A Culturally Informed Response to Grief and Loss (CIRGL): A Single Case Study of Anti-Racist and Culturally Responsive Program Development and Evaluation

Authors

• Leticia Villarreal Sosa, The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyFollow
• Mostafa Adel Hanafy, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Rodney Hopson, Inter American University of Puerto Rico - Arecibo
• Susanna Bohun, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

4-7-2026

Abstract

This paper provides a case study analysis of the Culturally Informed Responses to Grief and Loss (CIRGL) Professional Development Program, which equips school-based social workers and other professionals with skills and critical consciousness to support minoritized students in navigating grief and loss. By detailing the CIRGL program’s development, implementation, and culturally responsive evaluation (CRE), the paper outlines the process for developing anti-racist and culturally responsive approaches in social work. The case study draws on the evaluation data including quantitative surveys of participants at the start and near the end of the program, qualitative interviews with a sample of participants near the end of the program, and the critical reflexivity of the developers and evaluators throughout the process. Overall, participants met the learning goals of the program and experienced the content as relevant and meaningful. Most participants also stated they felt confident applying the content in their work settings. The paper concludes by discussing the implications for anti-racist program development in school social work, highlighting shared values, strategies for addressing White fragility, and the importance of grounding the work in anti-oppressive practices. This case study demonstrates both the feasibility of such professional development programs and the need for such professional development opportunities.

Comments

Copyright (c) 2026 Leticia Villarreal Sosa, Mostafa Adel Hanafy, Rodney Hopson, Susanna Bohun

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Sosa, L. V., Hanafy, M. A., Hopson, R., & Bohun, S. (2025). A Culturally Informed Response to Grief and Loss (CIRGL): A Single Case Study of Anti-Racist and Culturally Responsive Program Development and Evaluation. Advances in Social Work, 25(3), 751-774. https://doi.org/10.18060/28420

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Title

Advances in Social Work

DOI

10.18060/28420