Speakers

David J Schonfeld, MD
David J Schonfeld, MD
Director, National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB)
David J Schonfeld, MD established and directs the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (www.schoolcrisiscenter.org), located at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. He is a Professor of Clinical Pediatrics at Keck School of Medicine. Prior faculty positions have been in the Department of Pediatrics at Yale University School of Medicine; Head of the Section of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center; and Pediatrician-in-Chief at St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children and Chair of Pediatrics at Drexel University School of Medicine.

For over 30 years, he has provided consultation and training to schools on supporting students and staff at times of crisis and loss in the aftermath of numerous school crisis events and disasters within the United States and abroad

Dr. Schonfeld frequently speaks (with over 1,000 presentations) on the topics of crisis and loss and has authored more than 150 scholarly articles, book chapters, and books. He has conducted school-based research (funded by NICHD, NIMH, NIDA, the Maternal and Child Health Bureau, William T Grant Foundation, and other foundations) involving children’s understanding of and adjustment to serious illness and death and school-based interventions to promote adjustment and risk prevention. Dr. Schonfeld is a member of the Executive Committee of the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Children and Disasters and the National Biodefense Science Board. He served as a Commissioner for both the National Commission on Children and Disasters and the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission in CT. He served as President of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics from 2006-7.

Session

Samantha Anthony, MS
Samantha Anthony, MS
Samantha Anthony is a grief clinician based in Philadelphia. She has a MS in Clinical and Counseling Psychology and recently passed the National Counselor Exam. She works at Uplift Center for Grieving Children and previously worked with the School District of Philadelphia. She has a vested interest in the interconnected areas of education and childhood mental health, as well as culture and accessibility in mental health. As an immigrant who moved to the United States 10 years ago she believes her diverse background feeds her passion for identifying culturally accessible mental health services for diverse populations.

Session

Shareefah N. Al’Uqdah, Ph.D.
Shareefah N. Al’Uqdah, Ph.D.
Shareefah N. Al’Uqdah, Ph.D., has a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of individuals and families through mental health initiatives. At North Carolina Central University, she found her passion for psychology, earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Following NCCU, she attended and graduated from Howard University with a Ph.D. in Counseling psychology. Continuing her tenure at Howard, she serves as an Associate Professor in the APA accredited Counseling Psychology program. Dr. Shareefah not only educates future psychologists, but she also conducts national and international workshops for educators, professionals, and community members on wellness. Her published research examines issues that impact urban families, urban schools, and African American Muslims. She has received over two million dollars in grant funding to help decrease mental health disparities within underserved communities. Outside of the academy, Dr. Shareefah serves as the Founder & Chief Executive Officer of Your Neighborhood Clinic, a not-for-profit organization that provides low cost and insurance-based mental health services. As a loving wife and mother of four wonderful sons, Dr. Shareefah affectionately coined Your Neighborhood Psychologist on social media to highlight her commitment to healing every hood everywhere through mental health awareness.

Session

Allison Mahon, M.Ed
Allison Mahon is the Program Coordinator for the Drew's Hope grief support program for children, teens and families. She earned her M.Ed. with a Certification in K-12 School Counseling through Shippensburg University of PA and is an Elementary School Counselor. Allison also serves as an adjunct faculty member, teaching Grief and Loss Counseling and Counseling Children courses. Currently, she is pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Counseling Education and Supervision. Her research interests for her dissertation are children and families who have experienced a loss and improving counselor competency in the realm of grief and loss.

Session

Adam W. Carter, Ph.D
Adam W. Carter, Ph.D
National Clinical Director
Adam W. Carter, Ph.D., joined the NACG in 2021 as National Clinical Director. He is a professional counselor and counselor educator who received his doctoral degree in Counselor Education and Supervision, with an emphasis in multicultural counseling, from The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Adam has taught courses in CACREP accredited master’s level clinical mental health programs and doctoral level courses in counselor education and supervision and served as the Trauma-Informed Counseling Graduate Certificate coordinator at Northern Illinois University. During his time at Northern Illinois University, he founded the Center for Grief and Loss at the University’s Community Counseling and Training Center, where he provided clinical supervision and education to counselors in training. Adam has an ongoing program of research and scholarship that focuses on early childhood grief responses and preparing counselors-in-training to work with grieving children. Adam’s scholarly work also includes numerous peer-reviewed presentations focusing on topics such as trauma-informed counseling, play therapy, and developing research skills in counseling practitioners. His clinical experience is broad, having worked as a counselor and supervisor in community mental health clinics, in-home intensive settings, community advocacy agencies, and private practice. In 2014, Adam was one of two inaugural Scholars-in-Residence with the American Counseling Association and helped develop strategies for empowering clinicians to conduct single-subject design research in community settings. In the fall of 2020, Adam was acknowledged for his work in the field of grief counseling and death education by earning the designation of Fellow in Thanatology: Death, Dying, and Bereavement.

Sessions

Corrie Sirota, M.S.W., P.S.W., OPQ
Corrie Sirota, M.S.W., P.S.W., OPQ
Grief, Loss and Bereavement Specialist
Corrie Sirota holds a Masters degree in Social Work as well as a Graduate Certificate in Loss and Bereavement from McGill University, Montreal, where she has been teaching for over twenty-five years. Corrie is the Clinical Director of Camp Erin® Montreal. As a licensed psychotherapist, Corrie maintains a private practice specializing in loss and bereavement & relationship issues and facilitates groups for loss and bereavement. She is also the author of Someone Died...Now What? A Personal and Professional Perspective on Coping with Grief and Loss (2015). Corrie co-hosts Life Unrehearsed - a weekly radio show on CJAD 800 about the ins and outs of everyday life. She is a well-known guest speaker, having presented at numerous conferences and workshops, both locally and nationally as well as presenting at a TEDx in Laval, Quebec (Oct 2019). She has been married 31 years, has two daughters and loves to laugh.

Session

Barb Kamlet, LPC
Barb Kamlet, LPC
Barb Kamlet, LPC, is a co-founder and Executive Director of Shimmering Wings, a nonprofit organization that provides grief support and education to individuals who have experienced a childhood death loss. She is Director of Camp Erin Denver as well as Next PAGE, an overnight camp for adult caregivers of grieving children. Barb is a grief counselor for a Denver based hospice and has a private practice specializing in grief and loss. She earned her Masters in Counseling Degree from Regis University and served on the faculty of the NHPCO Clinical Team Conference for three consecutive years.

Session

Mandi Zucker
Mandi Zucker
Mandi Zucker is the Founder and President of Inner Harbor, an organization dedicated to supporting grieving students on college campuses and beyond. With almost 25 years of experience in end of life care, grief and bereavement, Ms. Zucker brings with her a broad knowledge base pertaining to young adult grief. She has experience in public schools, hospice and non-profit work and understands the specific challenges faced by young people as they make difficult transitions from home to college.

Ms. Zucker serves as a Lead Responder for the Traumatic Loss Coalition of NJ where she responds in the immediate aftermath of a student death to provide psychological first aid to staff and peers. She is also a seasoned presenter, speaking on topics such as suicide loss, supporting peers and students after a death, COVID and loss, and engaging clients of all ages in the therapeutic relationship.

