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When a Child Dies explores the unique and profound challenges that accompany the death of an infant, child, or young person. This workshop equips funeral professionals with practical guidance, communication strategies, and compassionate approaches to support grieving families during one of life’s most devastating moments. Participants will gain insight into family dynamics, cultural considerations, and ways to provide meaningful, personalized care while also navigating their own emotional response to these deeply impactful cases. 

Key Takeaways 
Upon completion of program, participants will be better able to:  

 
1) Recognize the unique emotional, psychological, and family dynamics associated with the death of a child.   

2) Demonstrate effective and compassionate communication strategies when interacting with grieving parents, siblings, and extended family members.   

3) Apply best practices for planning and personalizing services that honor the life of a child while supporting the needs of the family.   

4) Navigate sensitive situations with confidence, including unexpected deaths, traumatic loss, and diverse cultural or religious considerations.   

5) Identify healthy coping strategies and professional boundaries to manage the emotional impact of serving families experiencing pediatric loss.   

6) Utilize resources and collaborative approaches to provide comprehensive care and ongoing support for bereaved families. 

Presenters:  

Kristin James, LCPC, currently serves at the Missing Pieces Child Loss Network. She has specialized in working with families coping with illness, trauma and loss for over twenty-five years. Kristin has provided clinical consultation and extensive training, advocacy and education to medical teams, community agencies, and school systems throughout the Chicagoland area. She is an experienced clinician and has provided individual, family, and group counseling. Kristin developed a benchmarked program for Pediatric Bereavement Care at Lurie Children's Hospital/Children's Memorial Hospital and is nationally recognized as an expert in grieving children and bereaved parents. She has also participated in and published numerous research studies. Ms. James received her Master’s in counseling from Loyola University. 

Betsy Hawley, MA, is the Executive Director of the Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition and has over 25 years of experience in nonprofit management in both healthcare and community development. As a passionate advocate, Betsy speaks extensively across Pennsylvania and nationally on coalition building and pediatric palliative and hospice care. Betsy works collaboratively with other state based pediatric palliative care coalitions to further meet the needs of families and medical professionals caring for medically complex children. She serves on the NHPCO Pediatric Advisory Council, the PA Task Force for Palliative Care, the Coalition for Quality at End of Life and the Patient Quality of Life Coalition.