an American Heart Association CPR/BLS Instructor, and a TECPDS Master Trainer. My work integrates grief and bereavement into trainings that equip professionals with strategies to respond with empathy, build resilience, and strengthen the capacity of communities to heal and thrive.

 

My name is Jackie Hopkins, RN, and I bring a wealth of diverse knowledge and experience as a Registered Nurse. In addition to my clinical background, I am a TECPDS-certified Trainer and Certified CPR Instructor, dedicated to equipping individuals and organizations with the skills they need to succeed. I am especially passionate about teaching and supporting my community in the areas of **grief and bereavement**, where I see a tremendous need for compassionate guidance and resources. Through my work, I strive to provide training that is both practical and meaningful, blending healthcare expertise with empathy to meet people where they are. My goal is to empower others, whether in professional development or in personal healing, by offering education and support that strengthens individuals, families, and the wider community.

Introduction to Grief Support Series | Talking with Children and Teens about a Death Due to Suicide

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.

How do we best support children and families when someone in their life has died by suicide? Explaining a suicide death to children and teens is often a daunting task for parents and guardians navigating such a profound loss. Well-meaning adults want to protect children from the truth and from the painful emotions such as guilt, shame, and regret that often accompany a suicide death. Yet, avoiding honest conversations can leave children and teens feeling confused and isolated. Parents and guardians may feel overwhelmed as they struggle with their own grief while also trying to decide what to tell their children and how to support them. For caregivers, telling the truth may feel intimidating and provoke anxiety. This workshop will explore the impact of suicide loss on families, including the layers of stigma, silence, and unanswered questions that often surround a death due to suicide. Additionally, we will discuss the unique challenges that families grapple with after a loss to suicide. Participants will receive helpful tips and information about best practices for supporting families, with suggested verbiage and phrases to use when explaining a suicide death to children and teens. This will include examples of what to say and what not to say, as well as helpful responses when children have questions. There will be ample time for discussion in this interactive presentation.

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:

  • Describe the grief and loss experience of children and teens who have been impacted by the death of someone in their life due to suicide.
  • List practical tips and tools for supporting grieving children and teens affected by a suicide death.
  • Discuss examples of what to say and what not to say as when talking with children and teens about a death due to suicide.
  • Discuss societal stigmas and their impact on bereaved children and teens.

 

Speaker Bios:

Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT – Dr. Pamela Gabbay is a nationally recognized author and trainer who has served the bereavement field in many capacities during her nearly 30-year career. Dr. Gabbay is part of the Youth Programs team at TAPS – The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, and a member of the TAPS Advisory Board, as well as working closely with Coping After Suicide. Additionally, she is a National Trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and is the co-author, along with Andy McNiel, of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. Dr. Gabbay has served in a variety of roles in her career, including being the Director of Operations and Training for The Compassionate Friends, the Director of The Mourning Star Center for Grieving Children, and the Camp Director for Camp Erin-Palm Springs. Additionally, she served as Vice President on the Board of Directors of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG). Dr. Gabbay holds a Fellow in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC) and earned a Master of Arts degree in Cognitive Psychology from Claremont Graduate University. She earned her Doctor of Education degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University/UMass Global.

 

Evaluation & Dissemination of a Bereavement Support Intervention for LGBTQIA+ Youth

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming youth, are impacted by high rates of traumatic loss, as well as by the experience of suffocated and disenfranchised grief, much of it caused by the stigma, shaming and violence directed at LGBT people. These youth can also have unique bereavement concerns, distinct from their heterosexual and cisgender peers, given the ways that the developmental trajectory of LGBT adolescents can intersect with the processes of mourning and grief.