Session

Thomas Demaria, Ph.D.
Thomas Demaria, Ph.D.
Trauma and Clinical Divisions, American Psychological Association
Thomas Demaria, Ph.D. is Fellow of both the Trauma and Clinical Divisions of the American Psychological Association, serves on the Professional Advisory Board for the National Center for School Crisis & Bereavement and is involved in training initiatives for the Coalition to Support Grieving Students. Dr. Demaria has earned numerous awards including the New York State Liberty Award and a Humanitarian Award by the Center for Christian & Jewish studies for leading national and community disaster responses. Dr. Demaria was a co-recipient of International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies’ Award for Clinical Excellence and was recognized with a Distinguished Mentor Award for his teaching in the field of trauma. Dr. Demaria has developed over one hundred research studies in the fields of trauma and loss.

Session

Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT
Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT
Director of Translational Research & Curriculum Development
Monique B. Mitchell, PhD, FT, is the Director of Training & Translational Research at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families in Portland, Oregon. She also serves as the Director of the L.Y.G.H.T. program; a trauma-informed and evidence-based intervention for youth in foster care who are grieving death and non-death losses. Dr. Mitchell has worked with children, youth, and young adults who have been impacted by death and non-death losses in Canada, Honduras, and the United States. She has trained and researched extensively on the lived experience of children, youth, and young adults in foster care, taught undergraduate and graduate courses on loss and grief, and developed child-centered curricula to serve children who are grieving. Dr. Mitchell has partnered with national agencies such as the United States Children’s Bureau, American Bar Association, the Child Welfare League of America, the National Foster Parent Association, and numerous child welfare agencies. Her recent publications include The Neglected Transition: Building a Relational Home for Children Entering Foster Care (Oxford University Press, 2016) and Living in an Inspired World: Voices and Visions of Youth in Foster Care (Child Welfare League of America Press, 2017). She currently serves on national committees for the Association for Death Education and Counseling and the National Alliance for Grieving Children.

Sessions

Jamie Schwellenbach, LCPC-C, R-DMT
Jamie Schwellenbach, LCPC-C, R-DMT
Jamie Schwellenbach, LCPC, R-DMT, is the Center for Grieving Children’s Tender Living Care Program Coordinator, and assists in the delivery of their Intercultural Peer Support Program. Jamie is a clinical counselor and dance movement therapist, and is passionate about incorporating movement, mindfulness, and expressive modalities into her work. She brings a wealth of experience working with groups and individuals of all abilities in a variety of educational and therapeutic settings, including schools, residential facilities, dance studios, specialized programming, and The Center for Grieving Children.

Session

Donna Schuurman, EdD, FT
Donna Schuurman, EdD, FT
Senior Director for Advocacy and Training
Donna L. Schuurman, EdD, FT, is Sr. Director of Advocacy & Training at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families in Portland, Oregon, where she has served in various roles since 1986, including 25 years as Executive Director. She writes and trains internationally on bereavement issues, and has authored numerous articles, book chapters, and the book, Never the Same: Coming to Terms with the Death of a Parent. Dr. Schuurman served as President of the Board of Directors for the Association for Death Education & Counseling, and received their Annual Service Award in 2003 and their Clinical Practice Award in 2013. She is a member of the International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement, and a founding board member of the National Alliance for Grieving Children. She has been invited to assist communities following tragic school shootings as well as natural disasters; is regularly sought out by national media for interviews related to understanding and supporting children, teens, and adults when someone in their life dies; and provides expert witness testimony in wrongful death legal cases.

Sessions

Joaquín Zihuatanejo
Joaquín Zihuatanejo
Joaquín Zihuatanejo is an author, poet, spoken word artist, and award-winning teacher. Born and raised in the barrio of East Dallas, Joaquín expertly captures the duality of the Chicano culture.

He’s captivated thousands with his honest depiction of barrio life.

He’s authored a number of books including the critically-acclaimed “Arsonist”. Joaquin is highly sought educator for his writing workshops, especially college and scholarship essay sessions.

Session

Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT
Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT
Marriage Family Therapist
Stephanie Heitkemper, MA MFT, LPC, RPT, FT specializes in working with children and families around change including grief, trauma, and transition. Stephanie finds energy in utilizing play, creative expression and bibliotherapy in her practice and program creation. Stephanie is the owner of Resilient Minds Counseling, PLLC in the Denver Metro area and the Camp Therapist for Camp Jojo. Camp Jojo focus’ on supporting teens who have been impacted by suicide in a unique model that weaves mental health education along hands on adventure.

Sessions

Debra Albo-Steiger, LCSW
Debra Albo-Steiger, LCSW
Debra Albo-Steiger has 20 years of experience in education, advocacy, and social service administration. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of Michigan with an emphasis on child development and her Master of Social Work degree from the University of Chicago. Deb is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in Illinois and Florida and holds a certificate as a School Social Worker.

Deb began her career as a School Social Worker in the Chicago Public Schools assigned to communities with high gang violence. Upon moving back to Miami, Deb was a clinical therapist for Jewish Community Services focused on couples counseling as well as providing therapy to children, teens, and adults both in individual and family settings. Prior to starting her position with the CBC, Deb worked for 9 years as the District Homeless Liaison for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, serving as the Director of Community Outreach for Project UP-START. She was the co-chair of the Youth Homeless Working Group under the Homeless Trust as well as a co-chair of the Youth Homeless Initiative for the HOMY Collective for six years and was the Superintendent’s designee for the Homeless Trust Board. Deb has presented at state and national conferences including the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth as well as presented on webinars through a national partner, School House Connection, speaking about best practices in assisting children and youth experiencing unstable housing. Deb’s effort to successfully transition homeless high school students to post-secondary institutions was featured in a publication by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness highlighting the accomplishments of many former homeless students who successfully became college graduates. Since joining the CBC, Deb has partnered with the public schools to increase grief support for students and staff.

Session

Marcie Taylor
Marcie Taylor
Marcie Taylor co-founded the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation with her husband, Randy, after the death of their three-year-old son in a June 2006 auto accident. Marcie retired from teaching to devote herself to the grieving families served through the foundation's grief support programs. She oversees the day-to-day operations of the DMTF, serves as the Family Services Coordinator for the Drew's Hope grief support program, leads several adult grief support groups and speaks throughout South Central Pennsylvania on a variety of grief-related topics. Marcie obtained a Certificate in Thanatology from Hood College in Frederick, MD in 2012.

Session

Karin Douglas
Senior Vice President at Kids Alive International
Karin Douglas has worked as a consultant, instructor and speaker, providing guidance to clients in the corporate and philanthropic communities and throughout the nonprofit sector in human services, the arts, and education. She has held external relations positions at Davidson College, UNC-Chapel Hill, Duke University, Georgia Tech, Children’s Defense Fund and Communities in Schools of Georgia. For two years she served as fundraising subject-matter expert for the in-house consulting team at Georgia Center for Nonprofits and was a top-rated instructor at their Nonprofit University. She served on the boards of Georgia Center for Opportunity and Georgia Farmers Market Association. Karin Senior is now the Vice President at Kids Alive International since October 2021.

