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Bereavement and Collective Loss in Serving Intercultural Children and Youth

When
18 Apr 2019
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Location
NAGC Webinar

Registration

NAGC Member
Webinar Guest – $45.00
Webinar Guest with Continuing Education Credit – $60.00

Registration is closed

2:00 p.m. Eastern | 11:00 a.m. Pacific (1.5 hours)

Presentation Description

Collective loss models are seldom identified in Western literature, as Euro-American constructs of trauma interventions are based more on individualized diagnoses of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, with little attention being paid to cultural beliefs and the collective themes that emerge when loss affects whole communities. Once war, trauma and actual death have invaded the family and cultural boundaries of trust, relationships found within a supportive community are critical in re-establishing a sense of safety and efficacy (Baskin et. al., 2010; Farwell & Cole, 2002; Hobfoll et. al, 2007; Pyszcynski, et al., 2003; St. Thomas & Johnson, 2007; Summerfield, 2000; Yohani, 2008). When children, who have experienced such collective loss, rediscover themselves in a safe and supportive community, and become contributing members in that community, hope and resilience flourish.

About the Presenter

For the past 18 years, Marie Sheffield, L.C.P.C. has worked in the field of mass trauma and children, specifically children who have experienced forced migration from war and persecution to the North Eastern United States. Through this time, Marie has led the Intercultural Community Peer Support Program (4th-12th grades) at the Center for Grieving Children in partnership with the Portland Public Schools. Marie assembled and maintains an intercultural advisory council at the Center. This council is made up of the cultural leaders and advocates for the children served, ethically ensuring program quality, as well as social activism in the areas of intercultural awareness and equity in the surrounding communities. Marie regularly consults and trains on the subject of intercultural communication, collective loss and healing, both nationally and internationally.

Objectives

· Participants will have a greater understanding of collective and healing

· Participants will learn the effects of persecution and resettlement on children & families

· Participants will gain knowledge on key program essentials in an intercultural community-based setting.