Grief Conference: Weaving Together

Grief Conference: Weaving Together

Welcome to our Weaving Together: meeting the unmet grief needs of Alameda County!

While our target audience are Alameda County Mental Health Providers, community members and the general public are invited to attend.

Join us for a day filled with healing, support, and connection as we navigate the complexities of grief together. A disproportionate amount of our community has lost a loved one to homicide, suicide, or gun violence. Many of our community members have a personal experience of incarceration or have experienced the incarceration of a loved one. A significant amount of our community members have left their homes to find new lives here, often not by choice. These experiences can be a disenfranchised grief, or a grief that is not acknowledged by others, adequately supported, or stigmatized. Our hope for this conference is to learn from those who have experienced these griefs along with experienced trainers and providers.

Knight and Gitterman (2019) identify six factors that contribute to grief disenfranchisement: 1) the loss is ignored; 2) feelings in response to the loss are also ignored; 3) no support is received; 4) there are limited opportunities to grieve; 5) others condemn or question the bereavement; and 6) the loss is stigmatized.

The day will open with our keynote speaker, Michele Maas, of Native American Health Center, with more presenters to be announced soon. We will close with an interactive workshop. Representing various local organizations, we will have insightful speakers, panel discussions, and opportunities to connect and learn from each other.

Come be a part of our community as we weave together stories, healing practices, resources and support. In community, we know that we are not alone.

CEUs: We are a CAMFT approved continuing education provider for the following professions: LMFTs, LEPs, LPCCs, and LCSWs. We are also a CalMHSA Peer Certification Continuing Education Approved Provider. We can provide up to 6 CEUs for this event.

No one is turned away due to lack of funds: A free admission code is available for attendees experiencing financial hardship. Email [email protected].

Inclusion Statement: CSS is committed to hosting an inclusive and accessible event to all members of the community, including those living with visible and invisible disabilities. We recognize that a sense of belonging is vital to suicide prevention and strive to create an event where everyone can participate at the level they comfortable and also feel a sense of dignity, respect, connection, and care.

Photo Consent: By attending this event, you consent to your image being captured in photographs or videos. These images may be used for non-profit promotional purposes, including but not limited to: website, social media posts, and event recap materials. If you do not wish to be photographed, please notify us at [email protected].

Host or Publisher Crisis Support Services of Alameda County