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Volunteer Training

Welcome to Calm Waters' Volunteer Training Curriculum

Each Calm Waters volunteer will attend one in-person training session at the Center to learn how to facilitate a support group, and participate in the below training curriculum to gain an understanding of how Calm Waters provides support during each person’s grief journey.

Thank you so much for donating our time to help children and families in their grief journey caused by death, divorce or other significant loss. For more information, please contact our program director, Heather Warfield at Heather@calmwaters.org or by calling Calm Waters at 405-841-4800.

STEP 1

Complete the Volunteer Application Form

If you are interested in becoming a support group facilitator, please complete the volunteer application found here. An interview, two references and an OSBI background check are required.

Co-facilitating a Calm Waters grief or divorce support group is an immensely rewarding experience that can foster healing change in the lives of others. Our support group facilitators work with children ages 3-18 years of age and their guardians. An in-house clinician remains on-site during all support group sessions. Training is required before a potential Support Group Facilitator may begin leading support groups. f you would like more information about this specialized volunteer role, call 405-841-4800.

STEP 2

Attend the In-Person or Virtual Training

Calm Waters provides FREE co-facilitator training for new volunteers on the second Friday of each month from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. To confirm your attendance, please complete the Community Grief Training Registration Form. For questions and more information about volunteer training, please reach out to our Program Director, Hannah Showalter, LMSW, Hannah@calmwaters.org, 405-841-4800.

STEP 3

Read this White Paper & Take the Quiz

Please Read: After a Loved One Dies: How children grieve and how parents and other adults can support them

Once you finish the reading, please click the button above to complete the quiz.

This white paper from New York Life, a Calm Waters partner, reviews how children grieve and how parents and other caring adults can help them understand death better. It offers suggestions for helping children cope.

STEP 4

Read this Article and Take the Quiz

Please Read: Supporting Children and Teens after a Suicide Death

Once you finish the reading, please click the button above to complete the quiz.

This four-page article from The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children and Families, in Oregon, discusses how to support children after a suicide death.

Explaining suicide death to a child or teen can feel overwhelming and intimidating. As adults, we often want to protect them from the stigma and shame that can accompany such a death. Here are some tips for talking with children and teens about suicide death and ways to support them in their grief.

STEP 5

Read this Article and Take the Quiz

Please Read: Supporting Children and Teens after a Murder or Violent Death

Once you finish the reading, please click the button above to complete the quiz.

This three-page article from The Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children and Families, in Oregon, discusses how to support children after violent death.

Explaining murder to children and teens can feel overwhelming. Here are some tips to help you talk with and support grieving children and teens after violent death.

STEP 6

Read this White Paper and Take the Quiz

Please Read: Dealing with a Breakup or a Divorce

Once you finish the reading, please click the button above to complete the quiz.

This seven-page article from HelpGuide reports that when a relationship ends, healing can take time. This article contains tips on how to grieve the loss and start to move on. A breakup or divorce can be one of the most stressful and emotional experiences in life. Whatever the reason for the split—and whether you wanted it or not—the breakup of a relationship can turn your whole world upside down and trigger all sorts of painful and unsettling emotions.

STEP 7

Read this Article and Take the Quiz

Please Read: Divorce Matters: Coping with Stress and Change

Once you finish the reading, please click the button above to complete the quiz.

This four-page article from Iowa State University discusses how martial separation and divorce can be two of the most difficult events in an adult’s life. Much stress comes from THREE sources: Restructured Family Life, Loss, and Change.

Play Video

STEP 8

Watch this Video and Take the Quiz

Please watch this video about Supporting the Grieving Child Once you finish the video, please click the button above to complete the quiz.