Session

Meredith Cooper, MA, CCLS, LPC
Meredith Cooper, MA, CCLS, LPC
Co-Founder
Former Executive Director and Co-Founder Meredith Cooper envisioned, launched and grew Wonders & Worries from its beginnings in 2001. Following 15 years of success, Meredith stepped into a founder role in 2017, where she continues providing strategic direction for national growth and programmatic initiatives. Meredith has a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Child Development. She is a certified Child Life Specialist and a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been involved with children’s healthcare in the Austin community for more than 25 years, including being the first pediatric oncology child life specialist for Austin. In 2010 Meredith received the Helping Hand Home’s Champion for Children Award and the Girl Scout Woman of Distinction Award in 2013. Meredith is married with one son, two daughters and four grandsons and three granddaughters.

Session

Nadine Gariépy-Fisk, MA PGDipPT CPT CCC ACTA
Nadine Gariépy-Fisk, MA PGDipPT CPT CCC ACTA
Director, Children’s Grief Centre
Nadine worked in pediatric oncology in Montreal before entering the world of palliative care and bereavement counselling at two Marie Curie Cancer Care hospices in South East England in 2001. She later was appointed as National Family Bereavement Services Coordinator overseeing the grief support offered in 10 hospices before joining Hospice Calgary as a counsellor in 2008.

Since 2012, Nadine is the Director of the Children’s Grief Centre where she leads a team of mental health professionals who provide counselling and support to grieving children, adolescents and families. Committed to building capacity for better supports for grieving families, she offers training to health and mental health care professionals, schools, police and victims services, and others. Nadine is an active contributor to the development of grief services, guidelines, and tools at the local, provincial and national level. She is a founding member of the Canadian Alliance for Grieving Children & Youth.

Nadine has a BA Psychology from McGill University, a MA Child Study from Concordia University, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy from Roehampton University, London, UK.

Session

Laura J. Landry, Ph.D.
Laura J. Landry, Ph.D.
Director of Evaluation and Research, Judi's House
Laura Landry, PhD is the Director of Evaluation and Research at Judi’s House/JAG Institute. She has 15 years’ experience evaluating community-based programs and large-scale prevention initiatives as well as building the capacity of organizations to utilize data to drive decisions. In addition to heading the organization’s Childhood Bereavement Changemaker Initiative, Laura oversees the Evaluation and Research Department. Her work focuses on evaluating Judi’s House services, building evaluation/data utilization capacity in the field, and disseminating the prevalence of childhood bereavement to inform advocates and practitioners working in the field.

Sessions

Dana Minor, LPC
Dana Minor, LPC
Program Director, The WARM Place
Dana Minor is the Program Director at The WARM Place, a grief support center for children, in Fort Worth, TX. She started at The WARM Place in 1994 and has served as a houseparent, facilitator, monitor, and group director. Dana has over 25 years of experience working in children's bereavement and began her work at El Tesoro de la Vida Grief Camp. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified School Counselor. Dana served on the Speaker's Bureau for the National Center for Youth Issues and teaches a variety of courses in the field of psychology at Tarrant County College.

Session

Debbie Meyer
Debbie Meyer
Debbie Meyer has extensive background in leading nonprofits, as the executive director for Erin’s House for Grieving Children. She also spent a year as the marketing director for an Indy 500 race car driver and has over 20 years experience in corporate marketing. Debbie has written and obtained over $15-million dollars in grants for nonprofits and her church, she also rose over $2.75 million in a capital campaign for Erin’s House. She has built a 14,000 sq. ft. home for Erin’s House, the only stand-alone children’s grief center in the state of Indiana. Debbie served as a board member and on the executive committee for the National Alliance of Children Grieving. She has also served as a board member for Cancer Services for Northeast Indiana, Visiting Nurse & Hospice, and Leadership Fort Wayne. She has earned an Associate’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Purdue University, 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…obtaining all of these while working full-time and raising a young family.

Sessions

Kristin James, LCPC
Kristin James, LCPC
Executive Director, Missing Pieces: Sharing Support After Child Loss
Kristin James, LCPC, currently coordinates the Greater Illinois Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition and Child Loss Coalition of Chicago. She has specialized in working with families coping with illness, trauma and loss for over twenty five years. Kristin has provided clinical consultation and extensive training, advocacy and education to medical teams, community agencies, and school systems throughout the Chicagoland area. She is an experienced clinician and has provided individual, family, and group counseling. Kristin developed a benchmarked program for Pediatric Bereavement Care at Lurie Children's Hospital/Children's Memorial Hospital and is nationally recognized as an expert in grieving children and bereaved parents. She has also participated in and published numerous research studies. Ms. James received her Masters in counseling from Loyola University.

Sessions

Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT
Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT
Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT is a nationally recognized trainer and consultant who has been a part of the field of grief and loss for more than 20 years. She has served in a variety of roles including being the Director of The Mourning Star Center for Grieving Children and Camp Erin, Palm Springs. Dr. Gabbay is the co-author, along with Andy McNiel, of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. She is on the Executive Committee of ADEC’s Credentialing Council and served as the President of the Southern California Chapter of ADEC. Additionally, Dr. Gabbay previously served as Vice President on the Board of the NAGC. Dr. Gabbay is a Co-Founder of The Satori Group, a national education and consulting company, providing education to the end-of-life and bereavement fields.

Session

Carrie Bauer, LBSW
Carrie Bauer, LBSW
For the past 15 years, I have worked in both hospice bereavement programs and a funeral home bereavement organization, and during this time I have seen first-hand how rewarding end-of-life and bereavement work can be, but I have also seen how it can take a toll on those providing care. During my time working in the grief field, I have learned how important it is to recognize our own burnout and how to grow from our experiences. I developed the T.A.C.O. worksheet while working at a funeral home and what first was a joke between co-workers and me, it became a useful tool that professionals can use to remind themselves to practice good self-care. I have presented on various grief issues at both the local and national level on several occasions, and some topics I have presented on include: Helping Children Learn to Cope with Grief & Trauma, The Importance of Youth & Funerals, Understanding Children and Grief, and many others. I have presented at ADEC Annual Conference, NAGC Annual Symposium, National Funeral Directors Association’s Annual Convention, several colleges and universities, and various webinars.

Session

Dr. Karen S. Scott
Dr. Karen S. Scott
Director of Program Development Executive Director Emeritus
Dr. Karen S. Scott is the co-founder, Director of Program Development and Executive Director Emeritus of Lost & Found Grief Center in Springfield, MO. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Trauma Specialist with 30 years’ experience as a grief therapist, working with individuals, families and groups. She developed programs for children and adults at Lost & Found Grief Center, oversees the therapeutic grief support groups at the center and is a frequent speaker and writer on the topics of grief, grief support, and crisis response. Dr. Scott is an adjunct professor at Drury University.

