Who Should Attend?

K–12 school staff, including teachers, administrators, counselors, social workers, and all professionals who support the well being and growth of children and adolescents in school communities.

Continuing Education Information

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance with documented contact hours. Approval for continuing education credit is determined by individual licensing boards; participants are responsible for submitting documentation. The Grief Club of Minnesota does not guarantee CE approval.

Can I attend with colleagues?

Yes! We strongly encourage teams to attend together to build shared understanding and strengthen your school-wide approach.

For information on group discounts, please contact Sarah at sarah@griefclubmn.org.

Will lunch be provided?

Lunch will not be provided. Participants are encouraged to bring a bag lunch.

Where is the training taking place?

Chanhassen High School

2200 Lyman Blvd Chanhassen, MN 55317

Thank you to Eastern Carver County School District for their partnership and for generously serving as our training host site.

What to Expect

Supporting Grieving Students is a practical, interactive training designed to equip school staff with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to support students experiencing grief. Led by experts in the field of childhood bereavement, participants will explore how grief can affect learning, behavior, and relationships. With the rising number of grieving children and teens, this timely training provides key strategies for responding with compassion and supporting students within the school community.

An essential professional learning opportunity for school professionals to deepen their understanding of grief and strengthen support for grieving students.

During this training, participants will:

• Understand how grief impacts students academically, socially, and emotionally
• Recognize common and developmentally appropriate grief responses
• Learn what to say (and what not to say) when supporting grieving students
• Gain practical, age-appropriate strategies for creating supportive classroom environments
• Practice responding to difficult questions, behaviors, and emotions with confidence and compassion
• Identify when a student may need additional support and how to make referrals
• Explore ways to care for themselves while supporting grieving students

Expert Leadership in School-Based Grief Support

This training is led by Sarah Kroenke, LSW, FT, and Cara Mearns-Thompson, LICSW, founders of The Grief Club of Minnesota and recognized leaders in school grief support. Together they bring more than 50 years of combined experience in death, dying, and bereavement, including nearly four decades working directly in K–12 schools providing individual counseling, facilitating grief support groups for students, and training school staff.

Sarah began bringing structured grief support programs into schools in 1997, helping pioneer school-based grief groups and services for students. Cara joined this work in 2003, and together they have helped establish and expand grief support programs across many school districts.

Their work includes developing grief support curriculum, guiding schools through crisis and trauma response, and delivering local and national trainings that equip educators and professionals with practical, grief-informed approaches to supporting students. Sarah and Cara are trusted partners to health care systems, funeral homes, educators, therapists, and administrators across Minnesota. They have an extensive history of helping communities and schools build compassionate, grief-responsive environments where grieving kids and students feel seen, supported, and safe.