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NAGC Grief Talk FB cover

GriefTalk is an initiative of the NAGC aimed at encouraging and supporting honest conversations around the topics of death and grief. This initiative has produced the following resources to date. We will release the tools weekly across November. The conversation topics are:

  • Talking to Children about Death and Dying.  
  • Talking to a Child or Teen to Let them know Someone has Died
  • Talking about End of Life Memorials and Rituals 
  • Talking about Grieving as a Family 

The toolkits were created by a team of professionals who are dedicated NAGC members. With our members across the United States, we advocate for supportive conversations in this critical moment where a child's life is changed forever. Join us this November to encourage everyone to get comfortable with their GriefTalk.

Thank you to our GriefTalk Contributors: (listed in alphabetical order)

Erin Brodbeck, LCSW, CT, Director of Grief Services, Sunset Funeral Homes (Champaign, IL)

Karina Castillo, LCSW, Children’s Grief Support Program Manager, Community Hospice (Modesto, CA)

Colleen Cherry, Founder, PlayWell Child Life Services(Laguna Niguel, CA)

Alyssa Christensen, Grief Support Director, Mourning Hope Grief Center (Lincoln, Nebraska)

Lauren Clarke, Program Manager, Bridges for End-of-Life (Charleston, SC)

Lisa Conn, MSW, LISW-S, CAPT, Bereavement Counseling Professional, Ohio’s Hospice of Dayton (Dayton, OH)

Pamela Gabbay, EdD, FT, Co-Founder, The Satori Group (Virginia Beach, VA)

Peggy Galimberti, LMSW- Clinical, ACSW, Program Director, Ele’s Place (Ann Arbor, MI)

Heather Gianatassio, Certified Child Life Specialist and Grief Counselor

Melissa Lunardini, MA, MBA, CEO, Radical Grief, LLC (San Diego, CA)

Valerie Myers MS, CT, CEO, Myers Compassionate Grief Services, LLC (Owings Mills, MD)

Kaela O’Donnell, MSW, LCSWA, Program Therapist, KinderMourn (Charlotte, NC)

Buffy Peters, Director, Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss (Des Moines, Iowa)

Irwin Sandler, Research Professor, Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families (Phoenix, AZ)

Corrie Sirota MSW, PSW, Clinical Social Worker & Psychotherapist, Author and Clinical Director of Myra’s Kids Foundation (Montreal, Quebec)

Blair Stockton, MS, CCLS, CTP, CGCS, Compass Child and Teen Grief Services Coordinator, Four Seasons Hospice and Palliative Care (Flat Rock, NC)

 

Screen Shot 2020 10 17 at 101710 PMA series of one-hour conversations, GriefTalk Live features NAGC CEO Vicki Jay in conversation with partners in the world of bereavement.  They will share the work their organizations are doing to support bereaved children and families in this moment and give their insights on how individuals and communities can support them.  These conversations will focus on practical tips in supporting bereaved children and their families and share resources. 

This public event is free for all attendees.  Register through zoom links on the website or watch live on Facebook.

November 3rd at 3 pm EST: GriefTalk with Terese LaVallee, Director, Highmark Caring Place focused on Children’s Grief Awareness Day, November 19th, 2020.  Replay Posted Below

November 11th at 2 pm EST: GriefTalk Live with Bonnie Carroll, President, and Founder and Renee Monczynski
Manager, Young Adult Program, Tragedy Assistance Program For Survivors (TAPS). Register HERE.

November 19th at 3 pm EST: GriefTalk Live with Alex Mers, LPC, Director of Programs, Judi's House about the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM).  This conversation will target a more general audience and help them understand how the CBEM can help their advocacy on behalf of bereaved children.  Register HERE. 

November 23rd at 2 pm EST: GriefTalk Live with NAGC Board Members, Darcy Krause and Brennan Wood.  Register HERE. 

        

    

UIG Draft Logo JH Option Internal Use

Candle GraphicPlease join Judi’s House/JAG Institute and National Alliance for Grieving Children in a Virtual Candlelight Tribute on Friday, May 15. This campaign will unite individuals across the nation in recognizing those who are grieving the death of a family member or special person.

Participation in this virtual campaign is easy:

  • Participate at a time that is meaningful for you on Friday, May 15
  • Download and print the United in Grief candle graphic, write in the name of the person you are honoring, color the sheet creatively for those whose world seems dark and post it in your window to show others you stand with them in their grief.
  • Share a photo of your candle on social media with a message of remembrance and hope using the hashtag #unitedingrief
  • Don’t have a printer? Simply use your creativity and share your personalized image and messaging in your window and on social media using the hashtag #unitedingrief

You can also honor the death of a special person or the bereaved in your community by making a one-time or recurring donation to the NAGC.

This is not time to minimize the grief experience. This is time for compassion for self and others. Your participation will serve as a symbol of hope, remembrance, and inspiration.

Thank you for helping us shine light on childhood bereavement and grief awareness. Gather your network and invite your community to be #unitedingrief. With your help, we are one step closer to ensuring that no child should be alone in grief.

Downloadable Resources:

Printable Graphic 

Are you an NAGC member wanting to launch a local campaign?

Please used these graphics where you can add your own logo?  Don’t know how to add it – just send your logo to Deirdra () and she will be happy to add your logo and send it back to you.

Virtual Candlelight Tribute-Customizeable Logo
Virtual Candlelight Tribute-Customizeable Logo v2

Children’s Grief Awareness Movie Bracket Challenge

Grief is different for everyone. However, many times, children and families who’ve experienced the loss of a loved one (or pet) can find comfort in movies that address death and its complicated aftermath. To help bring awareness to and generate conversations around these movies and children’s grief, we have our first-ever Children’s Grief Awareness Movie Bracket Challenge in partnership with Children's Grief Awareness Day – where YOU will vote to determine the MOST POPULAR movie for children/families who are grieving. Ranging from lighthearted to serious, the films listed in the Movie Bracket Challenge feature characters who deal with the devastation of death yet also find support and comfort as they process their emotions and learn to move forward.

Participation in this challenge is easy:Grief Movie Bracket Scoring

  • Download and print the Movie Challenge Bracket worksheet, and select your preferred winners.
  • Optional: Submit your bracket to the NAGC here to be entered into the NAGC's official bracket tracking system. Challenge your friends, co-workers, and volunteers. Check the latest scores and keep up with the standings via our facebook posts.
  • Follow the NAGC and Children's Grief Awareness Day on Facebook to cast your vote on the movie challenge posts. VOTE for your favorites starting FRIDAY, August 28th! Once each round’s winners have been selected, scoring for brackets that are filled out is as follows:
    - Award 1pt. per each correctly guessed First Round match-up winner.
    - Award 2pts. per each correctly guessed Second Round match-up winner.
    - Award 5pts. per each correctly guessed Third Round match-up winner.
    - Award 10pts. per each correctly guessed Final Four match-up winner.
    - Award 20pts. per correctly guessed Finals match-up winner.
  • Haven’t watched all of these movies? Pick a movie and schedule a movie night with your family!


Resources:

Printable Graphic 

Submit Your Bracket

Qustions? Please contact Deirdra Flavin ()



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