Support

Family and Community Support
Losing a child is one of the most traumatic events that a parent can experience. It is especially difficult when the death is sudden and unexpected. The death of a baby impacts so many, including siblings, grandparents, extended family, friends and of course, caregivers who were watching the baby at the time of death.

The Georgia Sudden Infant Death Support, Information and Referral Project (called the Georgia SIDS Project) makes the following services available to families who have experienced an infant death:

Initial Bereavement Packet
The Georgia Division of Public Health, through partial funding of the Georgia SIDS Project makes possible a letter and complimentary packet of information on SIDS, or other infant death, grief and support resources to be sent to a family and/or child care provider. The packet typically includes:

Peer Contact Program
Peer contacts are parents, grandparents or child care providers who have also experienced and survived the death of a baby. They have received training on how to assist the newly bereaved and are available to help with the roller coaster of emotions that are common for new parents, families and providers. Peer contacts provide phone support and can sometimes meet in person, geography permitting.

For more information, please contact us.

Grandparent Support
Every new parent needs help and reassurance - and their baby's grandparents (or other family elders) are usually the first people that they turn to. From the day a baby arrives home, grandparents and trusted elders play are enormously influential in how parents decide to raise and care for their children. That's why it is important to educate grandparents about how doctors' recommendations for infant sleep have changed. "Safe Sleep for My Grandbaby" was developed by the Infant Mortality Risk Reduction work team of the National SIDS and Infant Death Program Support Center. They answer grandparents' questions about SIDS, infant sleep position, and safe sleep surroundings.

When a SIDS or an infant death occurs the effects on the grandparents are also devastating. They are asked to both support their child and mourn their grandchild. Special support opportunities are available for grandparents as they struggle to meet the many demands these tragic deaths cause. The AGAST (Alliance of Grandparents, A Support in Tragedy) can be an important source of support. The Georgia SIDS project also has grandparent peer contact support and support literature.

For more information, please contact us.

Internet Support
Web-based information on research updates, professional and volunteer training, bereavement support, bereavement resources and links to other SIDS related websites. A chart of available resources can be found with links to some of these sites.

Emergency Phone Support
A 24-hour a day toll free hotline staffed by a licensed Bereavement Specialist is available through First Candle / National SIDS Alliance. Call 1-800-221-7437.

Follow-Up Support
Follow-up letters or phone calls offering peer contacts, additional written/web resources and regular mailings are available. Ongoing bereavement support is available upon request. Often information is sought months and even years after the death of a child, as decisions about continued childbearing are being made, or additional loss brings old grief to the surface.

For more information, please contact us.

Grief Support Groups
Grief support groups are meetings where people who have experienced the death of a family member can talk about their experience with a group of people who have also experienced a loss. Often, members describe the support group as a "safe place" where people can tell their stories as often as they need to, knowing those stories will be respected and held in the strictest confidence. A support group is not therapy. It is a healing activity for many but not intended to cure long-standing issues. It is not a social network although many friendships may form. The main purpose is a "safe place" to express feelings and thoughts. Support programs across the state.

Grief Workshops
Two different workshops focused on grief are available. The first is available to individuals to help them cope with loss and grief in their lives and learn new strategies to handle these feelings. The second workshop sponsored by DHR, and given by Georgia SIDS Project staff are designed for nurses, social workers, clergy, coroners, emergency services providers and child care providers help to any group who wishes to learn how to better support those who experience a SIDS or other infant death. It is an overview of the unique nature of SIDS and grief surrounding the death of a baby. To learn more about these workshop opportunities, click here.

Memorials
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome may claim tiny lives, but it is no small matter. The SIDS Alliance has created a Tree of Hope as a lasting memorial to the young victims of SIDS. This permanent tribute to the thousands of babies who have died of SIDS represents our loss and our love in a way that nothing else can.

In Georgia, we hope to start a memorial as well. Contact the Georgia SIDS Projects to discover opportunities to create a permanent memorial of hope. Join us and help each baby survive and thrive. Previous memory projects include the Memory Quilt, created by family members of babies lost to SIDS.

For more information, please contact us.

Georgia SIDS Project Volunteer Interest Survey
The Sudden Infant Death Information, Support and Referral Project is always in need of volunteers. If you are interested in helping us reduce the impact of SIDS in Georgia, please fill out this survey and mail or fax it to us. Someone from the SID Project will contact you and provide you with the information to become connected with others who share your same desire to participate in this worthy endeavor.

KidzBookz: Resources for Children
The Georgia SIDS/OID Project / Public Health Partnership has a special program called KidzBookz. The literature has been reviewed to find age-appropriate children's books which are helpful for grieving SIDS siblings. An age-appropriate book is given to SIDS siblings in referred families.

For more information, please contact us.

M.I.S.S.ING Angels
The MISS Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to providing all types of support to parents after the death of their baby; stillborn, neonatal death, premature birth, congenital anomalies, SIDS and any child death. They offer an online newsletter called MISSing Angels, a photo gallery, a memorial quilt and information on support groups on their website.