Ambiguous Loss: Supporting System-Involved Youth Grieving Non-Death Losses

Wendy Kessler, MSW, FT

Training Description

System-Involved Youth (SIY) continually face the challenge of processing non-death losses that lack clarity, definition, and finality. These Ambiguous Losses also lack official or social verification, and often complicate grief for SIY and their caregivers. This training will educate participants about ambiguous loss and provide education on how to effectively support system-involved youth and their families living with the pain and uncertainty of non-death loss. Participants will be informed through presenter instruction, a slide presentation, self-reflection, learning activities, coping strategies, break out room sharing, guided participant discussion, and Questions and Answers.

Learning Objectives

●        Name ten common non-death losses for SIY.

●        Identify four practices for managing the distress of ambiguous loss which can be taught to SIY and families.