Session

Lauren Raney, LCPC, ATR
Lauren Raney, LCPC, ATR
Program Director
Lauren is the Program Director of Willow House and the Clinical Site Coordinator for the Expressive arts group and General Loss group. Willow House is a non-profit organization that provides grief support services to children, families, and the community. She is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist. Lauren was drawn to the grief and bereavement community due to her own loss of her mom as a young adult, and her passion for helping others through life’s rawest moments. Lauren has her Master’s Degree in Counseling and Art Therapy from Adler University in Chicago and her Bachelor’s Degree in Studio Arts/Painting from Illinois State University. Lauren has previous experience working as the Children’s Grief Coordinator and Bereavement Counselor at JourneyCare Hospice where she facilitated grief support groups and directed a week-long bereavement camp for children and families. She has also spent time as an Art Therapist at Chicago Children’s Center for Behavioral Health working with children and teens who have experienced trauma, grief, and mental health diagnosis. When words aren’t enough, Lauren enjoys using the creative process with families and children to help them honor and remember their person while coping and processing their loss in a meaningful way. In her free time, she enjoys painting, dancing, yoga, and being out in nature.

Session

Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT,
Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT,
Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and State Extension Specialist in Youth Development at the University of Missouri-Columbia
Tashel C. Bordere, PhD, CT, is an Assistant Professor of Human Development and Family Studies and State Extension Specialist in Youth Development at the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has developed and taught courses in Death, Dying, and Bereavement, Black Families, Adolescent Development, and Parent-Child Interaction. She is the past editor of the The Forum: quarterly publication of the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). She has served on the ADEC Board of Directors, as past Chair of the People of Color/Multicultural Committee, and is a member of the National Alliance for Grieving Children, Society for Research in Child Development, and the National Council on Family Relations. Dr. Bordere is a speaker, youth and family social justice advocate, researcher, and author of works relating to diversity and resilience through loss and grief, including Adolescents and Homicide and “The remedy is NOT working”: Seeking socially just and culturally conscientious practices in bereavement, a co-authored work, in Grief and Bereavement in Contemporary Society. She is a Certified Thanatologist (Death, Dying, and Grief Education).

Sessions

Sarah DeCosta
Sarah DeCosta
Sarah DeCosta was a grief counselor at HopeHealth since September 2016 and has recently been promoted to grief support manager in August of 2021. Additionally, she is the director of Camp BraveHeart, a 2-day summer camp program for bereaved children and teens. Camp BraveHeart has been ongoing in Rhode Island for the past 15 years and Sarah has since developed an additional program in Massachusetts. During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah ran the Camp BraveHeart program completely virtually over the course of 4 days. She also facilitates other children’s grief support programming including groups, family days, presentations, etc. All of which she is now experienced running virtually in addition to in person. Although her passion is working with children and teens, Sarah is also experienced in working with adults and has been running a COVID-19 grief support group since the beginning of the pandemic. Sarah completed her MS in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Rhode Island College with high honors and plans to become a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with a specialization in children’s grief.

Session

Lane Pease, MS, NCC
Lane Pease, MS, NCC
Program Director, Kate's Club
Lane is the Program Director of Kate’s Club in Atlanta, Georgia. As program director, she oversees the quality of all programs offered to Kate’s Club members and their families. She ensures the programs are consistent with best practices in the field of childhood bereavement. She also leads KC Connects, the outreach program of Kate’s Club. Through her personal experience with grief as well as her education, Lane is passionate about helping children and adults through their grief journey. Before Kate’s Club, Lane worked as a counselor in hospice and as a volunteer facilitator at Camp Stars. Prior to becoming a counselor, Lane taught English-to-Speakers-of-Other-Languages to both children and adults in the Atlanta area. She brings keen cultural awareness to her work. Lane holds a BA in Philosophy from Georgia State University and a MS in Clinical Mental Health counseling from Mercer University and is a Nationally Certified Counselor. She is an Atlanta native and lives with her two teenage daughters in Alpharetta, Georgia.

Session

Michelle Post, LMFT
Michelle Post, LMFT
CEO & President
Michelle is a psychotherapist (LMFT) and coach in Los Angeles. She has specialized in grief since 2003. Her grief work has paralleled stress management teaching since 2000. Since 2007, she deepened focus on burnout prevention for professionals. In 2019, Michelle launched her own international business to coach others via live & online training, self-care retreats, and she travels to teach and consult. You can read more about her story and professional credentials at: www.PostInternationalInc.com and www.PostFamilyCounseling.com. Michelle uses transparency, vulnerability, and personal experience in her teaching like the fact that her friends have nicknamed her home, ‘The Magical Fun Palace.’

Session

Ashley Jesse, MA, LPC-S
Ashley Jesse, MA, LPC-S
Ashley Jesse, MA, LPC-S is Program Manager for Grief Education and Clinical Training at the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas (CBCST).  She also provides bereavement services at Paloma Place, a satellite office of CBCST, where she is a therapist working with children affected by the Sutherland Springs tragedy. She is a member of the Sutherland Springs Collaborative, a coalition of agencies working together to aid victims. She specializes in trauma, grief, anxiety, and Depression using EMDR, CBT, play and sandtray therapy, and group therapy. She has over twelve years of experience in the mental health field and received her Master of Arts degree in 2006 from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, LA.

Session

Amanda Sahli, MS, LAMFT
Amanda Sahli, MS, LAMFT
Amanda is the Bereavement Coordinator at Phoenix Children's Hospital, and the Pediatric Bereavement Counselor for Hospice of the Valley. She has worked in grief and loss for her thirteen-year career as a marriage and family counselor and child therapist. Amanda is Phoenix native and avid University of Arizona hockey fan. In her down time, she enjoys cuddling with her two cats and dog, and boyfriend (Hotchy) while binge watching Netflix or reading non-grief related books. She is passionate about supporting grieving families as well as educating clinicians and the community about how to care for and support grieving people.

Session

Lisa Aman
Lisa Aman joined Kate’s Club as its Executive Director in March of 2021. She received her Bachelors of Arts in Economics from Yale University and her Masters of Business Administration from Stanford University. Prior to joining Kate’s Club, Lisa was a management consultant, advisor to start-ups and political candidates, and served on nonprofit boards focused on closing the opportunity gap that many Atlanta area children and families face. She has worked with several organizations to grow and advance their mission by building strategies that bring together and optimize the four key communities within an organization: the team, those you serve, and those who support and partner with you. Lisa has presented at conferences on topics such as developing and energizing teams and boards, building public awareness and a diverse support base, and creating collaborative alliances with multiple stakeholders.

Session

Meghan O'Mahoney, M.S., Ed., CT
volunteer services coordinator
Meghan O'Mahoney, M.S., Ed., CT is the volunteer services coordinator, child grief specialist at Highmark Caring Place, Warrendale. For the past eleven years, Meghan has built a volunteer team of over 200 volunteers. She is responsible for recruiting, training, and placing volunteers in a variety of roles in addition to coordinating events to recognize her team. Meghan oversees the facilitation of peer support groups for children and teens ages 0-18 and adults who have suffered the death of a loved one. Prior to her work at the Caring Place, Meghan worked in the mental health/drug and alcohol field for 12 years. Meghan earned her Master of Science in education from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA and became Certified in Thanatology in 2017. Meghan is currently a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling and the NAGC, PA Association for Volunteer Healthcare Resource Professionals, and Volunteer Administrators of Southwest PA. In her spare time, Meghan enjoys walking, yoga, and traveling.

