HHS 325: Death, Dying, and Bereavement

Course Description

This course focuses on working with children, adolescents, and families experiencing dying, death, and grief. The course emphasizes the role of families, culture, and healthcare settings, as well as the social meanings of dying and death, developmental perceptions, and the impact of culture, religion, and ethnicity. Specific attention is given to grief reactions in children, the application of developmental level in response to loss, role of human services professionals in clincial and non-clinical settings, as well as the tasks of grief. Strategies and tools relating to communicating with bereaved children, as well as the potential impact on academic, behavioral, and emotional development are addressed. Students will explore and develop familiarity with strategies and tools such as legacy building, memento creation, and the identification and utilization of resources that promote coping skills in relation to death or impending death. (F,W,S)