C.A.R.E 4 Grief by Gracious Grafx

PURPOSE The CARE 4 Grief Conference was started in 2019 and was born out of the need to support families and the community of South Florida as we grieved the historic and tragic Stoneman Douglas High School Massacre in Parkland, FL. CARE Inc. is located in the City of Miami Gardens, where its residents continue to grapple with cases of suicide and murders. As a congregation, Pentecostal Tabernacle grieves the many losses of our families and friends. In response to this overwhelming presence of grief, CARE Inc. in collaboration with Pentecostal Tabernacle finds it necessary to host this FREE biennial conference. This year’s theme will be “In Search of the Silver Lining: Finding Hope after Loss.”

ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS Center for Advancement Restoration & Empowerment (CARE), Inc. is a communityfocused not-for-profit organization, located in the heart of Miami Gardens. CARE Inc., was established in 1998 and born out of the vision of Pentecostal Tabernacle International to promote the wholeness of mind, body, and spirit. CARE has a vibrant grief program that includes; the CARE4Grief adult psychoeducational grief groups, the CARE4Grief Uplift Summer Camp for grieving children between the ages of 5 to 15 years old, the biennial CARE4Grief Hope conference, and individual grief psychotherapy, for those who prefer one on one setting with a therapist. To learn more about CARE, and our many health and wellness programs, please see our contact information at the back of this booklet. 2

ABOUT THE PRESENTER Dr. Lula (Lou) Varist Gholson is one of the founders of Oasis Serenity Center in Atlanta, GA. She is married to Elder Edward Gholson, a military veteran who served 24 years. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Doctor’s degree in Christian Counseling and Therapy. She is registered with The Board of Examiners for Georgia Christian Counselors and Therapists and Pastoral Counselors. She is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. She is a registered Counselor and Therapist for Rhapsody Counseling Services she owns and operates. She is a license Minister with UPCI and works faithful in the body of Christ. She serves as a Board member of Forest Park Ministers Association. She serves as a part time professor at Restoration Theology Seminary. She serves as Regional Southeast World Network of Prayer Director and WNOP Director of UPCI Georgia District.

SESSION 1

SATURDAY MAR26 10:00AM

MAKING SENSE WHEN THINGS FALL A PART Location: Sanctuary 10:00 am – 10:15 am Welcome & Greetings: Lataya Dennis-Hall 10:15 am – 11:45 am Presenter: Dr. Lou Gholson Objectives 1. Identify grief as a process not an event. 2. Discuss psychological and physiological symptoms of grief. 3. Debunk myths associated with grief and grieving. 4. Sensitization of the process of suicidality as it relates to hopelessness. 5. Examine the cultural and spiritual implication of grief for those of AfroCaribbean and African American decent.

MAKING SENSE WHEN THINGS FALL APART PT.2 Break-out Sessions Facilitators: Annette Taylor- Spence (Sanctuary) Ester Harrow (Fellowship Hall) Objectives 1. Discuss concerns and questions arising from the main speaker’s presentation 2. Examine the role of gender, age, and ethnicity in response to grief. 3. Identify practical ways to help the bereaved find hope in their crisis.

SESSION 2

SATURDAY MAR26 12:00PM

SESSION 3

SATURDAY MAR26 2:00PM

PATHWAYS TOWARDS COLLECTIVE HEALING Location: Sanctuary A panel of grief experts and individuals who are grieving Moderator: Lataya Hall Panelists: Lou Gholson, PhD; Marcia Socorro, LCSW; Ronie Gomes, PhD; & Jackie Rosen Objectives 1. Present adaptive coping skills for resolving grief issues. 2. Self-care techniques for dealing with grief 3. Identify Resources in the community for helping the bereaved. 4. Discuss collective grief and its manifestation during times of crisis. 5. Explore the concept of collective healing and how we can achieve this as a community.

SATURDAY MAR26 3:00PM

Location: Sanctuary Speaker: Minister Omar Williams Objectives 1. Explore how one can find hope in spite of the loss. 2. Examine the physical, emotional, and spiritual choices that increase one’s hopefulness threshold. 3. Examine the importance of community and togetherness in Finding Hope.

SESSION 4

GRIEVING BUT HOPEFUL

SUNDAY MAR27 10:00AM

SESSION 5

HOPE THOU IN GOD Presenters: Annette Taylor-Spence and Carron Bramwell We have questions and sometimes we feel that we should not ask God questions when we experience tragedy or grief. In this session, we will look at how biblical characters had these conversations with God, asking God tough questions, and finding hope in the end. We will see how God responded and learn from these characters’ responses to God when their questions were more than their answers.

PHYSIOLOGY BATTLES OF GRIEF 1. Grief includes our ______________________________, ___________________________ and ________________________________ ___________ well-being. 2. It affects how we ___________________________. The heartbreak of grief can increase ___________________ and the risk of blood clots. 3. Intense grief can alter the heart muscle so much that it causes __________ __________ _________ a form of heart disease with the same symptoms as a heart attack.

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4. It batters the immune system, leaving you _____________________ and ____________________ to infection. (Jeremiah 17:14 Lord, heal me and I will be completely well; rescue me and I will be perfectly safe. You are the one I praise!)

