REGISTER: How Do We Tell The Children? Practical Skills for Sharing Difficult Information

Our guest speaker:

Please join us for this virtual session. This session covers:

• Understanding the developmental stages of childhood and how they reflect cognitive ability
• The importance of using age-appropriate language when explaining difficult topics to children
• The pitfalls of silence and secrecy when communicating with children
• Strategies for promoting opportunities for reciprocal conversations with children
• How much information is enough information?
• Interventions for supporting children through challenging, confusing situations

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Mary Gravina is a licensed clinical social worker has devoted her career to working with hospice and end lo life care issues for the past 35 years.

She is currently the AVP of SW services with Hospice Care Network and does her clinical work with children. Mary developed the first comprehensive children’s bereavement program on the east coast, which has been featured on the NBC Weekend Today show and the subject matter of a documentary, produced by WPIX, entitled Little Hearts, Big Tears. Hospice Care Network’s Family and Children’s Bereavement Program, open to the community as well as to hospice patient families, has served as a model of care for our communities and a referral source for school districts, hospitals, mental health clinics, the DA’s office and community pediatricians. Mary prides herself in having provided thousands of children a safe, supportive environment to better understand their feels and navigate their grief.
In her free time, Mary enjoys traveling, reading, family and relaxing at the beach.