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Community Education

Our Community Education programs facilitate constructive conversations in the community about serious illness, caregiving challenges, end-of-life and grief. 

CaringMatters strives to develop community knowledge and skills around serious illness, caregiving challenges, end-of-life and grief-related topics that can be applied to daily life. Our meaningful educational events and discussions help build a caring and compassionate community.

For information on Community Education, please contact

Leigh Bluestein, leighb@caringmatters.org or 301-990-7927

Thank you to our Community Education funding partner!

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Upcoming Webinars & Workshops

FREE WEBINAR
Disaster Preparedness: Simple Steps for Senior Adults, Individuals with Serious Illness, and Caregivers

Wednesday, February 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. ET

Emergencies can happen anytime. Are you ready? Join this webinar to learn practical and easy-to-follow steps to prepare for the unexpected, no matter your age or physical ability. Whether you need to shelter at home or evacuate, we'll guide you through the steps needed to create your personal plan to prepare yourself, your family, and those you care for to face disaster confidently.

In this session, you'll:

  • Discover essential disaster preparedness tips tailored for older adults and caregivers

  • Learn how to create a personalized plan for you and your loved ones

  • Explore a Montgomery County-specific workbook to make planning easier

  • Get access to additional resources for ongoing support and planning

 

Don't wait for an emergency—take action now to ensure you're ready when it matters most.

 

Speaker: Ed Hagarty, D.Sc., PE, CFM – CaringMatters Volunteer, Retired George Washington University Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and Federal Emergency Management Agency consultant​​​

In-Person Workshop

Disaster Preparedness: Get to Work!

Thursday, March 6, 2025, 10:00 a.m. ET
CaringMatters, 518 S. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877​

Join us for a follow-up to our webinar, where we'll dive deeper into Montgomery County resources and practical steps to create your disaster preparedness plan. Enjoy coffee and refreshments as you receive a free copy of the Montgomery County Emergency Preparedness Workbook, plus a File of Life form and a handy magnet for your refrigerator. This workshop is a stand-alone session. You do not have to attend the webinar in order to attend this workshop.

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Ed Hagarty will lead the workshop with a guest from the Montgomery County Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, providing you with valuable insights and tools to help you and your loved ones be better prepared. Don’t miss this chance to take the next step in your preparedness journey!

In-Person Webcast Event

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​Family Dynamics and Grief: Strategies for Supporting Young People Through Loss

 

Thursday, March 20, 2025, 1:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. ET

CaringMatters, 518 S. Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877

 

Space is limited. Registration required.

Join CaringMatters for the 2025 NACG National Webcast, a three-hour educational event on March 20, designed for professionals, featuring experts in the field of bereavement Dr. Jamie Eaddy, CT®, CTP, and Doneila L. McIntosh, M.Div., M.A., LAMFT.  This webcast will take a systemic approach to understanding grief, focusing on the impact family systems have on children and adolescents navigating loss.

 

NACG has been approved for 3.0 CEs with the ASWB, NBCC, & NYSED. 

 

Three (3) CEs are available for webcast attendees after the event for $45 per person. Attendees must register for CEs in advance and sign in at CaringMatters for the live webcast.

Learning Objectives:

1. Recognize the role of family dynamics and cultural contexts in shaping the grieving process of children and adolescents navigating loss.
 

2. Apply culturally responsive strategies to support grieving youth within their family systems, emphasizing collective healing practices.
 

3. Develop tools for empowering young people to engage with their grief and contribute to healthier family and community relationships.
 

4. Evaluate the impact of family systems on the grieving process, identifying opportunities for culturally attuned interventions.
 

5. Participate in practical exercises that enable grieving youth to build resilience and agency while navigating familial and cultural expectations.

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Speakers:

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Doneila L. McIntosh, M.Div., M.A., LAMFT (she/they) is a 4th year doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota in Family Social Science with an emphasis in Couple and Family Therapy (CFT). Previously, Doneila worked as a hospice chaplain and clergy member for nearly 10 years. Doneila’s research examines the intersections of grief and loss among African American/Black youth and families, particularly in the aftermath of violent death. Doneila is the recipient of the 2023 Ron Keith Barrett Multicultural Presentation Award from the Association for Death Education and Counseling (ADEC). She is also a two-time recipient of the AAMFT Minority Fellowship Program and a recipient of the 2024-25 Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship at the University of Minnesota.

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Dr. Jamie Eaddy, CT, CTP, (she/her) is a public theologian, thanatologist, grief counselor, and activist with over 20 years of experience in transformative education, ministry, and community service. As the founder of Thoughtful Transitions, LLC, and the Director of Counseling Services and Grief Doula at the Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia (AVP), she supports individuals and communities through challenging life transitions, centering on faith, race, gender, grief, and social justice. Dr. Eaddy consults for organizations like the Mayor’s Office for Public Engagement and the Office for Victims of Crime, advancing trauma-informed care and grief support. She teaches future faith leaders at institutions like Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. 

Past Community Education Presentations Include:

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  • Webinar: Mortality in Popular Culture

  • Webinar: Death Cleaning & Decluttering: Why It Matters & How To Do It

  • Webinar: Live Well to Die Well

  • Webinar: Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Extending Compassion and Whole Person Healing

  • Webinar: Cognitive Change: Understanding, Connecting, and Creating Moments of Joy 

  • Webinar - Prepare for the Inevitable: Financial Planning to Prepare for the Death of a Family Member

  • Webinar - Seniors and Social Isolation

  • Webinar - Suffocated Grief and Black Youth Coping with Loss

  • Webinar - How to Support Grieving People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

  • Webinar - Caregiver Stress in Asian American Communities

  • Webinar - Providing Inclusive and Affirming Care for the LGBTQ+ Community

  • Webinar - Caring for the Caregiver

  • Webinar - The End-of-Life Doulas: A Collaborative Approach to End-of-Life Care

  • Webinar - Grief Support for the Black Community: Understanding the Culture of Trauma and Developing an Empathy-Driven Mindset

  • Webinar: Grief: Support for Yourself and Those You Care About

  • Webinar - Grief in the Workplace: Guidance for Employees and Employers

  • Webinar - ​Voice Your Choice: Preparing for Health Care Emergencies

  • Webinar - Speaking Grief Film Discussion

  • Webinar - LGBTQ+ Seriously Ill Seniors: Opportunities for Better Care

  • Webinar - Grief and Self-Care in the Time of COVID-19

  • Webinar - Supporting Grieving Students After a Death: How We Can Help Them Build Resilience in a Time of Physical Distancing

  • Navigating Transitions for Your Loved One's Care

  • Nine To Ninety Film Screening & Discussion

  • Caregivers' Toolkit: Community Resources for Patients & Families Facing Serious Illness

  • Voices of Grief Film Screening & Discussion

  • Managing Grief in the Age of 24-Hour News & Social Media

CaringMatters

518 S. Frederick Ave.

Gaithersburg, MD 20877

301-869-HOPE (4673)
301-990-4909 (fax)

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CaringMatters is a 501(c)(3) non-profi­t organization registered with the State of Maryland, and our EIN is 52-1591455. A copy of our current ­financial statement is available by contacting CaringMatters, Inc. at 518 South Frederick Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 or at 301-869-4673. Documents and information submitted to the State of Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act are available from the Office of the Secretary.

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