Ryan’s Place Annual Seminar:

Holding Loss, Fostering Hope:
Building Resilience in Youth and Communities

1. Describe common grief responses and their impact on emotional, behavioral, social, and academic functioning across developmental stages in children, adolescents, and adults.
2. Identify key factors that promote resilience and healthy adaptation following loss, change, and adversity within families, schools, and communities.
3. Recognize the diverse and complex needs of grieving youth, the impact of co-occurring mental health challenges, and apply developmentally responsive, grief-informed support strategies.
4. Apply creative, expressive, and experiential interventions—including storytelling, ritual, and arts-based interventions—to support coping, connection, and meaning-making in the grieving process.
5. Develop and implement practical, community-based strategies that engage families, schools, and organizations in fostering resilience, connection, and supportive, grief-informed environments.

Other information:

Enjoy hearing from our keynote speaker, Dr. Korie Leigh , as well as breakout sessions, and networking. Continental breakfast, lunch, water, coffee and tea will be provided (bring your own specialized drinks).

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Korie Leigh

Dr. Korie Leigh is a thanatologist (an interdisciplinary professional who studies death, dying, and bereavement), certified child life specialist, author, educator, and international speaker with more than 20 years of experience supporting children and
families through grief and loss. She is Associate Professor and Program Director of the M.S. in Thanatology program at Marian University and the author of three acclaimed grief books, including What Does Grief Feel Like?, an Oprah Book List selection. Dr. Leigh is known for translating research and clinical expertise into practical, compassionate strategies that help families, schools, and communities support grieving youth and build resilience.

Additional Support comes from: Elkhart Community Schools, Bashor Children’s Home and Michiana Counseling Center.