Meeting/Event Information

Join us for a our Spring Webinar Series:

Culturally Informed Response to Grief and Loss (CIRGL):  Fostering Collective Healing in Schools

Thursday April 9th, 2026

1:00 - 2:30 pm

Leticia Villarreal Sosa, PhD, LCSW, PEL SSW

University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

This workshop introduces educators to a culturally responsive and anti-oppressive framework for supporting students, families, and staff experiencing grief and loss. Participants will explore how collective forms of care and community strengths shape healing and learn practical strategies for responding in ways that consider the larger social context and its impact on children and youth. Through interactive activities and case examples, attendees will build skills for creating inclusive, healing-centered school environments that honor diverse experiences of grief. The session emphasizes collective healing, relational connection, and culturally sustaining practices that empower school communities to navigate loss together with compassion, resilience, and hope.

1. Understand the concepts related to culturally informed responses to grief and loss. 
2. Understand the ways that the environment can foster healing or suffocate the grief and loss of minoritized youth. 
3. Learn and apply strategies for creating healing-centered spaces that foster collective healing. 

Event Details:

Credits: 1.5 CEH for completion 

Registration costs: 

• WSSWA Member: $25
• WSSWA Student Member: FREE
• Non-Member: $45

Registration closes: Monday April 6th, unless capacity is reached prior to that date. No refunds after April 6th. 

Deadline to request ADA accommodations: Friday April 3rd, 2026

About the Presenter:

Dr. Leticia Villarreal Sosa is Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development and Professor in the School of Social Work at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Her current research focus on utilizing Photovoice with the Muslim/Arab American and Latine communities as a tool for advocacy, a Spencer funded immigrant student equity project, and a project focused on health equity and access in the Rio Grande Valley, TX. Her most recent book, Chicago Latina Trailblazers, focuses on the testimonios of Latinas in who made significant contributions in the areas of health, education, policy, and social services. Dr. Villarreal Sosa was also awarded a three-year grant from New York Life Foundation to develop a culturally informed response to grief and loss certificate for school-based professionals. She has received several honors including the book of the year award for her book, School Social Work: National Perspectives on Practice in the Schools, the best conceptual article published in 2021 in the International Journal of Social Work Education for her de-colonizing and human rights approach to study abroad, the Davlin Diversity Leadership Award in 2022, and the Gary Lee Shaffer award in 2023 for faculty who have made significant contributions to the field of school social work. 

Instructions for Online Registration

1. When you are ready to register, click the red “REGISTER NOW” button. Enter your contact information.
2. Choose your registration type. Members must be logged in to access the member rate. Non-members, click “Continue As Guest” to access registration types.
3. Enter any accommodations needed.
4. Click “ADD.”
5. If you are only registering one individual, scroll down and click “Continue.” If you are registering multiple individuals, click “ADD” on a new ticket and register the next individual. Repeat for all registrations.
6. Review your registration details. If everything is correct, click “CONTINUE.”
7. Follow the prompt to select your payment option.  
   1. To pay by personal credit card, enter credit card and billing details as instructed. 
   2. To pay by school/organization check or credit card,  select “BYPASS PAYMENT.” A receipt will be sent to you, which can be forwarded to your payee. There is a link at the bottom of the receipt that says “Click here to pay” to allow for credit card payments.  You will need to forward this email to your business services office for processing and payment.
   3. To pay by check, select “BYPASS PAYMENT.” A receipt will be sent to you, which can be forwarded to your payee. Checks should be made out to “WSSWA” and sent to: WSSWA - P.O. Box 661, Hartland, WI 53029