Tackling Grief in Schools: Meeting the Needs of Grieving Students
Marcie Taylor & Bethany Gardner, Drew's Hope Grief Center
Location: CUB 104
Learning Objectives:
1. Participants will be able to define grief versus mourning, cite statistics that demonstrate the need for positive grief support resources and name two different types of grieving styles.
2. Participants will be able to identify free online grief support resources available to educators/counselors to meet the needs of grieving students.
3. Participants will be able to identify local grief support resources that they can recommend to grieving children, teens and families.
4. Participants will be able to lead grieving students through simple grief support activities in order to help them begin to process their grief.
“You’ve Got This! Implementing Peer Support Groups for Grieving Students.”
Terri Bowling & Alexa Livelsberger, Highmark Caring Place
Location: CUB 105
School counselors and social workers are in a unique position to support grieving students. Yet they may feel unprepared to provide services to these students, wishing they had additional education and training on the topic of grief and loss. Highmark Caring Place has been supporting grieving children and families for over 25 years and values the skillset that school counselors and social workers inherently have, as well as the need for school-based peer support groups. Join us for this workshop to learn the basics of implementing peer support groups in the school setting, including specific activities that focus on the needs of grieving students.
Following this workshop, participants will be able to:
1. Describe the value of peer support groups within the school setting for grieving children.
2. Explore the steps necessary to implement a school-based peer support group.
3. Identify 3 specific activities that could be useful in a peer support group for grieving students.
Unpacking the Invisible Backpack: Understanding the Effects of Trauma in Students
Jessica Merideth, Beech Street Therapy Center
Location: CUB 226
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize signs and indicators of traumatic experiences in students
2. Understand the effects of trauma and traumatic experiences for students in schools
3. Connect traumatic experiences and behaviors to strategic techniques for de-escalation and support
Healing Through Support: The Impact of School Professionals in Addressing Child Abuse
Dr. Kelly Dryzal & Dana Mariano, Shippensburg University's Department of Counselor Education
Location: CUB 103
Learning Objectives:
Understand the nature of child abuse and its effects on children/adolescents.
Realize the important role school professionals have in recognizing child abuse.
Recognize signs and indicators of abuse and how to provide acute and long-term care and support.
Understand the importance of creating a safe school environment and its impact on a student’s healing.
Understand how best to support yourself and other school profession.