2024 Professional Webinars: Grieving with Parents After Death of a Baby
Presented by Abigail Jorgensen PhD, LCCE, CD (DONA)
Date: May 16, 2024
Time: 12pm – 1:30pm Central Time
One in four clinically-recognized pregnancies ends in loss. And yet, societal discussion of and support for families experiencing perinatal loss is minimal. This is true even within the context of the Catholic Church. In this webinar, Dr. Abby Jorgensen will present five of the most common challenges grief workers face when supporting parents through the death of their little one.
As a result of this webinar, participants will:
- Identify aspects of baby loss that can be particularly painful
- Understand key theological pain points for Catholic parents experiencing loss
- Implement three strategies for grieving with parents after the loss of their child
NACC Certification Competencies Addressed in this Webinar: PIC4, PPS2, PPS3, PPS4, PPS5, PPS6
Presenter Information
Dr. Abby Jorgensen, PhD, LCCE, CD(DONA), is a bereavement doula, an assistant professor of sociology and health care ethics at Saint Louis University, founder of the Haven Bereavement Doulas Program, and the author of A Catholic Guide to Miscarriage, Stillbirth, and Infant Loss: Compassionate Answers to Difficult Questions. In all of these roles, she supports loss families and helps those around them feel more confident and comfortable providing them with compassionate, professional, and healthy care.
Dr. Jorgensen specializes in scholarship on family, methods, and grief (with foci in health, politics, and culture). Her current research focuses on loss and motherhood identity, Catholic diocesan support for families experiencing perinatal loss, and the value of drawing as a method for research. She teaches courses for undergraduates, graduate students, and birth professionals who seek to strengthen their loss support skills. She lives in St. Louis, Missouri, with her husband and daughter.