October 20-22, 2025 | 6 NYS CEUs
NYSFDA Headquarters | Albany, NY

Hosted by the NYS Tribute Foundation and the New York State Funeral Directors Association

Consumers’ wishes continue to evolve. Empower your entire staff with the skills and knowledge necessary to design meaningful and personalized tributes. This program will prepare you to write, prepare, present uniquely individualized services that fits the needs and preferences of the deceased and their families.

Registration is open

Why Become a Certified Celebrant?

• Keep families at your funeral home. Whether the family has no church affiliation or chooses cremation, having a Celebrant on staff encourages families to stay with you rather than design their own tribute.
• Lead by example. Demonstrate your commitment to meeting the needs of today’s consumer.
• Set your funeral home apart. Offering a Celebrant as an option gives you a competitive edge when meeting the evolving needs of families.

In recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month this November, the Tribute Foundation is coming together with other members of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief to “flip the script” on grief. Throughout the month, we are collectively committed to providing essential tools and resources to foster a more grief-informed society. This initiative, created by NACG with support from national childhood grief organizations, Dougy Center,  Eluna, Experience Camps, and Judi’s House, seeks to address the common challenges people face when supporting those who are grieving, aiming to replace potentially hurtful statements or silence with action-based responses.

If you are raising or caring for a child or teen who needs to be informed of a death, you may wonder how to share this news with them. It is perfectly natural to feel nervous or even fearful of talking with a child about this emotional topic. This resource was created to help you prepare for these conversations.

Click here to download this resource.

March 2 – World Teen Mental Wellness Day

Developed by teenagers themselves, this guide offers an authentic and relatable perspective on supporting a teen through the challenges of loss. This resource outlines and provides insight what to do and what not to do to help you in your work supporting teens who are grieving.

Download the resource today.

Grief is a natural response to the death of someone significant in a child or teen’s life. When the death is by suicide, it can make the grief experience more complex. Suicide, by nature, is stigmatizing and isolating. This guide explores ways we can stabilize and strengthen children as they integrate losses from suicide into their lives. As children and teens grieve death by suicide, they may struggle to make sense of the loss. The wide range of emotions can include shock, hurt, relief, self-blame, guilt, anger, torment, regret, confusion, etc. There is no incorrect way to grieve.

Download the guide.

Childhood bereavement is a critical issue and an increasingly important national priority. The death of a parent, sibling, or other important person in a child’s life is one of the most frequently reported disruptive childhood experiences. Disparities in mortality rates across race and ethnic groups in the U.S. result in disproportionate youth bereavement prevalence. Understanding how children of different racial and ethnic background are impacted in essential to help every bereaved child find hope and healing.

For more details and information, visit judishouse.org to view the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM) reports.

Judi’s House/JAG Institute partnered with the New York Life Foundation to help support grieving children and families by creating the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model.

March is Disabilities Awareness Month

Navigating the complex terrain of childhood grief becomes an even more intricate journey when considering the diverse spectrum of abilities children may possess. Recognizing that grief knows no boundaries, this resource aims to provide a comprehensive guide to best practices for supporting a child of all abilities through the grieving process. In a world that embraces diversity, inclusivity, and individuality, it is essential to understand the unique needs and challenges that children with varying abilities may encounter when coping with loss.

Download the resource today.

The season that begins with Thanksgiving and continues through the New Year is often called the “season of family”. During this time of year, regardless of which holidays, faith, or culture you honor, there is an emphasis on family – with a heightened awareness of who is missing at the table when we gather. It is important we recognize and honor our traditions and family while remembering the relationship and memories of those who have died. This holiday toolkit offers ideas and inspiration for families to honor the person who has died and the holiday season.

Download this resource.

Childhood bereavement is a critical issue and an increasingly important national priority. The death of a parent, sibling, or other important person in a child’s life is one of the most frequently reported disruptive childhood experiences, and without appropriate support, can lead to adverse health and welfare outcomes. Understanding the number of children impacted by death is essential to help every bereaved child find hope and healing.

For national data, visit the NACG website.

About Childhood Grief

The death of a family member, friend or other significant person is a lifelong loss for children. It is normal for children to miss the person who died and to experience grief that might come and go with different levels of intensity for some time after the death. It can be challenging to parents and caregivers to know what to do for, what to say to and how to help children who are obviously hurting.

The NACG’s resource, About Childhood Grief, offers a few suggestions about how to be helpful to a grieving child based on research and practice among children’s grief support professionals and volunteers. It is important to note that grief reactions in children are varied, wide ranging and unique to each individual. The following suggestions will help guide you as you seek to be provide understanding and compassion to children living with grief.

Download this Resource.

Caregivers and Schools Working Together in Partnership After a Death Guide

When your child goes back to school after the death of someone important in their life, it is critical for you to help the school understand how to best support your child during this time. Caregivers know their children best. It is the job of caregivers to help their children feel comfortable at school and empower teachers and other staff to create environments that will best suit the needs of their child. It is important that caregivers communicate with school staff concerning considerations that may be needed for their child. This may include anything from a bit of extra grace on difficult days to a request for the creation of an Individual Bereavement Support Plan.

