Community Webinars

Below are interviews and webinars the Center have hosted with fellow grief and loss experts to support our families and the community. Each aims to highlight the diversity of how grief and loss can present in children and adults and how those supporting someone grieving can help. We will continue to update this page as new webinars happen, so please check back frequently for additional recordings.

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“Little Folks, Big Feelings: Understanding and Supporting Early Childhood Grief”. Join Sara Asch and Danielle Alexander, Bereavement Service Coordinators at the Center, in a webinar to assist parents and early childhood service providers in supporting young children experiencing the serious illness or death of important people in their lives. We will discuss early childhood development and grief, and ways adults can support and be role models for children experiencing these events. Strategies for helping children develop language and physical skills for expressing feelings in difficult times will also be discussed.

“Childhood Grief and Loss: ACEs and Trauma”. Caregivers, including professionals, family members, teachers, and others can encourage resilience when children encounter Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma, including the death of a parent or caregiver. The Center for Grieving Children Bereavement Coordinators, Sara Asch and B. Hailey will discuss the intersection of childhood grief and loss, ACEs, the impact on children’s development, and introduce ways to support protective factors and build resilience.

“Activities for Cultivating Hope and Healing After Loss”. Join Sara Asch, Bereavement Service Coordinator and Jamie Schwellenbach, TLC Program Services Coordinator at the Center for Grieving Children in a presentation on activities for cultivating hope and healing after loss. At the Center, group work focuses on six themes that promote resiliency after loss. This webinar will introduce attendees to those themes, look at why using a variety of experiential activities promotes growth in each of those six areas, and introduce activities that support each of the themes. With adjustments, the activities can be made appropriate for all ages, as well as for virtual or in-person, and group or individual work.

“Living With Uncertainty: Understanding and Coping with Ambiguous Loss”. Presented by Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT is a licensed clinical professional counselor specializing in grief, loss, and trauma and Clinical Consultant with the Center. Ambiguous Loss is defined by Dr. Pauline Boss as a loss that occurs without resolution. It is characterized by doubt and a lack of clarity as well as a situation that can change at any time. This presentation will address various kinds of ambiguous loss within multiple contexts. We will explore specific principles and restorative interventions that aim to foster resilience and build personal/interpersonal resources. Research on resilience, family stress management and coping styles will be addressed. Attendees will leave the workshop with several strategies in hand ready to implement in their practices.

“A Deeper Intercultural Exploration”. This webinar will provide attendees with a deeper understanding of the impact on children and families that death or separation of family members has, and/or the collective loss experienced due to war and persecutions. Led by the Center’s Intercultural Program Coordinator, Justine Mugabo and Intercultural Peer Support Training Specialist, Marie Sheffield, this webinar explores multi-systemic obstacles faced when seeking asylum in Maine, as well as culturally sensitive strategies to create a healing community.

“Foundations of Reflective Listening”. Join Sara Asch, Bereavement Services Coordinator at the Center and Steve Hart, volunteer facilitator in a discussion on the foundations of reflective listening. We will delve into why it is at the core of the Center’s peer support model and how it can be a useful tool when working with any form of loss, in many environments and relationships. Those new to reflective listening will gain a toolbox that will help ease conversations with those who are grieving, and all workshop attendees will gain understanding of the practical use of reflective listening, enriched by insights gained through its application at the Center for Grieving Children.

“Supporting Grieving Children at Home and School”. The Center for Grieving Children invites parents and educators to join the Center’s Assistant Director of Bereavement Services, Mary Bristol, LCSW and Bereavement Services Coordinator, Sara Asch, ET, MA in a discussion on how to support children at home and in school who are experiencing grief, trauma and difficult challenges. Information will be based on Mary and Sara’s expertise, as well as the Center’s 30+ years of supporting families and children who are experiencing life changing situations.

“Autism 101 and Grief“. Join Lisa Morgan, M.Ed. CAS, in a discussion on autism and supporting autistic children and adults who are experiencing grief, trauma, and crisis situations. The Autism Crisis Support Toolkit Lisa has developed is included during this presentation.

“Children & Grief – Beyond the Basics“. Center staff members Janice Zurlo, York County Coordinator, Jamie Schwellenbach, Tender Living Care Program Coordinator, and Marie Sheffield, Intercultural Peer Support Training Specialist provide a deeper understanding of the complexities of children’s loss within the context of their environment, and the pandemic, and how to support them as they move through grief, loss, and change.

“Burying a Loved One During a Pandemic“. Christine Rousselle, DC Correspondent at Catholic News Agency and Julie Ann Johnson, Funeral Director and General Manager at A.T. Hutchins join together for a conversation on the painful realities of planning a funeral and burying a loved one during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the loving support needed to begin the healing process.

Interview with Tory Riden from the Great Reboot with the Center’s Executive Director, Anne Heros, discussing the work the Center has always done, and the shift made during these particularly stressful times of social distancing to keep serving grieving families and children; a time when the feeling of grief seems to freeze in place for those struggling. Our history is rich, as are the families and children we serve. However, one thing that always remains is our families and children are not alone on their journey to healing from grief. Please watch this comprehensive interview to learn more about the work we are committed to keep doing.

“Intercultural Perspectives”. Led by Claudette Ndayininahaze, the Center’s former Intercultural Program Manager and Marie Sheffield, Intercultural Peer Support Training Specialist, this webinar explores the needs of youth and families who have resettled locally from countries experiencing war, persecution and resettlement, and have experienced death of family members and the collective loss of their communities. This session shares culturally sensitive strategies to create a healing community for Intercultural youth and their families who have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and foster the development of belonging and individual and community resiliency.

“Facing Stigma”. Center consultant Christine Linnehan, LCPC, BC-DMT, FT presents Restorative Interventions for Fostering Resilience in Children, Teens, and Families after Suicide Loss or Overdose. This webinar focuses on a restorative, trauma and bereavement-informed approach designed to address the impact of stigma on the grieving process and the overall well-being of the bereaved after a suicide or overdose loss. Christine explores practical and creative strategies as well as mind/body practices that can help the bereaved cope with the interplay of trauma and grief reactions; counteract shame and secrecy; and envision a path toward resilience, hope, and posttraumatic growth.

“How to Navigate Stress in Isolation”. Our sincere gratitude to former Board President and facilitator Patrick Veroneau, M.S. of Emery Leadership Group for leading this timely webinar on coping with stress and building resiliency during uncertain times.

“Growing Through Grief, Loss and Trauma: How Grieving Families and Children Can Find Healing, Hope, and Resiliency”. Our sincere thanks to Lisa Athan, M.A., grief specialist and Founder and Executive Director of Grief Speaks for addressing the multiple layers of loss facing families quarantined at home in her Keynote Presentation for the Center’s Spring Bereavement Conference.