Session

Jim Santucci, CPA,
Jim Santucci, CPA, is a graduate of the U.S Military Academy. Jim served four years in the active duty
Army as an Infantry officer with the 25th Infantry Division and later commanded the 227th Engineer
Company while a member of the Hawaii National Guard. After his 10-year-old daughter died in 2008, he
received support from Kara, a non-profit grief services agency in Palo Alto California. Soon after he
began volunteer work for organizations advocating for pediatric palliative care (Children's Hospice &
Palliative Care Coalition, Coalition for Compassionate Care of California) and supporting bereaved
parents and individuals (Kara, Lucile Packard Family Partners Group). In November of 2013, Jim became
the Executive Director of Kara. In addition to his daily chief executive responsibilities, he is a peer group
facilitator for parents who have suffered the loss of a child and serves annually as a counselor at Camp
Kara (a weekend bereavement camp for children and teens). His non-profit service also includes time
with Children's Health Council in Palo Alto and over 19 years of operations management for two faithbased organizations. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Session

Kiri Meyer MS, LPC, NCC, RYT
Kiri Meyer MS, LPC, NCC, RYT is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Wisconsin specializing in grief and trauma. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher focusing on trauma-sensitive yoga for grief and mental health. Kiri has been a grief camp enthusiast for the past 13 years, working and volunteering for camps in Wisconsin, throughout the US, and in Ireland. She is currently a Bereavement Coordinator at Horizon HomeCare & Hospice's Grief Resource Center. Kiri has dedicated her professional life to helping advocate, educate, and introduce people into the world of death, dying, and bereavement so we are able to have these “tough talks” in a more comfortable fashion as a society.

Session

Michelle Gonzalez, MS
Michelle Gonzalez, MS
Michelle Gonzalez, MS, received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology from Montclair State University as well as a Master’s degree in Community Trauma Counseling from Thomas Jefferson University, where she was inducted into the Honor Society. A bilingual speaker of English and Spanish, Michelle has a background in working with adults and adolescents with a trauma focused lens. Michelle has a wealth of experience working with bereaved youth and their caregivers in both school and community settings and now works as the Bilingual School and Community Clinician at Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia. Michelle is a strong believer in connecting students and families with other students and families. “We do not heal in isolation; We heal in connection”

Session

Andy McNiel, MA
Andy McNiel, MA
Co-Founder, The Satori Group
Andy McNiel has had the honor of providing care and support to bereaved children, teenagers, adults, and families for the past three decades. He previously served as Chief Executive Officer of the National Alliance for Grieving Children, as Executive Director for The Amelia Center in Birmingham, Alabama, and as Director of Counseling Services for Treasure Coast Hospice in South Florida. He currently serves as Senior Advisor for Youth Programs and Young Adult Programs for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS). He is also an Executive Advisor for The Compassionate Friends, and Operations Advisor for HealGrief and Actively Moving Forward (AMF). Andy is the co-author of Understanding and Supporting Bereaved Children: A Practical Guide for Professionals. He lectures extensively across the United States on topics related to grief, bereavement, and non-profit management. Andy is a trainer for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. He is a member of the International Workgroup on Death, Dying, and Bereavement and has served on the Board of Directors for the Association for Death Education and Counseling and the National Alliance for Grieving Children.

Session

Maegan Rides at the Door, PhD, LCPC
Maegan Rides at the Door, PhD, LCPC
Director and Principal Investigator, National Native Children’s Trauma Center
Maegan Rides at the Door, PhD, LCPC, Director and Principal Investigator, National Native Children’s Trauma Center. As Director of the National Native Children’s Trauma Center, Maegan Rides at the Door has had a key role in designing and implementing a range of training and technical assistance initiatives in tribal communities, including projects for trauma-informed systems change in mental health, child welfare, and educational settings, as well as projects focusing on juvenile justice reform and suicide prevention. Her background is in mental health clinical counseling, having worked with children of all ages and adults in various settings. She is an enrolled member of the Assiniboine-Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Reservation and a descendent of the Absentee Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma.

Session

Sydney Ford
Sydney Ford
Sydney Ford is a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in Public Relations, and a graduate of the Emory University School of Law where she obtained her juris doctorate degree. She is currently a juvenile defense attorney and followed this path because of the number of grieving children involved in the juvenile justice system. Sydney’s article on trauma-informed pretrial diversion programs for our grieving youth in the juvenile justice system was recently selected for publication by the Northwestern Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology Online. She has also recently testified for the South Carolina Joint Committee on Children about getting grief resources for children into South Carolina schools.
Sydney wrote and published her own children’s book, “Grief Came to Visit Today,” and created a nonprofit, “Hope After Grief Inc.,” that provides scholarships to high school seniors who have had a parent or sibling die. Sydney lost her dad when she was 10 years and became an advocate for grieving children at age 16 when she began going into elementary schools and talking to classes about the emotions associated with grief. Since that time, she has found ways to support grieving children by fundraising for the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, becoming a buddy and ambassador for Kate’s Club, and meeting with Senators and the South Carolina Superintendent of Education to advocate for our grieving youth.

Session

Hope Clark
Hope Clark
Seven years ago, Hope R. Clark began a journey to self-discovery and healing. She was experiencing dramatic emotional meltdowns due to family trauma. When she was introduced to doTERRA Essential Oils and experienced a dramatic shift in her daughter’s long-time respiratory issue and her own emotional meltdowns, her view rapidly expanded on the power of whole-body holistic selfcare. She studied aromatherapy, gut health, the limbic brain and listened to neuroscientists and wrote an easy-to-understand book on emotional management called “Master the Meltdown: Three Steps to Shift Your State”. She also took the purest personal evolution course available and learned high-level consciousness management tools that equip you to manage your own consciousness. She is a Licensed Avatar Master & Coach, a Certified Essential Oil Specialist, and owner of a successful essential oil business, selling over half a million dollars per year empowering families & professionals with high vibrational solutions and opening doors for physical and emotional freedom.

Session

Vicki Jay
Vicki Jay
CEO
Vicki Jay serves as CEO for the National Alliance for Grieving Children. Ms. Jay was founding director of Rays of Hope
Children’s Grief Center in Midland Texas. Her nineteen-year hospice career included End-of-Life Community Education
Director and ten years as Founder and Executive Director of Rays of Hope Children’s Grief Center. She is recognized for
her role in children’s advocacy and for her strengths in public speaking and community education. Jay has received many
awards and recognitions for her work with nonprofits and in the field of bereavement, including the National Jefferson
Award for Community Service, a prestigious national recognition honoring community and public voluntarism in
America. Recipients are “ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of recognition.” A graduate
of Texas Tech University, Jay currently resides in Midland, Texas. In addition to her professional and community roles,
Jay cherishes her role of wife, mother, friend and recently “Nana.”