Download this Resource.

Supporting a student who is grieving: Resource guide for administrators

Students who are grieving face a multitude of additional potential stressors during the school day. We know they struggle with emotional, physical, behavioral, and interpersonal reactions to their grief that impact their ability to successfully navigate the school environment both in the immediate and long term.

Download this Resource.

Individual Student Bereavement Support Plan

This document is a resource for supporting students returning to school after they have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. When a student returns to school, they may feel alone and challenged by the task of engaging with their daily routine. Schools are in a unique position to provide support for students with thoughtful plans specific to the individual’s needs. Students grieve developmentally, and their needs are unique and changing throughout the days, months, and years ahead. Those students that need and receive grief support have improved outcomes socially, emotionally, and academically.

Download the Resource.

Rights of a Student who is Grieving

This document is a resource for supporting students returning to school after they have experienced the death of a significant person in their lives. When a student returns to school, they may feel alone and challenged by the task of engaging with their daily routine. Schools are in a unique position to provide support for students with thoughtful plans specific to the individual’s needs. Students grieve developmentally, and their needs are unique and changing throughout the days, months, and years ahead. Those students that need and receive grief support have improved outcomes socially, emotionally, and academically.

Download the Resource.

Supporting a Friend who is Grieving

Grief impacts many different parts of a person. It can change how we act, our emotions, how we hang out, or even how our bodies feel. If a friend or someone in your class has experienced a death, it can be di cult to know how to support them. You might even be asking, “Do they want me to ask about their person?” It’s important to remember; no two losses are the same. While there is no “one size, fits all” way to support a friend, this guide will provide helpful reminders, compassionate language, and ways to give your friend space to share their grief.

Download this Resource.

As part of the partnership, the NACG has provided a resource toolkit for professionals and families. We encourage you to browse through and view the components of the toolkit below. Refer to them as needed, and share with the families you serve.

This resource was created for those supporting a child who is grieving a substance-use related death. In three sections, this toolkit gives information relevant to family members or caregivers, information for community members, and a resource list for those seeking additional information.

Download the Toolkit.

The death of a family member, friend or other significant person is a lifelong loss for children. It is normal for children to miss the person who died and to experience grief that might come and go with different levels of intensity for some time after the death. It can be challenging to parents and caregivers to know what to do for, what to say to and how to help children who are obviously hurting. Here are a few suggestions about how to be helpful to a child who is grieving based on research and practice among children’s grief support professionals and volunteers. It is important to note that grief reactions in children are varied, wide ranging and unique to each individual. The following suggestions will help guide you as you seek to be provide understanding and compassion to children.

Download the About Childhood Grief toolkit.

Developmental Understandings

The “Developmental Understandings” resource offers insights into how different age groups process and understand death and dying. It provides guidance on how to approach these topics in ways that are age-appropriate and supportive. By understanding the developmental response to death, we can better help children navigate the complex emotions and questions that arise during following a death. 

Download the Developmental Understandings Toolkit.

Children’s Grief Awareness Month serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging and supporting grieving children and their families. In recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month this November, the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) is coming together with its dedicated partners to “flip the script” on grief. What is Flip the Script? Flipping the Script references a shift in perspective or a change in the way a situation is typically handled. When someone “flips the script,” they are taking a different approach, and this November, we will work together to flip common grief scripts honoring Children’s Grief Awareness Month. We know that many of the traditional expressions of sympathy can be unhelpful or even hurtful to grievers. Join us as we inform, encourage, and support individuals in this journey. Learn more: https://nacg.org/flipthescript/

The death of a child is contrary to what most of us expect in life. We typically expect to outlive our children and for them to be alive through our grandchildren’s youth. These expectations cause many to view grandparents as the “out of natural order grievers”. Many people typically focus on the deceased’s partner and/or children as being the most impacted by the death. Just as children and teens have unique considerations while grieving, so do grandparents as they may be taking on new responsibilities while also managing their own physical and health limitations.

Download the Toolkit.

Grief is an intricate collection of emotions that can weave through the fabric of our lives. While grief is often associated with adulthood, it is important to acknowledge the presence of grief within the hearts of children. End of life memorials and rituals can be difficult for a child to fully understand or participate in, but there are ways to aid them through this process.

Download Children and End of Life Memorials/Rituals for more.

Attending a funeral can be a profoundly challenging and emotionally charged experience for people of all ages. However, when it comes to children, the weight of grief and the unfamiliarity of funeral homes can make the process even more overwhelming. Therefore, it is crucial to create a safe and supportive environment for children within funeral homes.

Download Creating Space for Children in a Funeral Home for more.

Telling a child that someone in their life has died is a painful task we all hope we never have to deal with. Unfortunately, as death is a part of life, families who are being served by your funeral home will find themselves in this role. As with any challenging conversation, this presents opportunities to deliver the news in a way that strengthens their relationship with the child and leaves them feeling safe, secure, and nurtured.  Consider sharing this resource with any family who needs support in telling a child someone has died.