Disenfranchised Grief Seminar Scheduled for May
JONESBORO – A seminar to discuss and understand the elements of disenfranchised grief will be held Tuesday, May 23, at Arkansas State University. The program, “Disenfranchised Grief in the 21st Century: New Problems, New Strategies,” is part of an annual series endowed by Billy Joe and Betty Ann Emerson through the Craighead County Community Foundation. It will be held in the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive.
The presentation describes disenfranchised grief as grief that is not openly acknowledged, socially sanctioned or publicly mourned. It explores the contexts and causes of disenfranchised grief as well as complications arising from disenfranchisement. The seminar emphasizes the cultural factors that can disenfranchise grief. A strong emphasis of the presentation is on interventive strategies that can enfranchise grief.
Dr. Kenneth J. Doka, professor of gerontology at the graduate school of the College of New Rochelle in New York and senior consultant to the Hospice Foundation of America, is the keynote speaker. Doka has written more than 34 books addressing the subjects of death, dying and grief. In addition to the books, he has published more than 100 articles and book chapters.
He is editor of both Omega: The Journal of Death and Dying and Journeys: A Newsletter to Help in Bereavement. He has an ongoing blog for Psychology Today entitled “Good Mourning.” In addition to serving on several boards of directors, he has received numerous awards for his work and contributions to hospice, death and bereavement education and social services.
The program is free of charge; however, due to limited seating, preregistration is required by May 16. A registration form is available online at http://www.astate.edu/college/conhp/. The completed form may be emailed to tiajohnson@AState.edu or faxed to (870) 972-2040. For more information, contact Dr. Susan Hanrahan, dean of the A-State College of Nursing and Health Professions, at (870) 972-3112 or June Morse at (870) 936-7005.
This program is designed for hospice personnel, educators, social workers, counselors, therapists, psychologists, physicians, nurses, clergy, chaplains, lay ministers, and others caring for the bereaved.
Registration and check-in begin at 8:30 a.m., followed by the opening session, “Definition, Causes and Circumstances the Lead to Disenfranchised Grief” and “Ways that Disenfranchisement Complicates the Process of Mourning” from 9-10:15 a.m. After a 15-minute morning break, “Cultural Context of Disenfranchised Grief” is from 10:30 a.m.-noon.
The afternoon session, “Effective Intervention Strategies” and “The Cost of Enfranchising Disenfranchised Grievers” is from 1:30-3 p.m., followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer period.
The program is sponsored by A-State’s College of Nursing and Health Professions, Emerson Funeral Home, NEA Baptist Clinic, NEABCF HopeCircle, NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, Families, Inc. Counseling Service and Arkansas Geriatric Education Center.