The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI) is one of the nation’s oldest and largest LGBT youth-serving organizations, providing primarily Black and Latino youth with mental health services and an array of youth development programs. In response to the numbers of bereaved youth seeking counseling services at HMI, and the regularity with which our community mourns the loss of young people, many of whom die by violence and suicide, the Institute has developed a curriculum-driven group intervention to support bereaved youth, focused on resilience, coping with loss, and finding connections with LGBT ancestors. The curriculum teaches youth about LGBT history and collective responses to loss and trauma, so that youth can learn how to transform pain through creative expression, social action, and community celebrations. The intervention, titled “Survivance and Queer Youth,” is grounded in Shawn Ginwright’s concept of “Healing-Centered Engagement” which is a strength-based approach, and views those exposed to trauma as active agents in the creation of their own healing. Healing-Centered Engagement advances a collective view of healing, and re-centers culture, healthy identity, and a sense of belonging as central features in well-being.

Staff from HMI will present on the implementation and dissemination of this community-based bereavement support program, and will share results from our program evaluation which includes quantitative data from seven (7) youth centers located across the country, and qualitative data about the Facilitator Training.

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, 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

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize and articulate the types of non-death losses experienced by LGBT youth, and the reasons for higher rates of bereavement and early death among this population.
  • Identify and understand the psychosocial phenomenon of disenfranchised grief and suffocated grief among LGBTQ youth communities.
  • Articulate best practices for counseling and supporting bereaved LGBTQ youth and adolescents using approaches drawn from Healing-Centered Engagement

 

Speaker Bio:

Zola Bruce is a dynamic social worker, educator, writer, and interdisciplinary artist whose work centers on experiential learning, leadership development, creative program design, healing, and community-based education. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Zola relocated to New York to attend Sarah Lawrence College, where they studied psychology and sculpture. Their global perspective was further shaped by a semester abroad in Kingston, Jamaica, with The School for International Training, focusing on Gender and Development.

Zola earned their Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University in 2001 and spent over a decade advancing youth development initiatives across New York City. Their work with organizations such as the Center for Family Life, McBurney YMCA, the LGBTQ Center, and The Center for Anti-Violence Education emphasized therapeutic programming for youth and families, with a strong commitment to social justice and healing.

Internationally, Zola founded Unified for Global Healing, a nonprofit dedicated to grassroots community health initiatives in Haiti, Ghana, and India. Through the use of art as a universal language, they fostered cross-cultural dialogue and connection beyond barriers of language, class, and culture. They also led youth programming in Kyoto, Japan, as part of World Learning’s Arts & Culture initiative.

Blending their passions for art, activism, and social work, Zola served as Associate Director of Communications & Impact at The Center for Anti-Violence Education and continues to consult and speak at activist events. Currently, they serve as Manager of Bereavement and Mental Health Services at the Hetrick-Martin Institute and teach as an Adjunct Professor at Hunter College.

Zola resides in Brooklyn, where they remain deeply engaged in creative and community-centered work.

Grief and Bereavement of Children with Intellectual Disabilities: Current Research and Practice

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: 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:

  • Describe ways that children with ID understand and process a loss
  • Provide examples of how children with ID engage in Caring Connections
  • Demonstrate developmentally inclusive support strategies

 

Speaker Bios:

Arlen Gaines, PhD, MSW, LCSW-C, LICSW, APHSW-C, is a psychosocial leader in the field of palliative care and hospice, providing system-wide leadership to social workers in palliative care at MedStar Health. Over close to 20 years of caring for patients and their families with serious illness and at the end of life, she developed a specialization in supporting individuals with developmental disabilities in their grief and speaks nationally on this subject. She is the co-author of the award-winning I Have a Question series, which addresses complex topics for children, inclusive of those with developmental disabilities, such as I Have a Question about Death and I Have a Question about Cancer. As the first social worker in the inaugural doctoral program in Palliative Care at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, she completed her dissertation research on the grief and bereavement experiences of children with intellectual disabilities.

 

New York Life Foundation logo

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

 

 

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 →

Centering Compassion Series | Supporting Staff and Volunteers in Challenging Times

Join us for a meaningful session in our Centering Compassion Series, focused on Supporting Staff and Volunteers in Challenging Times. Executive Directors from four childhood bereavement organizations across the country will come together to share how they lead with compassion, transparency, and adaptability. Whether you’re supervising staff, coordinating volunteers, or shaping organizational culture, this panel offers honest reflection and practical ideas for supporting your team with empathy and intention—sustaining those who make the mission possible every day.

