Supporting System-Involved Youth & Caregivers with Disenfranchised Grief/Loss Which is not Socially Acknowledged

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT

Training Description

Disenfranchised Grief is loss that is not openly acknowledged, socially sanctioned, or publicly mourned. Without social validation of a youth’s grief experience by families, peers, community, and helping professionals – the typical responses to loss (anger, sadness, loneliness, and guilt) are often intensified. This training will educate participants about the factors that contribute to disfranchised grief and how to support system-involved youth who are risk for this grief complication. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, supportive interventions, guided discussion, and Questions & Answers.

Learning Objectives

Participates will be able to:

· Explain “Disenfranchised Grief” as a complication of loss.

· Identify 6 causes of Disenfranchised Grief in system-involved youth and caregivers.

· Acquire at least 1 strategy to support system-involved youth experiencing disenfranchised grief.

Agenda

9:00am – 9:15am: Welcome

· Introduction of Trainer

· Introduction of Topic

· Introduction of Participants

9:15am – 10:00am: Disenfranchised Grief PPT

· Disenfranchised Grief Defined

· 6 Factors that Contribute to Disenfranchised Grief

· Impact of Disenfranchised Grief on System Involved Youth & Caregivers

· Guided Discussion

10:00am – 10:35am: Supporting Youth at Risk for Disenfranchised Grief

· Bolster Resilience of System Involved Youth and Caregivers

· Supportive Intervention for Youth

· Reflection

10:35am – 10:45am: Question & Response

10:45am – 11:00am: Closing

· Contact Info

· Future Training Dates

· Final Evaluations

· Passing Period

Meet Our Trainer

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT is a Grief Specialist. She is credentialed as a Fellow in Thanatology (the study of death, dying, and bereavement) by the Association of Death Education and Counseling, and a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Wendy worked as hospice Bereavement Specialist from 2017-2022 – offering grief care to patients’ loved ones, hospice staff, and community partners. Through hospice work she recognized a gap in grief education for helping professionals, as well as the need for better support for grievers. As a result, she left corporate hospice care and launched Grief Guide Consulting, LLC in 2022. Her private practice grief services include individual counseling, support group facilitation, group education, and consulting. She believes that grief is not a problem to be fixed. It is a journey that we can learn to navigate, and when the path is unfamiliar or uncertain it can help to have a guide. You can learn more about Wendy or contact her at her website: www.griefguideconsulting.com.

This course meets the qualifications for (2.0) BBS CE hours for LCSWs, LMFTs, LPCCs, and LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences & is provided by Fred Finch Youth Center, CAMFT Provider #045295.