Rhode Island’s Response to the Opioid Crisis | 1.5 CEUs

Thursday, December 7 @ 12:00 - 1:30pm EST

Speaker: Ryan Loiselle, LICSW

Virtual on Zoom

This presentation will give an overview of FRIENDS WAY and a specific population that we are seeing an increase in: deaths due to suicide, overdose and/or addiction related deaths. Practical tools and exercises will be discussed, as well as identifying biases and stigmas amongst marginalized populations.

• Identify specific needs, unique to those families who have experienced a death, due to opioids and addictions.

• Identify at least 3 grief specific expressive arts activities that aid in expression of feelings.

• Identify common biases towards a stigma related death and how this affects the ability to facilitate.

NASW member FREE & non-members $35

Webinar Zoom Meeting link and course evaluation form details will be emailed a day before the webinar.

Sponsored by NASW-RI; CEUs approved by NASW-MA.

Speaker: Ryan Loiselle, LICSW has been the program director for FRIENDS WAY since September 2011. In his role, Ryan manages the day-to-day operations including intake, referrals, trainings, community outreach, as well as supervising the volunteer facilitators. In 2001, he began his tenure at FRIENDS WAY as a volunteer group facilitator. Prior to joining FRIENDS WAY, he worked at Merrimack Valley Hospice with a concentration in pediatric palliative care and children’s bereavement. Ryan studied at the University of Rhode Island and received his degree in Human Development and Family Studies, with a minor in Thanatology (the study of death, loss, grief, and bereavement). He went on to Simmons College in Boston, MA and received his master’s in social work.

Additionally, he has presented at several conferences for NASW (National Association of Social Workers) and for NACG (National Alliance for Children’s Grief) on children's bereavement. Ryan joined the board of directors for the NACG in January 2022. He started RI Grief Counseling in July 2020 and has been involved in grief camps since 2003.