Sessions

Elizabeth Carson
Elizabeth Carson
Program and Outreach Coordinator
Liz is the Program and Outreach Coordinator at Kate’s Club. She works closely with the Program Director on KC Connects, the outreach program of Kate’s Club. As Program and Outreach Coordinator, Liz works to increase awareness of Kate’s Club within the broader Atlanta community, so that Kate’s Club can meet the needs of more grieving children in the Atlanta area. She also works to develop new partnerships with schools and community organizations, as well as to further engage existing Kate’s Club partnerships. Originally from Columbus, Georgia, Liz graduated from Emory University in May 2014 with a B.S. in Anthropology and Human Biology and a master's in social work from the University of Florida in 2022. While enrolled at Emory, Liz was student director of the Emory chapter of Camp Kesem, a national organization that provides free camps for children coping with a parent’s cancer. She is also a graduate of Emory’s Community Building and Social Change Fellowship Program, where she worked within Atlanta communities on projects pertaining to asset-based community development. These experiences have made Liz a strong believer in the importance of peer support and community engagement.

Session

Bethany Gardner, MA
Bethany Gardner, MA
Eluna’s Director of Bereavement Programs
Bethany Gardner is Director of Bereavement Programs at Eluna, a non-profit organization with a mission to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. She has worked with children, young adults, and families in a variety of settings, and has supported youth and families who are grieving since 2008. She holds a Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology and is a member of the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Grieving Children. Bethany is also adjunct faculty at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology where she focuses on vocational, leadership, and interpersonal skills development.

Session

Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT
Director of Children’s Services, Beth Israel Lahey Health
Jennifer Wiles, MA, LMHC, BC-DMT is the Director of Children’s Services for Beth Israel Lahey Health at Home in Wayland, MA. She is the director of Camp Erin Boston and HEARTplay, a bereavement program for children, teens and young adults of all abilities in the greater Boston area Her current work focuses on Expanding the Language of Grief, which strives to make bereavement support available to those who are marginalized with limited access to services. Jennifer is a board-certified dance movement therapist/licensed mental health counselor and is on the adjunct faculty of Lesley University’s Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences where she also serves as a clinical site supervisor.

Session

Juliette Martinez, MSW
Juliette Martinez, MSW
South Carolina State Director, L.Y.G.H.T
Juliette Martinez, MSW is the South Carolina State Director of the L.Y.G.H.T program. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice in 2017 and her Master of Science in Social work in 2019 from the University of South Carolina. Her education and career have always focused on her passion for working with children and families. Throughout her career, she's gained experience serving youth in foster care. This includes being a L.Y.G.H.T. program facilitator for both teens and young adults. Her experience also includes supporting L.Y.G.H.T. facilitators at multiple community sites across South Carolina.

Session

Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT
Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT
Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT is a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in grief, loss, and trauma. She has been a clinical consultant at The Center for Grieving Children for 18 years providing staff and facilitator support on nights of service as well as annual facilitator retreats. Christine is certified in thanatology and somatic trauma therapy. Her work is grounded in evidence informed trauma and bereavement-informed approaches. Drawing from her training as a board-certified dance/movement therapist, she utilizes mind/body and expressive arts practices designed to promote resilience and wellbeing. Christine is active in suicide prevention/postvention efforts nationally and facilitates the annual International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day in Maine. She has a special interest in the impact of suicide loss on children and families

Session

Jillian Blueford, PhD, LPC, NCC, CT
Jillian Blueford, PhD, LPC, NCC, CT
Clinical Assistant Professor
Dr. Jillian Blueford is a clinical assistant professor for the school counseling program at the University of Denver, a licensed professional counselor in Colorado, and is certified in thanatology (death, dying, and bereavement). Over the years, Dr. Blueford has provided grief counseling to individuals of all backgrounds in various settings, including schools, outpatient facilities, and currently in private practice in the Denver area. Further, Dr. Blueford is a grief and loss scholar, who has conducted research and scholarship via her dissertation, peer-reviewed publications, webinars, podcast features, and several regional, national, and international presentations. Dr. Blueford is a member of several professional counseling organizations and is currently working with other counselor educators as the Co-Chair of the Grief Counseling Competencies Task Force to develop critical competencies for the counseling profession.

Sessions

Heather LaBouy, PsyD
Heather LaBouy, PsyD
Heather LaBouy, PsyD is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist in Seattle. Dr. LaBouy opened Insight Alliance Psychotherapy in 2015, provides individual, couples, and family therapy, facilitates group workshops on topics relating to emotional resilience, and is currently incorporating psychological assessment and testing into her practice. Dr. LaBouy volunteers as a Healing Circle Leader with Comfort Zone Camps, a non-profit based in VA that provides weekend grief camps for children 7-17 who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Dr. LaBouy works primarily with teens at camp, helping them to define and share their narrative, build coping strategies, and access their resilience. Creating experiential grief processing activities, Dr. LaBouy has an eclectic set of skills, including creative expression and emotional reflection exercises, for both adults and children experiencing grief. Empowering clients to embrace self-reflection and healing through connection is the cornerstone of her approach.

Session

Julissa Reynoso, LMHC
Julissa Reynoso, LMHC
Program Manager
Julissa Reynoso is the Program Manager for Children’s Bereavement Center who received her Master’s in Mental Health Counseling from Nova Southeastern University. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, she has experience in providing group, individual and family therapy to individuals of diverse backgrounds in processing grief and managing other mental health-related concerns. She is also a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who served in Armenia. There she implemented several sustainable projects while working closely with young adults and families in providing education on different issues including reducing discrimination toward different identities. Her therapeutic and advocacy experience has reinforced in her the value of helping others gain insight in difficult situations and work towards positive change.

Session

Bethany Gardner
Children’s Workshop Coordinator and Administrative Assistant
Michael Taylor Foundation in the fall of 2017. The Drew Michael Taylor Foundation is a
non-profit organization that provides grief education and peer led support for grievers of all ages
in South Central Pennsylvania. Bethany serves as the foundation’s administrative assistant and
children and teen’s program coordinator. She has a background in elementary education having
received her Bachelor of Science in liberal arts and teaching certification from Eastern
Mennonite University in Virginia in 2002. After a short teaching career as a third grade teacher
in a private school in Newport News, Virginia and then a few more years as a preschool teacher
in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, Bethany decided to go back to school to get her Masters of
Education in school counseling. She received her M. ED in school counseling from
Shippensburg University in Pennsylvania in 2014. It was during her master’s program that
Bethany discovered her passion for working with grievers when she served as a volunteer
facilitator for Drew’s Hope, The Drew Michael Taylor Foundation’s flagship program, a support
group for grieving children and their families. After graduation Bethany continued to volunteer
with The Drew Michael Taylor Foundation until she was officially hired in 2017.
Since being hired Bethany has created and presented several grief educational workshops for
children and teens including a workshop series for preschoolers known as Little Grievers in the
Library, a series of teen workshops known as Movies and More, and workshops for elementary
aged children based on grief books written for children. During the Covid pandemic she has
modified some of the programs to be held as virtual zoom meetings while also providing some
masked in person workshops.
In her spare time Bethany enjoys reading, spending time in nature, and playing board games
with family. Bethany currently resides in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania with her husband John
and their four children.

