Life Loss Conference

8:30-9:00 Registration • Continental Breakfast
9:00-9:15 Welcome • Opening Remarks
9:15-10:15 Key Note Speaker
“We Grieve Too; Sustaining “Caring” Professionals”
10:30-11:20 Workshop Set A • Infant/Toddler Grieving • Understanding Life Losses in relation to Behavior and Life Choices • Understanding Anger in Relation to Life Losses

Strand A: Supporting Children
Infant/Toddler Grieving: Learn the methods by which infants and toddler respond to life losses, the manner in which they process and communicate their grief and the long term impact when effective support is lacking.

Understanding Child/Teen Grieving: An exploration of the way that children and teens process grief and how their process impact their behavior and interactions. Recommendations for providing support, cultivating coping abilities and making adaptations in their lives during the initial grieving period.

Supporting Children in School Adjustment and Success: This workshop will provide professionals with an understanding of the life losses and challenges children face with school moves. Learn how to assess children’s academic skills, support appropriate grade placement, advocate within the school system and assist children in developing effective coping skills during these challenging transitions and emotional losses.

Strand B: Supporting Families
Understanding Life Losses in Relation to Behavior and Life Choices: Exploration of The Stephan Center life loss processing model linking the well accepted theories of stages and styles of grief coupled with social-emotional development in a unique correlation between grief and behavior.

Raising and Supporting Children with Special Needs: Explore the life loss aspects of raising a child with special needs for the parents, siblings, extended family and for the child. Learn to support the balance between loss , acceptance and joy.

Creating Healing Environments: An exploration of the key elements needs for successful grief processing and methods of developing “healing environments” at home schools, workplaces and in the community.

11:30-12:30 Workshop Set B • Supporting Children in School Adjustment and Success • Raising and Supporting Children with Special Needs • Coping with Grief during the Holidays
12:30-1:00 Lunch • Resource Connection
1:00-2:00 Table Top Discussions by Profession
2:00-2:50 Workshop Set C • Understanding Child/Teen Grieving • Creating Healing Environments • Understanding Grieving Aspects of the Caring Professions
2:50-3:00 Closing • Raffles • Evaluations • CEU Paperwork

Strand C: Supporting Adults
Understanding Anger in Relation to Life Losses: Learn how to identify and support the process of grief that is driving unchecked anger and rage so that children and adults can live calmer and peaceful live.

Coping with Grief During Holidays: Holidays bring additional stress and emotional pain for children, adults and families. Learn how to create positive experiences through understanding and reasonable expectations.

Understanding Grieving Aspects of the Caring Professions: Choosing a profession which opens your heart to the challenges facing children and adults in need, provides great challenges and great rewards. One challenge is the grief professionals experience when children and adults are in and out of their professional lives through school environments, foster placement, health needs and case management. This workshop explores the grief experiences of professionals and discusses strategies which assist them in coping with these natural professional consequences.

Keynote Speaker
Debra Mattison, LMSW, OSW-C has been a medical social worker for over 30 years working extensively in the areas of oncology, palliative care and primary care in both inpatient and ambulatory settings. She currently works at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Cancer Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is also an adjunct lecturer at the University of Michigan School of Social Work teaching graduate courses in Death, Loss and Grief and Integration of Spiritual Assessment and Intervention in Social Work Practice. She also facilitates support groups at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. Ms. Mattison has received numerous awards for her leadership and clinical skills and has made multiple presentations at state and national conferences.
Registration Form
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Nearest hotel: Comfort Inn, 29235 Buckingham Dr, Livonia, MI
Rate: $79.99/night • Code: Strengthening Families Conference

Regular Conference Fee: $100
Conference Fee with 5.0 Social Work CEU’s: $120
For SCECH unit information go to TheStephenCenter.org
Final day to register: October 11, 2013

Workshop Options:
Infant/Toddler Grieving
10:30 – 11:20 Understanding Life Losses in Relation
Workshop Set A to Behavior and Life Choices
Understanding Anger in Relation to Life Losses

Supporting Children in School
Adjustment and Success
11:30 – 12:30 Raising and Supporting Children
Workshop Set B with Special Needs
Coping with Grief During Holidays

Understanding Child/Teen Grieving
2:00 – 2:50 Creating Healing Environments
Workshop Set C Understanding Grieving Aspects
of the Caring Professions

The Stephan Center • PO Box 77813 • Corona, CA 92877
951.340.1075 • thestephancenter@juno.com • thestephancenter.org
Life Loss Conference
Strengthening Families
Understanding Loss,
Behavior, and Healing

October 25, 2013
8:30AM—3:30PM

Madonna University
36600 Schoolcraft Road
Livonia, Michigan

Keynote Speaker:
Debra Mattison, MSW
Lecturer; University of Michigan School of Social Work
Counselor; Palliative Care Consultation Service,
University of Michigan Health System