BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
INFANT DEATH - STATE OF GEORGIA
January 2004

Click here for National support resources

STATE RESOURCES BY REGION

STATE-WIDE

Information/Support :

• SIDS/OID Information & Counseling Program
• Sudden Infant Death Information, Support & Referral Project
• Compassionate Friends

Counseling:

• Verdery Counseling Service

ATLANTA / NORTH GEORGIA

Support:

• Share Atlanta
• HOPE - Gainesville
• HOPE - Marietta
• Front Porch Atlanta
• Hillcrest Church of Christ
• Compassionate Friends

Counseling:

• The Link Counseling Center
• Family Counseling - Athens
• Mental Health Clinics

Crisis Intervention
Crisis Intervention Centers

MACON / CENTRAL GEORGIA

Support

• First Christian Church of Perry
• Resolve Through Sharing
• Silent Footsteps
• Compassionate Friends Chapters

Counseling

• Family Therapy Center
• Christian Counseling Services

Crisis Intervention

• HELPLINE

AUGUSTA / SAVANNAH / SOUTH GEORGIA

Support

• Bereaved Parents of the USA
• Compassionate Friends Chapters
• Parents Healing Together
• Angels Touch Ministry
• MISS Foundation Support Group
• Medical College of Georgia Family Support

Counseling

• Family Counseling of Central Savannah River

STATE-WIDE

SIDS/OID Information, Support & Referral Program

Georgia Division of Public Health
2 Peachtree St NW - 11 th Floor
Atlanta , GA 30303
404-651-7371
www.health.state.ga.us/programs/sids (check your newest location)

The Georgia SIDS/OID Information and Support Program educates professionals and the general public, especially pregnant women and families of newborns, about reducing the risk of SIDS through early prenatal care, prenatal smoking cessation and smoke-free environment, breast-feeding, use of firm bedding materials and positioning infants on their backs when sleeping.

Georgia Sudden Infant Death Information, Support and Referral Project

3562 Habersham @ Northlake
Building J, Suite 3
Tucker, Georgia 30084
678-342-3360 or through Powerline 1-800-822-2539
email: gasids@mindspring.com
www.sidsga.org

This group provides new parents and infant caretakers with specific health information about how to reduce the risk of infant death. They link families who experience the death of a baby with community resources, peer contact support and bereavement support resources. Staff also educates professionals and the public about how to reduce the risk of infant death and best practices surrounding infant care.

P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook , IL 60522
877-969-0010
www.compassionatefriends.org

Kathy Malone, Coordinator Georgia Chapters
Georgia website: www.tcfatlanta.org

Compassionate Friends is a national mutual support group designed to assist families in the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child. Online resources include articles, reflections, memorials, newsletters, suggested readings, event calendars and meeting info. Monthly meetings occur in a wide variety of locations. There are over 600 chapters across the US and over a dozen in Georgia .

The following Georgia chapters hold regular support groups for families who have lost children:

Compassionate Friends Chapters

Tucker Chapter - 7:30 PM on the second Tuesday of every month
Concurrent sibling group for ages 12 and up
First Christian Church of Atlanta
4532 LaVista Road - Tucker
Betty Mears 404-633-3326
Jayne Newton 770-923-5356
Susan Carithers 770-474-6423

Sandy Springs Chapter - 7:15 PM on the fourth Wednesday of every month
Link Counseling Center
348 Mt Vernon Highway - Sandy Springs

Muriel Littman 404-603-9942
Jonesboro Chapter - 7:30 PM on the first Monday of every month
Poston Road Baptish Church
9701 Poston Road - Jonesboro
Susan Carithers 770-474-6423
Joy Jobe 770-478-9709

Southwest Atlanta Chapter - 7:30 PM on the first Thursday of every month
Ben Hill United Methodist Church
2099 Fairburn Road - SW Atlanta
Jackie McLoyd 404-346-4217

Lawrenceville Chapter - 7:30 PM on the third Thursday of every month
First Baptist Church of Lawrenceville
165 Clayton Street - Lawrenceville
Meg Avery 770-932-5862

