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Grief-Informed Care: Navigating Trauma, Loss, and Suicide in Schools

CE Hours 6 6 Clinical

About this course

In this training, we will dive deeper into the complex, often overlooked challenges that schools face when supporting grieving students. We will foIn this self-In this self-study training, we take a deeper look at the complex and often overlooked challenges schools face when supporting grieving students. The course explores traumatic grief, the unique considerations when a student dies, suicide within school communities, and the emotional and academic impact of a terminal illness diagnosis.

Designed for educators, school counselors, social workers, and school psychologists, this training supports professionals who are ready to address heightened emotional needs while fostering a compassionate, inclusive school environment.

Participants will learn how to respond effectively to grief-related crises, support families navigating loss, and implement developmentally appropriate, school-wide responses to trauma, death, and serious illness. Through case examples and practical, evidence-informed strategies, this course equips school professionals with the knowledge and tools needed to respond with confidence, clarity, and compassion — helping grieving students feel supported, understood, and able to continue learning.

Included in this self-study are the complete slide deck and a collection of bonus handouts and practical tools designed to support immediate use in school settings.

Please note: participants will be watching a recorded video.

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the impact of traumatic grief on students and the school environment
  • Distinguish between grief reactions and trauma responses in students, and apply appropriate interventions for each
  • Analyze how the death of a student, suicide, and terminal illness among peers affect students emotionally, academically, and socially
  • Develop protocols for school-wide communication following a student's death or a suicide, ensuring clarity and sensitivity
  • Apply grief-informed strategies for handling sensitive topics, such as death, suicide, and illness in a school setting

Learning Levels

  • Beginner and Intermediate, all levels welcome

Target Audience

All mental health professionals welcome.

Course Instructor(s)

  • Kelly Daugherty, LCSW-R, FT, GC-C, BC-TMH

    Kelly Daugherty, a seasoned social worker with over two decades in the clinical field, is a Fellow in Thanatology, specializing in death, dying, and bereavement. Anchored in Malta, NY, she owns Greater Life Grief Counseling, LCSW, and the Center for Informed Grief, LLC. Kelly co-owns Healing Strides, LLC, where emotional and physical well-being intersects in a unique 7-week program for grieving women. Kelly is also a contributing author of "Holistic Mental Health" and "Brave Kids," and lead author in the collaborative book "The Grief Experience: Tools for Acceptance, Resilience and Connection" set to release in February. She is dedicated to revolutionizing grief support by offering tools and insights to individuals and professionals alike.
    Connect with Kelly: https://linktr.ee/kellydaugherty

Disclosure

EngagedMinds Continuing Education, Erena DiGonis, and planners have no financial disclosures or commercial bias or promote commercial interests during CE activities.

References

  • APA Presidential Task Force Culturally Informed Trauma and Grief Recovery Toolkit. (2023, November). APA. Retrieved April 26, 2025, from https://www.apa.org/about/governance/president/grief-toolkit/culturally-informed-trauma.pdf
  • Champion, M. J., & Kilcullen, M. (2023). Complicated Grief Following the Traumatic Loss of a child: A Systematic review. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228231170417
  • Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (2011). Supporting children with traumatic grief: What educators need to know. School Psychology International, 32(2), 117–131. https://doi.org/10.1177/0143034311400827
  • Dyregrov, A., & Dyregrov, K. (2013). Complicated Grief in Children—The perspectives of Experienced Professionals. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying, 67(3), 291–303. https://doi.org/10.2190/om.67.3.c
  • Dyregrov, A., Dyregrov, K., & Lytje, M. (2020). Loss in the family – A reflection on how schools can support their students. Bereavement Care, 39(3), 95–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/02682621.2020.1828722
  • Heller, K. W., Coleman, M. B., Best, S. J., & Emerson, J. (2013). Teacher’s knowledge and support systems regarding students with terminal illness. Physical Disabilities Education and Related Services, 32(2), 11–37. https://doi.org/10.14434/pders.v32i2.12994
  • Lytje, M. (2017). Voices that want to be heard: Using bereaved Danish students suggestions to update school bereavement response plans. Death Studies, 42(4), 254–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2017.1346726
  • Mirick, R. G., & Berkowitz, L. (2022). Adolescents’ Experiences with School-Based Postvention Services: Needs, supports, and recommendations. OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221134830
  • Reiter, A., Valentine, M., Sanchez, M., Pickrell, A., & Irvin, C. An Overview of Bereavement and Grief Services in the United States: Report to Congress, 2023. Washington, DC: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. October 2024.
  • Rice, C. J., & Gourley, J. K. (2003). Preparing Classroom Teachers for the Impending Death of a Student with Terminal Illness. Physical Disabilities: Education and Related Services, 22(1), 25–36. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ678651.pdf
  • Schonfeld, D. J., & Quackenbush, M. (2021). The grieving student : A Guide for Schools (2nd ed.). http://ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BB09043251?l=en
  • Scupham, S. (2016). Suicide in schools: a practitioner’s guide to multi-level prevention, assessment, intervention, and postvention. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 44(2), 249–250. https://doi.org/10.1080/03069885.2016.1146230

CE Process Info

Content

  • Recordings
    2 parts
    • Training Video
    • Final Thoughts and Resources Video
  • Materials
    11 parts
    • Slide Deck
    • Training Handout
    • School Suicide Response Checklist
    • Individual Bereavement Plan
    • Individual Bereavement Plan Resource from NACG
    • Sample Letters and Scripts
    • Grief Resources
    • School Grief Group
    • TF-CBT Grief Workbook
    • Grief Camp Websites
    • Evergreen Certification

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for SW (NYSED SW)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0676.

  • Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education, #1858, formerly Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 8/25/2024-8/25/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 6 continuing education credits.

  • National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7455. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. EngagedMinds Continuing Education is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for LMHC (NYSED LMHC)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0284.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners (NYSED LMFT)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0117.

  • New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology (NYSED PSY)

    Erena DiGonis, LCSW, PLLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0270.

  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)

    EngagedMinds Continuing Education is hereby recognized as a CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider. Provider number: 1032895

FAQs

  • Certified Grief-Informed Professionals Information
    Are you ready to step into the life awaiting you as a Certified Professional? Upon successfully completing the training, attendees meet the education criteria* to become Certified Grief-Informed Professionals through Evergreen Certifications. This course also meets the criteria of the grief-focused continuing education to renew for the Certified Grief-Informed Professional certification. *Professional standards apply.
Grief-Informed Care: Navigating Trauma, Loss, and Suicide in Schools
You Have Completed This course
$135
You are enrolled
  • CE Hours
    6
  • Type
    Self-Paced
  • Publication Date
    Feb 12th, 2026

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