Women experiencing perinatal loss face unique challenges that require a coordinated, interprofessional response. Collaboration between medical professionals, social workers, mental health professionals, chaplains, and child life specialists is crucial to effectively support bereaved parents.
In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, Full Circle’s professionals will be offering a training for healthcare professionals caring for women who have experienced a perinatal loss. This training is appropriate for medical professionals, mental health professionals, hospital chaplains, child life specialists, and students pursuing studies in any of these fields.
Goals
Goals of the training include helping healthcare professionals:
- To understand how grief from a perinatal loss differs from that of general grief
- To understand the complex interplay of emotional, psychological, spiritual, and social challenges
- To understand the importance companioning a mother both during and after a perinatal loss
- To gain insight into cultural considerations when working with various populations
- To learn ways to provide comprehensive, compassionate care to patients after a perinatal loss
- To understand strategies to implement a trauma informed care plan to help decrease the risk of both emotional trauma and long-term effects
- To understand specific practices that can be utilized to minimize traumatic impact
Continuing Education
Continuing education (CE) credits (4) will be available through Virginia Commonwealth University for the July 10 and September 16 training dates. Please note that no CE credits will be available for the May 19 training.
Dates Offered
- May 19, 2026, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
- July 10, 2026, 8:00 am – 12:30 pm
- September 16, 2026, 12:00 – 4:30 pm
(Participants only need to attend one training date.)
Modality
The training will be offered virtually as a half day on each of the training dates. Workshop includes educational training, panel discussion, and a Q&A session.
Cost
This professional development opportunity is offered free of charge due to support from the Virginia Department of Health.
Registration Information
Please choose the corresponding date you would like to register for from the options below.
If you have questions regarding the content of this training, please contact Perinatal Loss Training Coordinator, Casey Kelehan, MSW, at casey.kelahan@fullcirclegc.org or 804-912-2947 ext. 135.