Challenging Conversations with Caregivers as Part of Craniofacial Team Care

Date/Time: Tuesday, October 7th at 3:00 – 4:00 pm ET

Speakers:
Alexis Johns, PhD, ABPP
Meredith Albert, PhD
Laura Garcia, MSW, LCSW
Patricia Marik, PsyD

Description: Effective communication with caregivers is an essential part of craniofacial team care. This webinar will address strategies for navigating sensitive conversations with families facing psychosocial challenges that can affect treatment outcomes. Presenters will provide a brief overview of the literature, introduce simple scripts that can be used by all team members, and explore approaches for discussing topics such as caregiver mental health, safety in the home, school issues, surgical decision-making, and disappointment in treatment outcomes.

Learning Objectives:
At the completion of this activity, learners will be able to:

  • Identify three common psychosocial challenges that may arise in conversations with caregivers of children with craniofacial conditions.
  • Apply at least two sample scripts to facilitate discussion of sensitive topics with families.
  • List three national resources available to support families experiencing psychosocial challenges.

Learning Outcomes:
At the completion of this activity, learners will be able to:

  • Self-assess a gain in knowledge related to strategies for addressing challenging conversations with caregivers in craniofacial team care.
  • Self-assess that they will improve their performance in their clinical practice based on knowledge gained.
  • Self-assess that they anticipate improved patient outcomes based on changes in their performance.

Teaching Methods: Lecture, Role Play, Discussion

Live attendees must claim credit by November 11, 2025.

 

Intended Learners
All healthcare professionals caring for people with cleft and craniofacial conditions, to include but not limited to:
Physicians
Dental Professionals
Speech Language Pathologists
Audiologists
Nurses (RNs, APNs, LPNs)
Dieticians
Psychologists
Social Workers
Physician Assistants

Accredited Continuing Education
ACPA is accredited by ACCME and ANCC, approved by ASHA, and recognized by ADA CERP, to provide accredited continuing education to physicians, nurses, SLPs, audiologists, and dentists.

Continuing Medical Education

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association designates this live activity for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Nursing Continuing Professional Development

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

This live educational activity is offered for 1.00 Nursing Continuing Professional Development (NCPD) contact hour.

In order to receive credit, learners must:

  • Attend 80% or more of the webinar
  • Complete and submit the evaluation form

American Nurses Credentialing Center

Continuing Dental Education

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association designates this live activity for 1.00 continuing education credit.

Concerns or complaints about a CE provider may be directed to the provider or to the Commission for Continuing Education Provider Recognition at CCEPR.ADA.org.

 

Continuing Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology Education

The American Cleft Palate Craniofacial Association (ACPA) is approved by the Continuing Education Board of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to provide continuing education activities in speech-language pathology and audiology.

ASHA CE Provider Approval and use of the Brand Block does not imply endorsement of course content, specific products, or clinical procedures.

 

DISCLOSURES

All financial relationships have been mitigated.

Commercial Support: None

No Financial or Non-financial Relationships Declared

Speakers:
Alexis Johns, PhD, ABPP
Meredith Albert, PhD
Laura Garcia, MSW, LCSW
Patricia Marik, PsyD

Planning Committee Members:
Joy Baltz, BSN, RN
Joli C. Chou, DMD, MD
Paul Deitrick, MD
Catharine B. Garland, MD
Jordan N. Halsey, MD
Noel Jabbour, MD
Aditi Kanth, MD
Serena Kassam, DMD
Margaret M. Lico, MS, CCC-SLP, CLC
Leanne Magee, PhD
Judy Marciel, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, PCNS, CWCN, APN (Nurse Planner)
Dianna Metzler, BS
Jessica Ogawa, MD
Kathryn Preston, DDS, MS
Caitlyn Reinauer, BS
Amanda M. Smith, RN, BSN, CPN
Cleo J. Yi, DMD, MDS

No Financial Relationships Declared. Non-financial Relationship Declared with Eligible Organization.

Planning Committee Member:
Chelsea Sommer, PhD, CCC-SLP — Smile Train – Independent Contractor

Financial Relationship with Ineligible Company Declared; Relationship Not Topically Related to Presentation. No Non-financial Relationships Declared. All Financial Relationships Have Been Mitigated.

Planning Committee Member:
Cory M. Resnick, MD — AbbVie Pharmaceuticals – Consultant

 

This webinar is supported by EduCleft through the Dawson Family Fund for Cleft and Craniofacial Education, Research and Innovation.