Trauma-Responsive Grief Support for Youth & Families Impacted by Homicide

Join us for the 2026 NACG National Webcast, a three-hour educational event designed for professionals, featuring presenters Katherine Streit, Sam Middleton, and Samantha Anthony from Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia. This event will:

• How historic and systemic oppression shape the homicide-related grief experiences of youth and families.
• Culturally and contextually responsive strategies for understanding and addressing stigmatized grief responses such as vengefulness, guilt, and shame among co-victims of homicide.
• Trauma-related grief behaviors that may emerge across the lifespan for survivors of violence.

Learning Objectives:

• Describe and identify at least 2 ways that historic and systemic oppression impacts homicide-related grief with youth & families
• Demonstrate knowledge of at least 3 strategies for understanding & addressing stigmatized grief responses (including vengefulness, guilt, shame) in a culturally and contextually-responsive approach, particularly for youth & families considered co-victims of homicide
• Identify up to 5 different trauma-related grief behaviors that can manifest across the lifespan for survivors of violence

Our Speakers:

Katherine Streit, MSW, LCSW, MSEd, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, educator, and clinical supervisor who believes in the connection between healing, justice, and liberation. Since joining Uplift in 2018, she has led the school-based clinical team, managed citywide K–12 partnerships, overseen program evaluation, and directed Uplift’s training and professional development initiatives. She also supervises grief groups at the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center and previously managed the award-winning Philly Hope Line.

Katherine specializes in creative, play-based approaches, particularly with neurodivergent youth, and is committed to Uplift’s non-pathologizing model. She holds an MSW and MSEd from the University of Pennsylvania, has over 20 years of experience supporting youth and adults with disabilities, guest lectures in local graduate programs, and has co-authored a chapter on SEL and play.

Sam Middleton, MS, is originally from Wilkes-Barre, PA and moved to Philadelphia to attend college in 2014. Sam received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree from Arcadia University in 2018. She then went on to work for her Master of Clinical and Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in trauma, from Chestnut Hill College. While starting her time at Uplift Center for Grieving Children as an intern, Sam gained experience and expertise in support group facilitation, eventually becoming a member of Uplift’s staff where she utilizes their knowledge in trauma-informed care and grief and loss support. Sam’s goal is to make youth feel heard and supported in their grief. She strives to validate all aspects of grief and loss. They continuously work to grow and learn how to best support the youth, families, and communities of Philadelphia.

Sam has training in several areas outside of their degree, including in Psychological First Aid, and Perinatal Loss. They have also participated in Grief Conferences, committees, and other organizational events and programs.

Samantha Anthony, MS, LPC, is a grief clinician who operates out of Uplift Center for Grieving Children in Philadelphia. She has lived in the USA for 10 + years after immigrating from Malawi. She has an M.S in Clinical Child Psychology and a vested interest in the interconnected areas of childhood mental health, with a special focus on grief, trauma, social justice, and education. Her work is driven by the tenet that grief is a social justice issue.

3.0 Continuing Education credits available from NACG with ASWB, NBCC, NYSED at additional cost to attendee. $45 will be due to the NACG at the close of the event for those wishing to purchase CEs. Roberta's House will support attendees in signing in and out so we can record attendance.

For additional CE information, visit https://nacg.org/webcast/ce-information/.

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