Call for Presenters for the 2027 National Symposium on Children’s Grief

We’re excited to launch the call for presenters for the NACG 2027 National Symposium on Children’s Grief. The NACG Symposium is the longest-running and most comprehensive childhood bereavement symposium in the United States.

We invite you to submit your application to present a session at the symposium. Whether you are a past presenter or someone who has been considering it, we encourage you to apply. The goal of the symposium is to represent the multitude of perspectives and practices that are emerging or current in the field of childhood bereavement. We will have both 60-minute and 90-minute sessions again in 2027.

New to presenting? Join us for a Call for Proposals Prep webinar to support you in preparing your application. The call will be held on August 25 at 2:00pm ET. See details below and register for the call here →

Submit your application form now using the link below! Your proposal will be reviewed by the Symposium Committee, and you will be informed of their decision in November 2026.

Proposal Guidelines
We invite proposals that reflect your area of interest and expertise while providing meaningful, practical learning opportunities for professionals supporting children, teens, and families who are grieving. Feedback from our most recent Symposium highlighted a desire for more intermediate and advanced content and sessions that offer practical ideas and approaches attendees can easily apply in their own work.

• Play, Expressive Arts & Interactive Interventions
• Leadership & Organizational Management
• Stigmatized Death & Traumatic Loss
• Schools & School-Based Grief Support
• Culturally Responsive Grief Work & Underserved Populations
• Fundraising & Marketing

We also encourage experiential sessions and presentations that explore new or innovative approaches to supporting youth and families who are grieving.

New this year: Proposal Submission Limit
To honor the time and commitment of our volunteer review team and create opportunities for broad participation, individuals may be included on no more than two proposal submissions. This limit applies whether you are the primary submitter or are listed as a co-presenter on a proposal submitted by someone else.

Our goal is to build a program that reflects the diversity of the childhood bereavement field while creating space for new and emerging voices, perspectives, and approaches. Limiting the number of submissions per person helps us support a fair review process and expand opportunities for more professionals to contribute to the program.

If an individual is included on more than two proposals, only the first two proposals received, based on submission timestamp, will be eligible for consideration. Any subsequent proposals that include that individual as a presenter or co-presenter will be removed from consideration.

Content Levels
The committee is tasked with selecting sessions across all three levels. Brief descriptions of these levels are listed below to help you in selecting the correct content level for your session.

• Basic: This best describes a topic or issue that the prospective audience is encountering for the first time in a meaningful way.
• Intermediate: This best describes a topic or issue that the audience likely has a theoretical foundation for understanding and/or working knowledge.
• Advanced: This best describes a topic or issue about which the audience has significant knowledge and/or experience with the subject area.

Applications will be accepted August 17 through September 28, 2026.

Questions? Email info@nacg.org.

2027 Symposium Call for Proposals Prep Call

August 25, 2026
2:00pm to 3:00pm ET

We invite you to join us for an informative session as we walk through the abstract submission process. This webinar will feature a panel of experienced presenters and reviewers, Kiri Meyer, Marian Mankin, and Shelley Bettis who will share valuable insights, tips, and best practices to help you craft a strong proposal. Whether you’re a first-time applicant or a returning presenter, this session will provide the guidance you need to navigate the process with confidence.