Success Story

Mindy McCulley and Amy Kostelic

The pandemic has forced many people to adjust to change. As a result, many people were forced to cope with loss—the loss of routine, jobs, school, developmental milestones, health, independence, and even the loss of friends and family. Recognizing that grief is associated with loss, UK Associate Dean, Laura Stephenson, turned to FCS Extension with her request for a grief webinar series in the Spring 2021. In an effort to arm participants with hope and various tools to acknowledge, validate, and deal with grief, the FCS team, led by Mindy McCully and Amy Kostelic, organized a 7-week webinar series, “Living with Loss: Playing the Hand You are Dealt.” 

The series was introduced by international speaker/educator/therapist, Dr. Ted Bowman. His moving keynote address highlighted healing with hope. The following six online sessions highlighted tips to help people play the hand(s) they have been dealt. Specific topics included: (1) Talking to Kids and Teens and About Loss and Grief with Drs. Kerri Ashurst and David Weisenhorn; (2) Self-Care and Nutrition with Drs. Luecking, Mullins, & Bastin, and Annhall Norris; (3) Creative Outlets for Grief with a panel of speakers, including FCS Specialist Jann Knappage, Extension Area District Director, Mike Meyer, and featured contributor to the Moth Hour Radio Show, Allistair Bane, board certified music therapist Erin Batkiewicz, and licensed marriage and family therapist, Allison Smith; (4) Financial Resiliency with Dr. Nichole Huff; (5) Mental Health: Suicide and Substance Use with Drs. Kerri Ashurst and Alex Elswick, and guest speakers, Dr. Julie Cerel, Holly Bender, and Kristin Martin; and (6) Self-Care and Outdoor Physical Activity with Dr. Natalie Jones.        

Indirectly, the 7-week Living with Loss series reached 16,764 people. Of these, 7,715 watched the webinars on video Facebook posts or YouTube and 9,049 listeners tuned into the Talking FACS podcasts. Specialists recorded six podcast episodes to support the Living with Loss series. 

Directly, the series reached 368 participants who watched/participated live on Zoom and Facebook Live. 

At each session, participants had the opportunity to share thoughts and comments, some of the memorable comments included:

1. You moved me to tears, but gave me hope.
2. Your presentation has changed views.  Thank you for an excellent program.
3. This has been an excellent program.  Big thanks to each of you!  Very well done!!
4. Homemade pound cake gives life!
5. Another excellent segments for this series.  Thank you for the many avenues to grow and heal.
6. Thank you for the excellent information.
7. Thank you for another timely message.

Once the series concluded participants shared they learned: 

1. If you don't care for yourself, you can't care well for others.
2. Every meal should contain foods from at least 3 of the food groups; every snack should contain foods from at least 2 of the food groups
3. When it comes to financial I learned that it is important to plan for items or whatever and to take of my mental health-getting outside, doing something fun!
4. Dr. Bowman talked about how people move through grief at different paces and with different processes. It's OK to grieve your own way.
5. Dealing with the Loss of a loved one is hard on anyone but your attitude and positivity helps yourself and those around you.
6. Being more honest and open with children based on THEIR level of understanding.
7. Somewhere we need to address the blessing our Faith is to us when facing any kind of grief. It is very important. I need to be PRO active when there is hurt....not wait for someone to call me or ask for help. Remember the PERSON and not the death.