Grief Support Services Facilitator Training - Duluth, MN

St. Mary’s Grief Support Services

Bereavement Support Group

VIRTUAL Facilitator training

Date:         January 24 & 25, 2022

Time:        8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (15 contact hours)

Location:  This training will be done Virtually

Description:

The purpose of the Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training Program is to train those who will be developing and facilitating bereavement support groups. This comprehensive program is designed to teach participants about the grief and bereavement process, facilitation skills, group process and learn how to develop and organize a support group.

Intended Audience:

This program is intended for social workers, healthcare professionals, chaplains, educators, funeral directors or other individuals seeking to develop a grief support group or those who are currently facilitating one.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this program participants will be able to:

1. Describe behaviors associated with complicated grief.
2. List at least 10 factors that need to be considered when supporting bereaved adults.
3. Describe the difference between common child, adolescent and adult grief.
4. Describe two types of bereavement models.
5. List at least four qualities needed to be an effective bereavement group facilitator.
6. Describe what can be done in communities besides/beyond offering bereavement support groups.
7. Understand strategies for supporting the unique spirituality of each individual group member.
8. Describe issues/concerns that can arise in facilitating bereavement support groups.
9. List ways to market and advertise bereavement support groups.

10. Describe factors that need to be considered regarding facilitator boundaries and self-care.     

TRAINERS:

Gina Dixon, M.A., L.P. is the Program Manager with St. Mary’s Grief Support Services and has worked as a grief therapist and death educator for more than 24 years. Gina provides life-threatening illness and bereavement counseling with individuals and families and facilities bereavement support groups for children, adolescents, and adults. She gives presentations on grief and loss on local, regional, and national levels. Gina has served on the Board of Directors and as Vice President for the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC), an international organization with more than 2,000 members. Her previous service includes co-chairing ADEC’s Hospital Based Bereavement Program Special Interest Group. She has also been selected to participate as a member of WIT, Women in Thanatology, which is a unique group of women leaders in the field of death, dying and bereavement from across the United States.

Mary McGrath, Marriage and Family Therapist, Emeritus is a Facilitator for Essentia Health Grief Support Services.

Barb Titus, MA, LADC, CSAC is an instructor in the Communication Department at the University of Minnesota Duluth where she teaches Interpersonal Communication, Public Speaking, Professional Communication and Conflict Management. After leaving an Internship at the St. Mary’s Grief Support Center, she continues in a volunteer capacity as the co-facilitator of a monthly Parent Grief Group. Barb also facilitates the weekly University of Minnesota Duluth Student Grief Support Group that she started in 2004.

Jennifer Tucker, MSW, LICSW, Grief Support Therapist and Volunteer Coordinator with Essentia Health Grief Support Services.  Jennifer facilitates bereavement support groups for children and adults as well as provides grief support for patients & families in the hospital and community. She also coordinates the Grief Support Services volunteer program. In addition to her current role, she has over 10 years of prior experience working as a clinical social worker in health care both in Duluth and in the Twin Cities. She has spent a majority of her career working in the hospital setting, including oncology and palliative care, with patients and families facing various illnesses and end of life issues.

The training will also include a panel of current and former Essentia Health Grief Support Group Facilitators.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
Registration cancellation will result in a partial refund ($25 processing fee will be charged) if you cancel prior to
January 10, 2023 No refunds will be issued after January 10, 2023, however you may transfer your registration
to another person without charge.