INTRODUCTION

The Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) will hold a virtual training conference on “Childhood Grief and Traumatic Loss, Restoring Joy to Children and Families” on Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 via Zoom. Log in time is 8:35 a.m., conference start time is 8:45 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Losing a loved one can be one of the most difficult experiences in one’s life. For some, it can be a shattering experience with far-reaching implications. After a loss, the resulting experience of grief is a process, and its emotions are felt differently by each one of us at different times throughout the grieving process. There are also cultural, gender-based, and age-related differences, etc., in one’s grief experience and professionals working with families, need to be mindful of that. A child’s loss experience and grief reaction, for example, differs greatly from that of an adult, and professionals who work with families should be able to identify normal and abnormal childhood grief responses.

In today’s society, and especially now, while experiencing a global pandemic, we find ourselves surrounded with stories of grief and loss. When we listen to the radio, while watching television or via social media, we may hear of the untimely death of a celebrity, or learn the horrific details of a child’s death, or of lives lost to community violence, tragic accidents or natural disasters. Personally, we may have experienced the recent loss of a loved one from a separation, divorce, or death, bringing up a tremendous amount of emotional distress and limiting our ability to function effectively in our jobs, school and in our personal relationships. This annual conference is a great opportunity to share knowledge about loss, trauma, the grieving process and how children experience and cope with grief and loss. Learn about the importance of self-care, when is the best time to intervene, seek help and restore wholeness and hope.

Sincerely,

Grief Conference Planning Committee

Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect

MAY 25TH DAY’S AGENDA

8:35 a.m. — Suggested log in time for registrants

8:45 a.m. to 9:10 a.m.: Welcome, Instructions, and Conference Overview

Introduction by ICAN Executive Director Deanne Tilton-Durfee

9:10 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.: Keynote Introduction by Michael Durfee, M.D.

9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.: Keynote Presentation

Emilio Parga, M.Ed.Executive Director/Pediatric Thanatologist

“Morning Keynote Presentation”

Working with children and grief in contemporary society is a monumental task, considering the groundswell of disasters, mass killings, disease, poverty, global health concerns, and social injustice. The impact of loss for children and teens is well documented and affects school performance, relationships, and an understanding of adult life. How children and teens are supported through death and other losses in their lives will shape how they respond to loss as an adult. This keynote develops an understanding of childhood grief and loss, while offering participants practical concepts and tools to help support grieving children.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will understand the principles of child, teen, and adult grief

• Participants will gain knowledge in appropriate vocabulary when working with children’s grief, loss, and issues surrounding traumatic events

• Participants will learn basic techniques and strategies for working with grieving children

• Participants will understand the differences between primary and secondary losses, as well as the additional impact of traumatic loss on children and families

10:15 a.m. to 10:25 a.m.: Ten-minute coffee break

10:25 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.: Instructions for breakout sessions

10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.: Morning workshop breakout session I

(Click here for full description of workshop options)

12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Lunch break

12:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.: Workshop breakout session II

(Click here for full description of workshop options)

RATES/REFUNDS/CANCELLATIONS

Registration for one person is $35.00. Registration includes access to the Zoom training and continuing education units (for LMFTs and LCSWs), if requested. All listed fees are to be paid by credit card. There is a group rate available for groups of ten or more. If interested in a group rate, please reach out to ICAN Associate at icanassociatesteam@gmail.com.

Requests for refunds must be made in writing and received by ICAN on or before Monday, May 24th, 2021. If you need to cancel, please contact Kenneth Rios at riosk3@dcfs.lacounty.gov and include the following information: full name, e-mail address used to register, and confirmation number.

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

ICAN Associates is a recognized CAMFT-approved Continuing Education Provider (Provider Number: 131324). This conference meets the qualifications for 4 hours of Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences. ICAN is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for social workers, therapists, community organizations, students, and advocates that work with children and families that have been affected by domestic violence. ICAN maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content.

LCSWs and LMFTs requesting CEUs will be required to sign in for the event no later than 9:15 a.m. and must stay until end of the conference day at 2:00 p.m. The event will be monitored to ensure that the participant attended the entire event. Attendees who requested CEUs must complete the day and cannot be given partial credit for this conference. In addition, a signed and completed evaluation form is required (a link will be provided after the conference). The CEU certificate will be sent two to three weeks after the conference via email. The initial CEU certificate and one replacement (if needed) are provided free of charge. However, there is a fee of $5.00 for any additional replacement certificates.

If there are any questions about CEUs or the issuing of certificates, please contact ICAN Associates at icanassociatesteam@gmail.com.

FREQUENTLY ASKED ABOUT TOPICS

Payment

ICAN never personally handles or collects financial information, and relies on Trusted PCI-Compliant 3rd Party vendors for all financial transactions. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. If you need to pay via check or purchase order, please contact ICAN Associates at icanassociatesteam@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Refunds/cancellations

Requests for refunds must be made in writing and received by ICAN on or before Monday, May 24th, 2021. If you need to cancel, please contact ICAN Associates at icanassociatesteam@gmail.com and include the following information: full name, e-mail address used to register, and confirmation number.

Grievances

The Inter-Agency Council on Child Abuse and Neglect (ICAN) is fully committed to ensuring that all conference activities are in conformance with the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Continuing Education Standards. ICAN assures that its training conference is appropriate for LMFT and LCSW professional development and that ICAN is suitable for BBS license renewal.

Furthermore, ICAN Associates will comply with all legal and ethical responsibilities to be non-discriminatory in promotional activates, program content and in the treatment of program participants. The monitoring and assessment of compliance with these standards will be the responsibility of the ICAN Conference Chair in consultation with the Nexus Planning Committee and ICAN Executive Director.

While ICAN Associates goes to great lengths to assure fair treatment for all participants and ensure conference content is in compliance with CEU standards, there may be occasional issues that come to the attention of the conference staff. In most circumstances, a solution can be easily identified. However, if, in the rare circumstance, the situation rises to a more serious level, the grieved individual must immediately request to speak with the Conference Chair or the ICAN Executive Director who will in turn, attempt to arbitrate the situation. In addition, within 48 hours, the grieved individual must submit their grievance in writing for a record of the incident to be kept on file.

Special needs

If you have a special need and plan to attend the conference, please contact Kenneth Rios at (626) 455-4588 or via email at riosk3@dcfs.lacounty.gov.

Event recording notice

By registering and by your presence at the event, you consent to be photographed, filmed and/or otherwise recorded. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media throughout the universe in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice and name for any purpose whatsoever including, without limitation, advertising, trade, promotional activities, commercial activities of every description and/ any other lawful purpose whatsoever.