Professional Preparation

“In all the years I’ve been a teacher, I can’t specifically remember any training about dealing with loss and death. I think it’s something that we should be getting more training in.” (Teacher)

Many teachers and other school professionals feel unprepared and apprehensive about reaching out to grieving students. Some are afraid they will say or do the wrong thing and only make matters worse. Some worry that they will start a discussion they don’t know how to finish. This module acknowledges the general lack of professional preparation in bereavement among school professionals. It describes the value of providing training in this area, steps schools can take to help meet this gap in professional education, and the learning resources offered by the Coalition to Support Grieving Students.

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For more information on supporting grieving children, refer to The Grieving Student: A Guide for Schools by David Schonfeld and Marcia Quackenbush.