Children's grief and bereavement certificate program

Facilitator(s): Andrea Warnick, RN, MA, RP; Lysa Toye, MSW, RSW, ExAT; and Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S

Please note: This is a five-module/webinar certificate program. You must complete all five modules within a year to obtain the certificate. Each of the modules may be taken on their own as a stand-alone training.

Grief is a confusing and isolating experience for any person, old or young. Children's grief, however, differs considerably from adult grief, resulting in the needs of grieving children often being overlooked or misunderstood. This can have a profound impact on the social and emotional development of a child. Caregivers, including the most skilled professionals, often feel helpless when supporting children through the death of someone close to them.

The Children's grief and bereavement certificate program explores the roots of our cultural discomfort with the topic of children and death and exposes common myths and misconceptions. This certificate program equips you with skills to provide support to children, youth and families grieving the dying or death of someone they care about. Adults cannot change the reality of a death occurring in a child's life, but with the right tools they can play a powerful role in shaping the story of the child's grief experience and therefore help the child thrive in life.

This program is offered as an open module series, allowing the flexibility to register for any of the five individual modules or the entire series, depending on your learning objectives. Whether you choose to join one module or all five, this series aims to provide valuable insights and practical tools for those looking to support grieving families

Modules:

• Module 1: Preparing children for the death of someone close to them: Children at the bedside
• Module 2: Supporting bereaved children and youth: When death darkens the door
• Module 3: Cultivating therapeutic presence - Mindfulness, compassion and use of self in supporting children and families
• Module 4: Supporting children grieving traumatic loss: When grief gets more complicated
• Module 5: Creative approaches to working with grieving children and youth: Dancing in the darkness

SickKids Centre for Community Mental Health Learning Institute provides continuing education designed to help mental health professionals strengthen clinical knowledge, refine therapeutic skills and apply evidence-informed approaches in practice. Explore upcoming training at www.sickkidscmhlearning.ca. Ontario Psychological Association members can use code OPA20 to save 20% on eligible registrations.