Athens Chapter ( Northeast Georgia ) - 7:30 PM on the second Monday of each month
Holy Cross Lutheran Church
800 West Lake Drive (ext of Alps Rd ) - Athens
Johnnie Sue Moore 706-769-6256

Gainesville Chapter ( North Georgia ) - 7:30 PM on the second Thursday of every month
First United Methodist Church
2780 Thompson Bridge Road
Becky Sharpe 770-287-1235

Marietta Chapter - 7 PM on the first Tuesday of every month
Fellowship Hall - Marietta First Baptist Church
148 Church St - Marietta
Susan Van Vleck 770-499-9770

Alternate / Additional meetings on the third Tuesday of every month :
Dianne Brissey 770-919-1978 1676 Valor Bridge Dr. Kennasaw

Rome Chapter - 7 PM on the second Tuesday of every month
West Rome Baptist Church
#7 Lawton Street - Rome
Sandra Stinson 706-235-6108
Ginger Miles 706-291-0355

Compassionate Friends Chapters:

Dalton Chapter - 7 PM on the third Thursday of every month
Evangelical Methodist Church
1035 Abutment Rd - Dalton
Dawn Sissons 706-277-3312

Blue-Fannin County Chapter - 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Family Resource Center
71 Porter Street - Blue Ridge
Lori Kleinosky 706-374-2357
e-mail: lkleinosky@direcway.com

Thomasville Chapter - 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Jameson Inn - Breakfast Room
1670 Remington Ave - Thomasville
Call 229-227-9500

Columbia County Chapter - 7:30 PM on the third Monday of every month
Marvin United Methodist Church
4400 Wheeler Rd - Martinez 30207
Priscilla Bence 706-650-8355

Satilla River Chapter - 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Brantley County Library
Highway 82 - Nahunta
Elaine Richardson 912-462-5966

Middle Georgia Chapter - 7 PM on the 4 th Thursday of every month *
The Pavilion (old Houston Mall)
Watson Boulevard - Warner Robbins
Freddy Nichols 478-923-1584
* except for November which is 3 rd Thurs and
December which is special candlelight memorial

Columbus Tri-County Chapter
706-569-8400

Savannah Chapter

evenings
919-925-9549

Daytime:
Emmanual County Chapter
Swainesboro
912-763-3877

Tifton Chapter

912-386-2229

Valdosta Chapter

912-242-0402

RAINBOWS

Georgia Office
1240 Johnson Ferry Pl #A50
Marietta , GA 30068
www.rainbows.org

Non-profit international organization offering grief support services and training for established grief support groups in schools, churches, synagogues, hospitals or social service organizations. Programs available for children, adolescents and adults. Over 200 program sites in Georgia . Call for listing.

Verdery Counseling Service - Georgia Baptist Health Care System
100 Tenth St . NW - 8 th Floor Atlanta , GA 30309
404-253-3253

The Georgia Baptist Health Care System operates 27 counseling centers in Georgia . Trained counselors are available by appointment to provide grief counseling and support. Fees vary; some locations offer sliding scales.

The location phone numbers are:

ATLANTA / NORTH GEORGIA

Share Atlanta, Inc.
PMB 212
9925 Haynes Bridge Rd Ste 200-212
Alpharetta , GA 30022
Phone 770-928-9603
www.shareatlanta.org (see earlier listings)

Share Atlanta is a non-profit organization dealing with pregnancy and newborn loss. It is organized by volunteers who are healed bereaved parents. Share Atlanta runs group support meetings dealing with subsequent pregnancy as well as grief. They offer memorials, grief information, outreach and inservice programs. Their focus is on loss during pregnancy, stillborns and infants who never leave the hospital though they welcome SIDS parents.

Support group meets the third Thursday of even-numbered months at 7:30 PM in the Essentially for Women Building across from the Medical Center .

Support groups meets the first Tuesday of every month at the First Baptist Church of Marietta. Meetings are in conjunction with Compassionate Friends and there is a breakout group for infant loss.

