09:00 AM - 09:45 AM EDT
OpeningPlenary - Together…Celebrating 25 Years Join us as we kick off the 25th annual symposium with a word from our sponsors. Vicki Jay

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM EDT
A1 - “How can I support grieving children when I am grieving too” – Lessons from the Pandemic David J Schonfeld, MD; Thomas Demaria, Ph.D. CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A2 - L.Y.G.H.T.: A Trauma-Informed Intervention for Youth in Foster Care Who are Grieving Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT; Juliette Martinez, MSW CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A3 - Sustaining Peer Support Volunteers: Creating Community and Enhancing Group Facilitation Experience Jamie Schwellenbach, LCPC-C, R-DMT; Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A4 - Experiential Resourcing: Designing Your Own Expressive Activities for Children & Teens Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT; Heather LaBouy, PsyD CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A5 - The Intersection between Homelessness and Childhood Grief Debra Albo-Steiger, LCSW; Julissa Reynoso, LMHC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A6 - Blue Butterfly Ball – Using Awareness Events to Provide Grief Education and Support in Your Community Allison Mahon, M.Ed; Marcie Taylor; Bethany Gardner CE Credit Hours: 1.50
A7 - Impact of Grief on Academic Performance Samantha Anthony, MS CE Credit Hours: 1.50

12:45 PM - 02:15 PM EDT
B1 - Grief Reach Grants: writing a competitive application Preparing to submit a grant application can seem overwhelming at first but with a little guidance and enough time you can write a strong application. Attend this session to learn what it takes to write a successful grant proposal that addresses both practical and conceptual aspects that are important to writing competitive grant proposals. Learning objectives: - What to and what not to include in a grant application - Crafting a narrative, both data and storytelling, to educate, engage and...
B2 - Examining Posttraumatic Growth in Children’s Peer Support Grief Groups: A Pilot Study Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT; Lynn M. Snyder, LPC, ATR-BC, FT; Dr. Ryan P. Kilmer CE Credit Hours: 1.50
B3 - Multi-tiered System of Care for Grieving Adolescents Jillian Blueford, PhD, LPC, NCC, CT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
B4 - Taking Awesome Care of Ourselves (T.A.C.O.): A Personalized Self-Care Plan Carrie Bauer, LBSW CE Credit Hours: 1.50
B5 - Empowering Caregivers of Grieving Children: How To Apply Expressive Art Tools Used By Professionals Lauren Raney, LCPC, ATR; Mickayla Bedenian CE Credit Hours: 1.50
B6 - Grief Center/OPO Partnership to Enhance Grief Support for Donor Families Dr. Karen S. Scott; Nicole Kellen CE Credit Hours: 1.50
B7 - “That Just Sounds Depressing”: Bereaved Black Female Young Adult Perceptions of Grief Support Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT, CE Credit Hours: 1.50

02:30 PM - 03:30 PM EDT
C1 - Engaging Diverse Communities Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT,
C2 - Research and Evaluation Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT
C3 - Graduate Student Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Adam W. Carter, Ph.D
C4 - Executive Directors Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Vicki Jay; Brennan Wood
C5 - Grief Activities Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT; Louine Verneuil, LICSW, MPH
C6 - Marketing and Development Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Debbie Meyer
C7 - School Based Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Elizabeth Carson
C8 - Camps Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Bethany Gardner, MA; Kiri Meyer, MS, LPC, NCC, RYT-200; Kelly Petersohn, LCSW
C9 - Child loss bereavement specialist forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Kristin James, LCPC
C10 - All Abilities Forum One of the most valuable aspects of attending the NAGC’s symposium is the area of professional networking. Led by a moderator, this Affinity Group session aims to connect those who work in similar areas to create an inclusive environment where the audience interacts learns and problem solves with and from each another. Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT

04:00 PM - 05:00 PM EDT
Plenary2 - Exploring the Prolonged Grief Disorder Diagnosis in the Field of Children’s Grief Support Donna Schuurman, EdD, FT; Jillian Blueford, PhD, LPC, NCC, CT; Brook Griese, PhD; Tina Barrett EdD, LCPC CE Credit Hours: 1.00

08:30 AM - 10:00 AM EDT
D1 - When Hearts are Stretched: Fostering Compassion Resilience Amidst a Pandemic Tina Barrett EdD, LCPC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
D2 - Exploring the development, growth, and sustainability of a successful children’s bereavement camp Sarah DeCosta CE Credit Hours: 1.50
D3 - Kinship Care and Grief: Helping grandfamilies and other kinship families bond, heal, and rebuild Lane Pease, MS, NCC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
D4 - Write Your Heart Out: Self Expression to cope with grief, loss, trauma, & stress Michelle Post, LMFT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
D5 - Aftermath of Mass Violence: Impact and Interventions for Traumatic Grief Ashley Jesse, MA, LPC-S CE Credit Hours: 1.50
D6 - Community Collaborations: Riding the Rollercoaster Community collaborations can provide a rich environment for program design and development while serving unmet needs of the community. At the same time, they can be challenging when individual agency priorities and needs intersect and potentially conflict. In our mission to create a comprehensive network of support for families before, during, and after the death of a child, we learned to navigate the challenges of working within multiple organizations with distinct missions and identities.... Amanda Sahli, MS, LAMFT; Lisa E. Schmitt Hours: 1.50
D7 - Enhancing the Power of Your Story through the Business Operations Lens Our work in the bereavement field is driven by heart and compassion and often powerfully told through the perspectives of the families and children we serve. However, being able to effectively share your story through a business operations lens will strengthen your engagement with donors and other organizational stakeholders (volunteers, employees, and community partners), leading to greater opportunities for funding and capacity building. Join us as we share practical's, perspectives and engage... Jim Santucci, CPA,; Deirdra Flavin, MSc, CFRE

