Most students experience some form of loss in their lives, and the grief that results can profoundly affect their academic performance, emotional stability, and social interactions. This class will help educators understand and respond to the extraordinary challenges that children may face when dealing with grief and loss. Participants will learn strategies to help students affected by divorce, the death of a parent, relative, friend, or pet; violence; chronic illness, and more. This class will examine grief experiences at different developmental levels and will give you strategies to: 1. Respond appropriately to expressions of grief from children and adolescents 2. Help students handle some of the emotions associated with loss 3. Determine when to refer a child to a specialist 4. Respect cultural attitudes towards grief and loss 5. Understand and identify risk taking behaviors and suicide This course is appropriate for those working in all grades, K-12 including teachers, para-educators, counselors, and other support personnel.