SLEEP PROBLEMS 1. Grief can keep you from getting the regular sleep your ______________________ and _____________________ need. 2. You might have trouble going to sleep, or you might _____________ __________ often in the night or even _______________ _______________ _____________. Good sleep habits can help. 3. Wind down slowly before bed with something calm like a _______________, a ____________, or ______________ _____________, and go to bed and wake up at the same time each day. (Proverbs 3:24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.)

FATIGUE 1. The emotional toll of grief can drain your _________________________. 2. To keep up your _______________________, be sure to eat enough, even if you don’t feel like it. 3. Exercise -- something as simple as a short walk can really help. 4. It’s also good to stay _________________________ with family and friends. 5. A _____________________ professional, church attending and/or a support group may be able to give you a sense of _________________________, along

(Matthew 11:28-29 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.)

CORTISOL

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with tools to help you through your grief.

1. Cortisol is sometimes called the “_______________ ______________,” and your body may release more of it than usual into your _______________________ in the 6 months after the loss of a loved one. 2. High levels of _____________________ over a long period can raise your chances of heart disease or high blood pressure. (Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.)

PHYSICAL HEALING VS EMOTIONAL HEALING 1. Physical pain is easier to ease than the pains of the __________________. 2. With our physical bodies, it is never an issue to tell where the ________________ is exactly throbbing. But a human soul may feel the __________________ _______________ and still wouldn’t know where it is particularly aching. 3. These truths are enough to make us _____________________. 4. It takes intentional mending to heal our ___________________ from the

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_________________ of our grief, past, broken relationships, emotional mayhems, and traumatic experiences. 5. When there is no easy way to deal with various __________________________ around us, it is crucial to remain anchored on scriptures; God, He is the _________________________ and ______________________________ of the soul. Seek a Christian Therapist and begin your new journey of healing.

“ A physical wound may last for months but it will heal as time passes. The wounds of the soul on the other hand cannot heal on its own regardless of how many years pass.”

Camp Erin Children’s Grief Support 2900 W Cypress Creek Road, Suite 7 Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 Office 954-944-2709 | Fax 954-944-2697 E-mail: gsantayana@catholichospice.org Website http://www.camperinsouthflorida.org/

Catholic Hospice, Inc. Inpatient Care, Bereavement & Counseling Service Gian Carla Santayana, MS, NCC, Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern 2900 W Cypress Creek Road, Suite 7 | Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 Office 954-944-2709 | Phone 786-920-2991 | Fax 954-944-2697 E-mail gsantayana@catholichospice.org

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCE PAGE

Center for Advancement Restoration & Empowerment Individual and Group Therapy (Including Grief support) Spiritual support through Pentecostal Tabernacle Int’l 631 NW 183rd Street, FL 33169 Phone: 305-917-0376 • Fax: 305-989-3820 Email: info@careinconline.org Website: careinconline.org

Children’s Bereavement Center Children & Families Grief Support & Counseling 7600 S Red Road • Suite 307 South Miami, FL 3343 Phone: 305-668-4902 Website: www.childrenbereavement.org 13

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCE PAGE

Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention Suicide Prevention Support & Groups Mental Health America of Southeast Florida 7145 West Oakland Park Blvd Lauderhill, FL 33313-1012 Phone: 954-746-2055 • Fax: 954-746-6373 Email: info@mhasefl.org Website: https://mhasefl.org/florida-initiative-for-suicide-prevention/

Janel’s Nurses Registry Home Health Care Service & Supply 860 NW 183rd St, Miami Gardens, FL Phone: 305-653-0387 Website: http://janelsnursesregistry.com/

Love Carefronting, LLC Conflict Resolution, Bereavement & Grief Support Communications Skills Training Phone: 954-439-5615 Email:lovecarefronting@gmail.com

Mental Health of America Crisis Hotline Call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to reach a 24-hour crisis center Text MHA to 741741 to reach a trained Crisis Counselor 24/7.

Oasis Serenity Center Virtual Individual Therapy Dr. Lou v. Gholson, PhD – Christian Counselor & Therapist Atlanta, GA 30297 Phone: 770-371-6052 Email: counselinghope1@gmail.com Website: https://webtestview.com/gholson

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Disaster Distress Helpline Call 1-800-985-5990 Text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 at the. Trained crisis workers will listen to you and direct you to the resources you need.

Innovative Community Outreach Mental Health Therapy Dr. Ronie Gomes 13227 Northwest 7th Avenue, North Miami, FL 33169 Phone: 786-277-2552 Website: innovativecommunityoutreach.org

PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCE PAGE

Minding HART Mental Health, Faith-based Coach, Workshops & Training Phone: 954-952-2403 Email: sheepmentality21@gmail.com Website: https://mindinghart.company.site/

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“EMPOWERING PEOPLE TO CARE FOR THEMSELVES”

631 NW 183rd Street Miami Gardens, FL 33169 Tel 305.917.0376 Fax 305.651.9627

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In Search of the Silver Lining

Please complete the evaluation form of our conference by scanning the QR code to your right. If you are unable to use the code, please collect an evaluation for at CARE’s information table.