Children's grief and bereavement certificate program

Children's grief and bereavement certificate program

Presented by SickKids CCMH Learning Institute

Date: April 29, May 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026
Time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. ET
Facilitators: Andrea Warnick, RN, MA, RP, Lysa Toye, MSW, RSW, ExAT, and Liana Lowenstein, MSW, RSW, CPT-S

This training is suitable for: Any professional or volunteer who is in a position to influence the support received by a grieving child. This includes frontline workers and volunteers such as medical professionals, educators, clergy, social workers, administrators, residential workers, counsellors, funeral service providers and hospice volunteers.

Client age category: For professionals who work with families and children under the age of 18.

Please note: This is a five-module/webinar certificate program. You must complete all five modules within a year to obtain the certificate. Each of the modules may be taken on their own as a stand-alone training.

Grief is a confusing and isolating experience for any person, old or young. Children's grief, however, differs considerably from adult grief, resulting in the needs of grieving children often being overlooked or misunderstood. This can have a profound impact on the social and emotional development of a child. Caregivers, including the most skilled professionals, often feel helpless when supporting children through the death of someone close to them.

The Children's grief and bereavement certificate program explores the roots of our cultural discomfort with the topic of children and death and exposes common myths and misconceptions. This certificate program equips you with skills to provide support to children, youth and families grieving the dying or death of someone they care about. Adults cannot change the reality of a death occurring in a child's life, but with the right tools they can play a powerful role in shaping the story of the child's grief experience and therefore help the child thrive in life.

This program is offered as an open module series, allowing the flexibility to register for any of the five individual modules or the entire series, depending on your learning objectives. Whether you choose to join one module or all five, this series aims to provide valuable insights and practical tools for those looking to support grieving families

Modules:

• Module 1: Children at the bedside - Preparing children for the death of someone close to them
• Module 2: When death darkens the door - Supporting bereaved children and youth
• Module 3: Cultivating therapeutic presence - Mindfulness, compassion and use of self in supporting children and families
• Module 4: When grief gets more complicated - Support for those who may experience additional barriers to a healthy grief process 
• Module 5: Dancing in the darkness - Creative approaches to working with grieving children and youth

Build the knowledge, confidence, and practical skills to support children, youth, and families navigating grief, loss, and complex bereavement.

Registration fee: Full certificate $1,500 | Individual modules $300 each  |  Student and group rates are available 

For full program overview and registration details please visit: https://cvent.me/0E0qy9

Continuing Education (CE) information: Total certificate CE hours: 30 | Individual modules CE hours: per module