10:15 AM - 11:45 AM EDT
E1 - Organizational Advancement: How to Grow a Children’s Grief Organization in a Smart and Sustainable Way How do you grow your organization in a smart and sustainable way? What information and tools can you use to grow your funding base, allocate scarce resources, identify and leverage partnerships and most importantly reach and support more bereaved children? Organizational Advancement: How to Grow a Children’s Grief Organization in a Smart and Sustainable Way will discuss how to address the challenges of building awareness, identify and prioritize potential funding sources, and grow and empower yo... Lisa Aman; Debra Brook
E2 - Dysfunctional Pandemic Grief? A Critical Analysis of the Pandemic Grief Scale Donna Schuurman, EdD, FT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
E3 - Filling the Well: Increasing Volunteer Retention and Longevity of Your Volunteer Program Through Personal Loss History Exploration and Self-care Meghan O'Mahoney, M.S., Ed., CT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
E4 - Medical Examiner's & Coroner's Office: Innovative approach to supporting families following the sudden death of their child Kristin James, LCPC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
E5 - Supporting Preschool-Aged Children and Their Families After a Suicide Loss Adam W. Carter, Ph.D CE Credit Hours: 1.50
E6 - Writing THAT Successful Grant Proposal This workshop includes information and practice in reading and evaluating proposals and reports, finding potential sources of grant support, reading and interpreting grant program guidelines, and writing a grant or research proposal. Debbie Meyer
E7 - Grief comes in all shapes and sizes - exploring Anticipatory Grief Corrie Sirota, M.S.W., P.S.W., OPQ CE Credit Hours: 1.50

01:30 PM - 03:00 PM EDT
F1 - Board Member Accountability: Because The Families We Serve Deserve A Strong Organization Nonprofit executives and board leaders often express frustration with board member inertia - lackluster meeting participation, inconsistent fundraising engagement, and non-functioning board committees. Getting beyond the negatives requires a shift in perspective - one that acknowledges that each board member will perform when they fully understand how their unique engagement ties to the organization's ability to make significant progress toward strategic goals. This session will align board memb... Karin Douglas
F2 - 2022 Research & Evaluation Panel The View from Here: Children’s Grief from Underrepresented Communities Adam W. Carter, Ph.D; Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT; Laura J. Landry, Ph.D.; Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT,; Lamya Broussard, LSW, MSS, MLSP CE Credit Hours: 1.50
F3 - Between Two Screens-How to Implement Effective Grief Groups both in English & Spanish in Our Schools Michelle Gonzalez, MS CE Credit Hours: 1.50
F4 - Next PAGE - an overnight camp experience for adult caregivers of grieving children Barb Kamlet, LPC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
F5 - Don't Forget About Us! Supporting Young Adults and College Students in Grief Mandi Zucker CE Credit Hours: 1.50
F6 - It Takes a Village: A Model for Supporting Adults Raising Bereaved Children Andy McNiel, MA CE Credit Hours: 1.50
F7 - Healing Historical Trauma and Unresolved Grief Maegan Rides at the Door, PhD, LCPC CE Credit Hours: 1.50

03:30 PM - 05:00 PM EDT
Plenary3 - Still I Rise: Grief & Social Justice Shareefah N. Al’Uqdah, Ph.D. CE Credit Hours: 1.50

09:00 AM - 10:30 AM EDT
G1 - Topo Yoga: Self-Care for Courageous Helpers Kiri Meyer MS, LPC, NCC, RYT CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G2 - Anticipatory Grief Support for Children with Parental Illness Meredith Cooper, MA, CCLS, LPC; Kim Fryar CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G3 - Expanding Online Tools: Increasing Capacity in Parents and Community to Support Grieving Children Nadine Gariépy-Fisk, MA PGDipPT CPT CCC ACTA CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G4 - Versatility of the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model: 2022 Results and More Laura J. Landry, Ph.D.; Micki Burns, PhD, LP CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G5 - Supporting Communities and Schools: Collaboration and Creativity Dana Minor, LPC CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G6 - Grief in the Juvenile Justice System Sydney Ford CE Credit Hours: 1.50
G7 - Emotional Management + Caregiver Selfcare Each day, we walk around in these bodies and have physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. And then we interact with others around us who are living with their own physical sensations, thoughts, and emotions. Questions burn, hearts race, tension builds, smiles are plastered on, tears burst through. Electrochemical signals race through the body that affect the chemistry and electricity of every cell in the body. External therapies, practices and methodologies can de-escalate and move us forwa... Hope Clark Hours: 1.50

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EDT

Plenary4 - Written All Over Your Face In this interactive lecture/presentaion, award-winning teacher and world champion slam poet, Joaquín Zihuatanejo will share his story in verse, spoken word, and storytelling. From his days as a barrio boy and the struggles that came from poverty, a distant mother, and an absent father, Joaquín will breathe life into this uplifting keynote presentation with a display of verbal fireworks. But Joaquín will go one step further than that, as he asks all those in attendance to be a part of the keynote... Joaquín Zihuatanejo