Course Description:
When a baby dies, families are often asked to make funeral and memorial decisions while navigating profound grief—and the healthcare professionals supporting them may have questions about what happens after a family leaves their care.
Join us for a compassionate, practical conversation with a funeral service professional as we demystify funeral care after pregnancy and infant loss. We’ll explore what families can expect, the choices available to them, common misconceptions, and how healthcare and bereavement professionals can help families feel more informed and supported as they create a meaningful goodbye.
Participants will also be introduced to resources designed to help bridge the gap between healthcare and funeral care and make these difficult conversations a little easier
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify key funeral, cremation, burial, and disposition options following pregnancy and infant loss.
2. Describe common misconceptions about funeral care and provide families with accurate, supportive information.
3. Apply strategies for collaborating with funeral professionals to support families through meaningful goodbyes.
Certificate:
By completing and passing this webinar course, you will attain your CE certificate.
Learning Credits:
Continuing Education Units 1.0
Resources:
Funeral Service Booklet: When Goodbye Comes Too Soon
RTZ Memory Making Guide
Financial Support Resources
Human Milk Banking Association of North America (HMBANA)
Presenter Bios:
Jodie McGinley serves as a funeral director and the creator of the Willow Award, a national recognition program honoring excellence in end-of-life care. With at least 15 years of experience in end-of-life care and grief education, she transitioned into the field after working as an educator and experiencing personal loss, which inspired her to become a licensed funeral director and develop the award to recognize caregivers such as hospice nurses and physicians. McGinley holds a bachelor's degree in education from Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, as well as a certification in thanatology, certification as a death doula, and certification as a celebrant. She maintains memberships in the National Funeral Directors Association, the International Cemetery Cremation and Funeral Association, and the American Death Education Credentialing Council. McGinley describes herself as a servant-oriented transformational leader who values compassion and integrity, and she engages in public speaking for an organ procurement agency to share her family's story of donation. She attributes her success to her partnership with the Smith family at a family-owned funeral home that has supported the Willow Award's national expansion.
Identify key funeral, cremation, burial, and disposition options following pregnancy and infant loss.
Describe common misconceptions about funeral care and provide families with accurate, supportive information.
Apply strategies for collaborating with funeral professionals to support families through meaningful goodbyes.
