This course explores the vital role of siblings in the grieving process after perinatal loss, recognizing them as “forgotten grievers” whose bonds deserve to be acknowledged and honored. Participants will learn how to open compassionate, trust-based dialogues with families, assess siblings’ readiness for involvement, and provide guidance that empowers parents to include their children before, during, and after hospital visits. Emphasis will be placed on understanding age-specific grief responses and on tailoring communication to developmental needs.
Through case examples and practical tools, attendees will gain strategies for using clear, direct, and compassionate language when discussing death, burial, and cremation, avoiding euphemisms that can cause confusion. The course will also highlight meaningful inclusion opportunities and memory-making practices that support healthy coping and foster enduring connections between siblings.
Learning Objectives:
1. Describe the importance of including siblings in the grieving process after perinatal loss. 2. Identify age specific grief responses and appropriate communication strategies for toddlers, preschoolers, school-aged children, and teens. 3. Demonstrate effective approaches for guiding parents in preparing and supporting siblings before, during, and after hospital inclusion. 4. Apply developmentally appropriate, honest, and compassionate language when discussing death, burial, and cremation with children.
Lessons:
1. Supporting Children Across Developmental Stages 2. Understanding and Honoring the Sibling Relationship of Grief 3. Guiding Parents in Honest and Age Appropriate Conversations 4. Supporting Surviving and Subsequent Siblings After Loss Certificate:
By completing and passing this course, you will attain the certificate Supporting Siblings Through Perinatal Loss.
Learning Credits:
Continuing Education Units 1.0
Presenter Bio:
Jill Kottmeier, RN & Thanatologist, has dedicated her career to providing compassionate bereavement care and crisis response to patients, families and staff. While focusing on palliative and bereavement care within the perinatal realm, Jill has walked alongside families during their most heart wrenching moments. Her ultimate goal is to create a safe space for all people that are grieving. Recognizing the profound impact of death and trauma on both patients and healthcare workers, co-founded the first crisis response team at Northwest Community Hospital, which now serves the entire Endeavor Health System. Jill’s story showcases not only her professional achievements but also her compassion and commitment to the holistic wellbeing of both patients and healthcare workers she supports. Her expertise in thanatology further enriches her ability to provide nuanced and comprehensive support to those navigating the complexities of grief and loss.
