Bereaved Children and Adolescents: Lessons from Research

Continuing Education Available for Professionals!


Increasingly, grief counselors are called to defend their practice.  Are there perspectives and approaches that can be considered "evidence-based"?  This seminar offers information about two of the most significant research projects to date on the effects of parental loss on children and adolescents. The work of William Worden and the Harvard Child Bereavement Study, and that of Irwin Sandler and the Family Bereavement Program,  offers insights not only on the experience of grief in children and adolescents, but also on the factors that can help identify the children most at risk.  This webinar is essential for all who work with children and adolescents.  Social workers, guidance counselors, child life professionals, counselors, educators, clergy, and funeral directors will glean insights and intervention strategies that will enhance their ability to support grieving children and adolescents.

Register for the archived program (available on-demand through April 13, 2011) | Register by mail/fax | What is a webinar?

Panelists will include J. William Worden, a co-principal investigator for the Harvard Child Bereavement Study and Irwin N. Sandler, Regent’s Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University

Continuing Education Available for Professionals! A valuable educational offering for individuals or organizations, with CEs included--in an easy-to-access on-line format! View a list of board approvals here.

This webinar is part of a 3-part series, Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Grief and Loss. The Organization Registration Fee for the 3-part Series is $250, which allows access to both the live webcast and an archived online program for one year past the live webinar, with unlimited CEs (1.5 hours) available for a wide range of professions. If purchased separately, the Organization fee is $100 per program. Register for the Series or register for this program only.

Objectives:

At the conclusion of this Webinar, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe major research initiatives that have studied the reactions of children and adolescents to parental loss;
  2. Discuss the findings of these studies including general course of bereavement, factors that influence the grief experience, long-term effects of bereavement, and prediction of at-risk children and adolescents;
  3. Discuss the implications of research for intervention with children and adolescents;
  4. Identify seven evidence-based strategies for working with the surviving parent of a child or adolescent experiencing parental loss.

Outline:

  1. Major Research Initiatives on Parental Loss in Children and Adolescents
    1. The Harvard Child Bereavement Study
    2. ASU: Family Bereavement Program
    3. Other Research Efforts
  2. Children and Adolescent Responses to Parental Loss
    1. Scope of the Problem
    2. The Course of Typical Grief Reactions in Children and Adolescents
    3. Determinants of Grief Reactions
    4. Identifying At-Risk Children and Adolescents
  3. Interventive Strategies
    1. Interventions with Children and Adolescents
      1. Offering Grief Support
      2. Skill Building
    2. Interventions with Surviving Parents
  4. Conclusion:  Directions for Future Research

Technical requirements for viewing the webinar can be found at http://www.videonewswire.com/support/, as well as a link to test your system. Please be sure the system you intend to watch the webinar on is compatible before you register for the webinar. Hospice Foundation of America cannot offer refunds for technical difficulties.

HFA is grateful to the support of The Moyer Foundation for its sponsorship of this series. The Moyer Foundation offers encouragement, comfort and support to children in distress; the Foundation created and funds Camp Erin, the largest network of bereavement camps in the country for children and teens who are grieving a significant loss.

Technical Requirements:
View the technical requirements and test your system. We strongly recommend you use a PA system if you intend to show this a large audience. Do not rely on laptop/desktop computer speakers as they will not be able to project the sound enough for an audience to hear. Please be sure the system you intend to watch the webinar on is compatible before you register for the webinar. Hospice Foundation of America cannot offer refunds for technical difficulties.

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