 

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: 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

Centering Compassion Series:

 

Speaker Bio:

Dr. Tina Barrett is the Executive Director and Co-founder of Tamarack Grief Resource Center in Montana. A licensed counselor, Barrett’s commitment to excellence in grief and trauma care is matched by her profound commitment to healthy organizations and setting teams up for success. Weaving stories from over 30 years of experiences as an Executive Director, Board Member, staff member, supervisor, supervisee, and volunteer, she is committed to strengths-oriented care and healthy, effective workplaces. Dr. Barrett’s workshops pull from her work in schools, hospitals, private practice, group homes, treatment centers, and nonprofits and the clients and colleagues she’s had the honor of working alongside. She serves on the Leadership Team for Project Tomorrow Montana, the Presidents’ Circle for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG), and the Advisory Board for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). Barrett received the Community Educator Award from the Association for Death Educators and Counselors (ADEC) in 2019. She is delighted and honored to be a part of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.

Deirdra Flavin, MSc, CFRE, (moderator) is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG), a nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness about the needs of children who are grieving and providing education and resources to those who support them. With over twenty years of experience in nonprofit leadership, marketing, and development, Deirdra’s career has centered on advancing social impact and fostering meaningful connections within communities. Deirdra joined the NACG in 2019 as the National Marketing and Development Director, and her work is focused on driving organizational growth, enhancing organizational recognition, and fostering collaboration, which has resulted in increased resources and support for the organization’s programs and initiatives. Before transitioning to the nonprofit sector, Deirdra held senior roles in marketing and sales, where she gained extensive experience in strategic planning, relationship management, and achieving measurable results. Her ability to translate corporate strategies into mission-driven successes has defined her work in the nonprofit world, where she blends business acumen with a deep commitment to creating meaningful change. A native of Cork, Ireland, Deirdra holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree in Marketing Management from University College Cork. In 2021, she earned her Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) credential. Deirdra resides in Virginia with her husband and three children.

Annette R. March-Grier, RN., C.F.S.P., is a native Baltimorean, and Vice President of a family business; March Funeral Homes located in Maryland, Washington DC and Virginia. She is a registered nurse, a mortician and the visionary of Roberta’s House Inc., a non-profit Family Grief Support Center founded in 2007, by the March family in honor of their matriarch, Julia Roberta March. Annette is the President, and has lead the way for grief education and support for grieving children and families in Baltimore for more than 38 years. A teacher, counselor, trainer and leader, with her compassionate staff, provides a safe place for children and adults to heal and recover from the death of someone close. Roberta’s House provides trauma informed care and addresses grief as a public health service through education and over 15 peer support programs. Children, adults, and families suffering the loss or death of a loved one receive support and a safe place to heal and recover. To date Roberta’s House has provided support services to more than 10,000 children and adults and trained over 800 community volunteers that support their programs. Roberta’s House conducts grief support programs for individuals of all ages and types of death losses as well as professional workshops for the community. It is the first bereavement center to be founded by African Americans in the U.S. to address the inequities for people of color with grief and mental health resources. In January of 2021, March-Grier fundraised and successfully completed the construction of the first bereavement center in Baltimore Maryland to serve children and families. The center is located on the same landmark that her parents operated the funeral home from 1957-1980. The 22,000 square foot facility is a state of the art bereavement center that is one of a kind in the US to provide bereavement care and counseling for the underserved and people of color.

Annette is a recipient of numerous awards and achievements. She received the National Caring Award in October, 2016 which includes her induction into the Caring Hall of Fame located in the Frederick Douglas Museum on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. In addition, she was selected by CNN, the world leader in news, as one of the top ten CNN heroes, 2014 for changing the world.

Debbie Meyer, MNM, has an extensive background in leading nonprofits as the present executive director of Erin’s House for Grieving Children for the past 17 years. Debbie is a proud board member and current board president for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG).

