During this presentation, we will discuss what grief looks like in youth with special needs and the consequent losses they experience after someone close to them dies. Caregivers will gain tools and strategies to assist their children in processing their grief and cope with hard emotions. We will review current best practices supporting grieving children with special needs and discuss how Kate’s Club has expanded to be more accessible to the families supporting them.

Presented by: Ashlie Evans

Ashlie Evans has been at Kate’s Club since December 2019. She graduated from Howard University in 2013 with a B.S. in Psychology. She has earned her Masters in Health Administration in 2020. Initially hired to coordinate programs and manage the membership process, she now oversees the collection, management and analysis of data from surveys, applications and assessments. Prior to working at Kate’s Club, she served as a behavioral specialist directly supporting youth ages 5-18 experiencing emotional, developmental, behavioral and mental health issues and their families for 5 years. While working at Kate’s Club, she created the Half-day Clubhouse program to address the growing need for grief support for youth with special needs. Her favorite part about Kate’s Club is watching sad, angry, and resistant kids leave smiling and hopeful knowing they are not alone in their grief.