Session

Kim Fryar
Kim Fryar
Kim has been a child life specialist for 30 years this month!. She started her career at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas then moved to Austin and joined the Wonders & Worries team in 2002. Wonders & Worries provides support to children and teens when a parent faces a serious illness and regularly supports families facing a parent’s terminal prognosis. Kim now serves as Wonders & Worries national program director, a role that provides her the privilege of overseeing W&W’s virtual services including the W&W’s Helpline and Registered Wonders & Worries Provider (RWWP) program. Kim holds a bachelor’s degree in Family Relations and Child Development from Oklahoma State University and two Masters’ degrees, one in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Alabama and the other in Counseling with a play therapy emphasis from the University of North Texas. Kim is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and a National Certified Counselor (NCC).
Kim is married to her high school sweetheart, who proposed underwater while they were scuba diving. They have a 21 yo daughter, a 19 yo son and a spoiled Australian shepherd. Kim is adventurous and loves the outdoors. She is a certified scuba diver, avid hiker, snow skier, water skier and has jumped out of a plane. She also enjoys relaxing with a good book.

Session

Micki Burns, PhD, LP
Micki Burns, PhD, LP
Chief Clinical Officer
Micki Burns, PhD, LP is the Chief Clinical Officer at Judi’s House and JAG Institute. She is a Licensed Psychologist with 15 years’ experience providing therapeutic support to children and families facing adversity. In her role, Micki oversees the agencies’ core initiatives—Direct Service, Evaluation and Research, and Training and Education—that make up the Comprehensive Grief Care Model® followed at Judi’s House/JAG Institute.

Session

Lynn M. Snyder, LPC, ATR-BC, FT
Lynn M. Snyder, LPC, ATR-BC, FT
Executive Director of Common Ground Grief Center
Lynn M. Snyder, LPC, ATR-BC, FT is the Founder and Executive Director of Common Ground Grief Center located in Manasquan, New Jersey. The center is dedicated to supporting children, teenagers, young adults and their family members who have experienced the death of a parent/adult caregiver or sibling. Lynn is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Registered, Board Certified Art Therapist, and holds a Fellow in Thanatology (FT) from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). In addition to her position as Executive Director at Common Ground, Lynn supervises graduate students and provides skill training to new volunteers. Lynn is an active member of the community, continually working to build relationships with organizations and schools. She has presented both locally and nationally including: NACG, the Compassionate Friends, ADEC, ASAP-NJ, American Counseling Association, Rutgers University, and many local schools and hospitals throughout New Jersey.

Lynn is a 2014 Women of Achievement Award recipient sponsored by the State Federation of Women’s Clubs and Douglas Residential College as well as a 2015 nominee for First Lady Mary Pat Christie’s New Jersey Heroes. Lynn was part of the adjunct faculty at Monmouth University, where she designed and taught a course on children’s grief for their graduate mental health counseling program. Lynn recently completed her first children’s book, Little Ruby’s Big Change: Talking with Children About Loss, Change and Hope. The book was written in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in order to help children better understand and make sense of what was happening during the pandemic. Little Ruby’s Big Change has been used in schools and other organizations that support children.

Session

Nicole Kellen
Nicole Kellen
Director of Community Engagement for Mid America Transplant
Nicole Kellen is the Director of Community Engagement for Mid America Transplant, an Organ Procurement Organization in Saint Louis, MO. In her current role, Nicole is responsible for the execution of Community Outreach efforts in the OPO’s designated service area encompassing 84 counties in Southeastern Missouri, Northwest Arkansas and Southern Illinois. Outreach efforts include: secondary and post-secondary school education, faith-based education, DMV partnerships and affiliated non-profit organizations to increase participation in the state and national registry. During her tenure at Mid America Transplant, Nicole has had the privilege to work with over 10,000 donor and recipient families through the operational oversight of the Aftercare Program which supports families before, during and after the donation and transplantation process. Through her work with the Mid America Transplant Foundation’s Community Grant Program, Nicole and her team have partnered with 5 Grief Centers throughout their service region to help ensure families have the option of extended grief services following the loss of a loved one.

Session

Mickayla Bedenian
Mickayla Bedenian
Program Associate and a clinical site coordinator
Mickayla Bedenian is the Program Associate and a clinical site coordinator at Willow House. She began her journey with Willow House as an intern. Willow House is a non-profit organization that provides grief support services to children, families, and the community. She is a Licensed Social Worker. Mickayla felt connected to the Willow House mission and bereavement after her own experience of loss and seeing the opportunity to normalize grief and support children and families at such a difficult time. Mickayla holds a Masters of Social Work from Aurora University and a Bachelors' Degree in Psychology: Counseling Psychology with a minor in sociology from Trinity International University.

Session

Lisa E. Schmitt
Lisa E. Schmitt
Lisa joined the New Song staff in 2001 after serving three years on the board of directors and brings a background in PR, marketing and advertising. Asking “What if?” and “What’s next?” are her favorite questions to pose to her colleagues as they meet the needs of grieving children and families. She enjoys playing with her pups and flexing her thumb in her garden. Designing and sewing classical ballet costumes and wedding gowns, singing in her Church choir or hiking the mountain trails, keep her busy. Her favorite of all is spending time with family, and especially her first grandchild Charlotte.

Session

Debra Brook
Director of Volunteer Services
Debra Brook has been with Kate's Club since 2010 and is currently the Director of Volunteer Services and Camp Good Mourning. She received her Bachelors of Science in Recreation with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Florida. She is certified through the National Council of Therapeutic Recreation and received a Certificate of Nonprofit Volunteer Management from Georgia Center for Nonprofits.

Session

Deirdra Flavin, MSc, CFRE
Deirdra Flavin, MSc, CFRE
National Marketing and Development Director

Session

Lamya Broussard, LSW, MSS, MLSP
Lamya Broussard, LSW, MSS, MLSP
Trauma Informed Certified School & Community Grief Services Clinician
Lamya Broussard is a dedicated Certified Trauma Informed clinician who has been in the field for 14 years. She’s honored to have worked with and to continue providing therapeutic healing support to marginalized communities including youth in foster care, Black & Brown Immigrants, LGBTQIA+ homeless youth, BIPOC front line advocates against racial injustice, juvenile justice involved youth and students impacted by compounded grief & loss and complex trauma.

She’s earned her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Tuskegee University and her two Masters in Social Services and Law & Social Policy from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work & Social Research with a specialization in Child & Family Wellbeing. She finds joy in Social Services as her life purpose in helping others navigate
their healing process.

As a School & Community Services Clinician at Uplift Center for Grieving Children, Lamya co facilitated weekly grief groups to Justice Involved Youth in Urban Areas, facilitates weekly in person & virtual school grief groups. She's also co-developed and implemented Uplift's curriculum and activities for Justice Involved Youth and represented Uplift on podcasts, zoom lives and local radio interviews.