Debbie is an adjunct lecturer in nonprofit courses for Huntington University, Purdue University, and Arizona State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Central Florida. In her spare time, she loves to read, travel, shop, and cheer on Notre Dame football with her family.

Fun facts:

  • Erin’s House and Debbie are a featured chapter in American Spirit by Taya Kyle and Jim DeFelice, 2019 – Pages 164-172.
  • Debbie was also the marketing director for a winning Indianapolis 500 race car driver, Eddie Cheever.
  • Erin’s House was recently featured in the Peacock documentary “Here Come the Irish” with Coach Marcus Freeman, in August 2024.

Brennan Wood has served as the Executive Director of Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families based in Portland, Oregon since 2015, where she has been on staff in various roles since 2004. Brennan’s professional background and expertise are grounded in fundraising, strategic planning, organizational development, and capacity building. She is the author of, A Kids Book About Grief and is a member of the National Advisory Council for the COVID Collaborative as well as the Advisory Council for Hidden Pain. She was the 2020 Light-a-Fire Award Extraordinary Executive Director and a 2022 Women of Influence Award recipient. Brennan is passionate about Dougy Center’s mission to provide grief support, resources, training, and community response to children, teens, young adults, and their families who are grieving before and after a death, and those who support them. Brennan walked through the doors of Dougy Center for the first time in 1987 when her mother, Doris, died three days after she had turned 12-years-old. Her experience in a peer support group at Dougy Center shaped her life and she has strived to provide the same opportunity that she had to other children and families who are grieving in her community, across the country, and around the world ever since. Under Brennan’s leadership, Oregon Business named Dougy Center as a “Best Nonprofit to Work For” for the past six years, and local CEOs voted Dougy Center as a “Most Admired Company” for the past four. Since becoming Executive Director, Brennan has championed Dougy Center’s commitment to equity and inclusion and has brought innovative partnerships, programs, and resources to the field of childhood bereavement. Brennan is committed to making the world a more grief-informed place where we all can acknowledge grief as a natural and normal response to loss that is interwoven into a sociocultural context.

Centering Compassion Series | Holding Space for Ourselves: Cultivating Self-Compassion in Grief Support Work

Professionals and volunteers who support grieving children and families often show up with deep empathy and open hearts—yet may find it difficult to extend the same care inward. This webinar explores the transformative power of self-compassion as a protective resource for those doing emotionally demanding work in the field of childhood bereavement.

Grounded in the research-based Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) program developed by Drs. Kristin Neff and Christopher Germer, this session will offer practical tools for responding to personal distress with kindness, reducing caregiver fatigue, and fostering emotional resilience. Participants will learn how self-compassion can strengthen their ability to stay present with grief—both their own and others’—without becoming overwhelmed or burned out.

Through a blend of guided practices, reflective exercises, and discussion, this webinar invites participants to explore how cultivating compassion for ourselves enhances our capacity to hold space for others. Whether you’re a counselor, social worker, educator, or volunteer, this session will support your ongoing journey of sustainable, heart-centered service.

 

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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

Centering Compassion Series:

 

Objectives:

After attending this webinar, participants will be able to:

  • Recognize the role of self-compassion in grief work and emotional resilience
  • Identify common barriers to self-kindness among helping professionals
  • Practice core self-compassion techniques applicable in daily life and work
  • Understand how mindful awareness supports healthy emotional boundaries

 

Speaker Bio:

Vira Salzburn, MS, MSc, is a certified teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) with extensive experience delivering evidence-based compassion training to individuals, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders. With a professional background in trauma-informed care, public health, and behavioral science, Vira integrates MSC practices into resilience-building programs that promote emotional wellbeing, reduce burnout, and strengthen communities.

Vira holds a Master of Science in Management and Organizational Leadership from Troy University and a Graduate Certificate in Human Behavior from Harvard University Extension School. In addition to her role as Executive Director at Chatham County Safety Net Planning Council, she serves as a trusted trainer and speaker on topics related to self-compassion, mindfulness, and resilience. Her teaching is known for being practical, heartfelt, and deeply human—offering participants tools to meet life’s challenges with kindness, courage, and clarity.