OKLAHOMA CITY – On January 16, 2026, at 9 a.m, Calm Waters will host a free grief training for mental health professionals, nonprofit organizations, educators and community members who seek to become better equipped to support grieving individuals in both professional and personal settings.

Calm Waters has been selected as one of 11 national recipients of a $10,000 grant through the Grief Reach Community Education Event program, a partnership between the New York Life Foundation and the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG).

This initiative is part of the broader Grief Reach program, which awarded grants to organizations across 10 states in 2025 to expand grief education in both urban and rural communities. Events funded by the latest set of grants are expected to engage more than 1,700 professionals and indirectly up to 22,000 children and families nationwide.

“At Calm Waters, our mission is to ensure that no one has to walk through grief alone,” said Trisha Koelsch, Chief Executive Officer of Calm Waters. “This training is an opportunity to empower our community with the confidence and compassion needed to support grieving families. Thanks to this grant, we can broaden our reach and equip even more professionals with the skills to make a meaningful difference.”

“Grief Reach empowers professionals with the knowledge and tools to truly meet grieving children where they are,” said Maria Collins, vice president, Corporate Responsibility at the New York Life Foundation. “This year’s grantees are creating meaningful change, bringing grief education into schools, communities and care settings where it can make a lasting impact.”

In the training, Calm Waters will teach the basics of language, techniques, and best practices for interacting with children and adults who have experienced grief or significant loss events. The three-hour training will provide participants with practical, evidence-based strategies for identifying and addressing grief, equipping them to support children and adults in ways that promote resilience and healing. This training will provide free continuing education units (CEUs) thanks to the support from the New York Life Foundation, for social workers, Licensed Professional Counselors, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists.

The free training will take place from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Calm Waters Center, located at 501 N Walker Ave, Suite 140, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.