August 2019, Lamya presented on "Implementation of Inclusivity Practices with LGBTQIA+ Youth" at the 3rd Annual Philadelphia Trauma Training Conference: "Promoting Equitable Access to High Quality Services for Vulnerable Children and Families" at Jefferson Philadelphia University Department Counseling and Behavioral Health. The audience included 300+ community, professionals in the social services field and school partners.

Lamya continues to provide grief and trauma healing advocacy to Uplift children, families and students. She's been a member of Alliance of Black Social Workers since 2010 and also is the Founder/Director of Coming Out More Equipped Consulting Services (C.O.M.E.) which engages with other community based organizations.

Session

Brennan Wood
Brennan Wood
Brennan has been a staff member at Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families since 2004 and became Executive Director in October 2015. Brennan first walked through the doors of Dougy Center in 1987 when she was twelve years old and her mother had died. She believes that her experience at Dougy Center shaped her life and she has strived to help 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.

Brennan serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the National Alliance for Grieving Children and is a past member of the Board of Directors for the Willamette Valley Development Officers. She was a WVDO Star Bright Award Finalist, a United Way Speaker of the Year, and was honored by Portland Monthly Magazine as their 2020 Extraordinary Executive Director.

Session

Louine Verneuil, LICSW, MPH
Louine Verneuil, LICSW, MPH
Clinical Social Worker
Lulu has been a clinical social worker for 16 years. After working for 6 years
in an ICU working with critically ill children, she transitioned into providing
grief support and education to children and teens in the Seattle area
through a local hospice program. Lulu spent many years providing
anticipatory grief & bereavement support to children & families - 1:1, in
group settings and as the clinical lead for teen Camp Erin King County.

Session

Kiri Meyer, MS, LPC, NCC, RYT-200
Kiri Meyer, MS, LPC, NCC, RYT-200
Eluna Bereavement Programs Manager
Kiri is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Wisconsin specializing in grief and trauma. She is also a Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) basing practices in restorative yoga for grief with a trauma-sensitive lens. Kiri has been a grief camp enthusiast for the past 14 years, working and volunteering for camps in Wisconsin, throughout the US, and in Ireland. She has dedicated her professional life to helping advocate, educate, and introduce people into the world of death, dying, and bereavement so we are able to have these “tough talks” in a more comfortable fashion as a society. Kiri has felt the magic of camp firsthand and is so glad to be able to join the Eluna team to continue to help supporting children, teens, families, and partners in these experiences.

Session

Brook Griese, PhD
Brook Griese, PhD
Licensed Clinical Psychologist Judi’s House/JAG Institute Co-Founder
Dr. Brook Griese is a licensed clinical psychologist who has devoted her career to promoting resilience and growth in children and families who have experienced loss, trauma, and adversity. In 2002, Brook and her husband, Brian, co-founded Judi’s House in memory of his mother who died when he was 12. Since that time, this family bereavement center has provided free care to more than 12,000 youth and caregivers, reaching many thousands more through the research and education initiatives of JAG Institute. By disseminating resources like the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) and offering training in a continuum of Comprehensive Grief Care, the nonprofit is dedicated to elevating childhood bereavement as a public health priority and ensuring equitable access to support that prevents complications of unaddressed grief. Brook spearheaded the organization’s research and trauma-informed programs and served as CEO before transitioning to her current role on the Board of Directors. She is co-author of Pathfinders, a 10-week group curriculum, and regularly publishes and presents nationally. She currently serves on the Governor’s Colorado Behavioral Health Task Force Children’s Subcommittee, Mayor’s Denver Education Compact, Denver Public Schools Foundation Board, Mental Health Consortium, and Lyda Hill Institute for Human Resilience Advisory Board, and was honored to receive the 2019 National Alliance for Children’s Grief Excellence in Service Award. She earned her PhD from the University of Colorado Boulder, and is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Colorado.

Session

Dr. Ryan P. Kilmer
Dr. Ryan P. Kilmer
Professor
Dr. Ryan P. Kilmer is a Professor of Psychology, Director of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Social Aspects of Health Initiative, and Senior Fellow for Faculty Engagement in the Office of Urban Research and Community Engagement at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. A community and child clinical psychologist, his work has focused on children and families and: (1) understanding factors influencing the development of children at-risk for emotional, behavioral, and/or academic difficulties, particularly risk and resilience and youngsters’ adjustment to trauma; and (2) using evaluation to refine programs, improve service delivery, and guide system change and local policy.
Dr. Kilmer has partnered with diverse community stakeholders, directing or co-directing projects that respond to community needs, functioning on collaborative teams, and mentoring early career professionals and students. His evaluation and applied research experiences include efforts funded by the National Institute of Mental Health and the Institute of Education Sciences and extend across areas and populations, including mental health, child welfare, education, public housing, early childhood, and integrated care. Across these efforts, he has sought to improve the services and supports provided to children and families, many of whom have traditionally been marginalized or underserved. In his trauma work, he has worked with UNC Charlotte and U.S. colleagues as well as researchers from Norway, The Netherlands, and Chile.
His broader professional involvements – including as President of the Global Alliance for Behavioral Health and Social Justice – demonstrate his investment in social justice and child and family well-being. He is a Fellow of the Society for Community Research and Action and, at UNC Charlotte, he has been honored for his teaching, training, and community engagement with the Bonnie E. Cone Early-Career Professorship in Teaching, the Harshini V. de Silva Graduate Mentoring Award, and the Provost’s Faculty Award for Community Engagement.

Session

Kelly Petersohn, LCSW
Kelly Petersohn, LCSW
Camp Erin Online Programs Manager
Kelly joined the Eluna Team in May of 2022 as the Camp Erin Online Programs Manager. She will support the network in developing and launching Camp Erin’s first-ever direct care support through online programs! Special attention will be given to families of health care and other frontline workers as Eluna makes strides in meeting the needs of bereaved families amid a global pandemic.
Kelly is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with more than eleven years of service in the field of childhood bereavement. Kelly has a passion for serving grieving children and an innate gift for developing relationships and collaborative partnerships that help bridge gaps that prevent grieving children from receiving the support they need and deserve. She is grateful for the years that she has been able to walk alongside children and teens- helping them to learn that they are not alone, that their grief is natural and as unique as they are and that there is hope; hope for healing.
Kelly loves spending time with her husband, three young kids and two dogs-- especially at outdoor concerts and playing games!

Session

Tina Barrett EdD, LCPC
Tina Barrett EdD, LCPC
Co-founder and Executive Director of Tamarack Grief Resource Center
Tina Barrett EdD, LCPC is the Co-founder and Executive Director of Tamarack Grief Resource Center in Montana. Strengthening and stabilizing individuals and families following profound loss through groups, camps, counseling, and workshops, Tina has spent the past 20 years specializing in outdoor-based grief support. She has trained and supervised grief group facilitators since 1997 with special attention to strengthening family-systems and trauma recovery. Dr. Tina Barrett leads workshops for grief professionals at national conferences including ADEC and NBCC, and serves on the Board of Advisors and as a Senior Consultant for TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors).

Sessions