Bereavement Support Services

Program staff may:

• Develop and disseminate information on bereavement service availability and facilitate utilization.
• Provide bereavement support services to families affected by the death of an infant or young child including SIDS, miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, termination, stillbirth and neonatal death.
• Provide or foster culturally- and linguistically-appropriate staff, resources, materials and communication for bereavement support.
• Improve the provision of bereavement services to minority and underserved families by supporting the development of new organizational relationships, materials and program models.
• Ensure the quality and expand the availability of in-service training in bereavement support for professionals and paraprofessionals who may interact with families who experience infant death.
• Monitor and evaluate bereavement support services. Services should be provided regardless of gender, race, religion, culture, language, age or sexual orientation.

Developed by the Program Support Center at First Candle with collaborative assistance from the Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Centers.