Tenth annual grief seminar to feature Andy McNiel on ‘Building Bridges’
Event: Tenth Annual Grief Seminar: “Building Bridges for Grieving Children and Their Families”
Date and time: Friday, Sept. 28, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Location: Goshen College Church-Chapel Fellowship Rooms
Cost: $60 for professionals, $20 for students before early registration deadline; $80 for professionals, $35 for students after early registration. Early registration deadline is Sept. 21.
Sponsored by: Goshen College Social Work Program in partnership with Ryan’s Place
For more information or to register: call (574) 535-7400 or e-mail margemb@goshen.edu.
Website: www.goshen.edu/sowk
The tenth annual Goshen College and Ryan’s Place grief seminar, titled “Building Bridges for Grieving Children and Their Families,” will be held on Friday, Sept. 28 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Goshen College Church-Chapel Fellowship Rooms. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 21.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Andy McNiel, executive director for the National Alliance for Grieving Children, a national advocacy and resource organization for anyone providing support to grieving children. He previously served as executive director of The Amelia Center in Birmingham, Ala., providing support and counseling to children and teenagers grieving the death of someone in their lives and parents grieving the death of a child. Before coming to The Amelia Center, he was Director of Grief Counseling Services for the Hospice of Martin & St. Lucie in Stuart, Fla.
McNiel received a bachelor’s degree in religion from Palm Beach Atlantic College and a master’s degree in counseling from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He is a licensed counselor with the state of Alabama.
During his keynote address, “What Grieving Children Want You to Know,” McNiel will present the key results from a national childhood bereavement survey conducted by the National Alliance for Grieving Children and the New York Life Foundation last year.
The seminar, especially recommended for social workers, educators, counselors, therapists, nurses, clergy and other human service professionals, is co-sponsored by Goshen College and Ryan’s Place, and will offer several breakout sessions in the morning and afternoon featuring qualified local therapists and practitioners. A panel discussion about pertinent issues raised throughout the day will conclude the event.
The seminar schedule includes: “Ethical Considerations when Supporting Grieving Children,” by Katharine E. Schrock; “Talking to Children about Suicide,” by Aileac Deegan; “Make it – Take it,” by W. Rex Gleim; “Cognitive Behavior Models of Support,” by Andy McNiel and a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Carol Jarvis.
The objectives for the seminar are for attendees to learn how to work with families who are experiencing loss and grief for a variety of reasons, learn about resource materials, establish a network of personal connections and provide hope in time of loss.
Seminar Schedule:
8 a.m. – Registration
8:30-8:45 a.m. – Welcome
8:45-9:30 a.m. – Opening session
9:30-9:45 a.m. – Break
9:45-10:50 a.m. – Second morning session
10:50-11 a.m. – Break
11 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – Third morning session
12:15-1:15 p.m. – Lunch
1:15-2:30 p.m. – Breakout sessions
2:30-2:45 p.m. – Break
2:45-4 p.m. – Panel discussion
4-4:30 p.m. – Completion of evaluations and awarding of CEU’s
The cost for registration before the early registration deadline on Sept. 21 is $60 for general public and anyone who wishes to receive CEUs ($80 after the deadline) and $20 for students ($35 after deadline). No refunds will be issued after Sept. 24.
The registration fee includes lunch, snacks, a resource notebook and a continuing education certificate (six CEUs are available). This year, teachers may use the agenda as documentation of Professional Growth Points for license renewal.
For further seminar information, or to register, contact the Goshen College Social Work Department at (574) 535-7400 or e-mail margemb@goshen.edu. Or visit www.goshen.edu/sowk for more information and to register online.