The Front Porch of Atlanta provides a safe and supportive environment that promotes healing for children who have experienced the death of a loved one. Grief support groups are offered to children and their families at no charge. The sibling group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month in Brookhaven. While children participate in meetings, adults gather separately for support. Call the Program Director to set up an intake meeting.

Hillcrest Church of Christ
1939 Snapfinger Rd
Decatur , GA 30035
404-289-4573
www.hillcrestchurchofchrist .

Hillcrest Church of Christ offers bereavement counseling and runs grief support sessions 2-3 times per year. A 6-week session on Monday evenings begins September 9.

The Link Counseling Center
348 Mount Vernon Hwy NE
Atlanta , GA 30328
404-256-9797 Cobb Co #: 770-541-1114
www.thelink.org

The Link is a national resource for suicide prevention and aftercare. It is a non-profit counseling center which provides affordable, confidential short and long term psychotherapy as well as support groups and educational programs. Programs are available for children in crisis and grief. There are two main offices in the Atlanta area, one in Atlanta and one in Cobb County . Support groups are organized periodically based on client needs.

Family Counseling Services
1435 Ogelthorpe Ave.
Athens , GA 30606
706-549-7755

Individualized grief counseling is available on a sliding scale fee structure ($30-$80 depending upon family income). Office open Mon thru Fri 9-5 or by appointment.

The following mental health clinics in metro Atlanta provide assessment and referral services on a walk-in basis (with the exception of Central Fulton where it is necessary to go first to Grady Psychiatric (see Crisis Intervention). Sliding scale fee structure is available in Fulton County .

Central Fulton Mental Health Center (Florida Hall)
80 Jessie Hill Dr Atlanta , GA 30303
404-616-4743
Hours: 24 hrs/day, 7 days/week

Northside Mental Health Center
5825 Glenridge Dr Atlanta , GA
404-851-8950
Hours: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri

South Fulton Mental Health Center
1636 Connally Dr , East Point , GA
404-762-4042
Hours: 8:30am-5pm Mon-Fri

South Central Fulton Mental Health Center
215 Lakewood Way , Rm 205 SW Atlanta , GA
404-624-0610

West Fulton Mental Health Center
475 Fairburn Rd SW Atlanta , GA
404-691-9627
Hours: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri

Kirkwood (DeKalb Co) Mental Health Center
23 Warren St, SE Atlanta , GA
404-370-7360
Hours: 8:15am-5pm Mon-Fri

Winn Way Center ( Dekalb County )
445 Winn Way , Decatur , GA
404-508-7700
Hours: 8am-5pm Mon-Fri

North DeKalb Mental Health Center
3807 Clairmont Rd , Chamblee , GA
770-454-1144
Hours: 8:15am-5pm Mon-Fri

Clifton Springs (DeKalb Co) Mental Health Center
3110 Clifton Springs Rd Ste B, Decatur , GA
404-243-9500 Evenings 404-892-4646
Hours: 8:15am-5pm Mon-Fri; crisis intervention 24/7

East DeKalb Mental Health Center
2277 S. Stone Mountain Rd , Lithonia , GA
770-484-2600
Hours: 8:15am-5pm Mon-Fri

Compassionate Friends Chapters

See locations in State-wide section

CRISIS INTERVENTION - METRO ATLANTA

Trained counselors are available at the offices/hours listed below to provide assessment, referral and if necessary, immediate help.

Fulton County Emergency Mental Health Services
141 Pryor St Ste 4039 Atlanta , GA 30303
404-730-1600

Open 7 days/week, 24 hrs/day. Services include hotline for emotional crisis, depression, suicide, abuse, family conflict, mental illness and substance abuse crisis counseling. Crisis intervention visits and evaluations conducted by the mobile crisis team.

Hours 8:15AM-5PM Monday - Friday; Crisis Intervention 24 hrs/ 7 days/week. Trained counselors are available at all times; a mobile crisis team is available within DeKalb County from 3-11 PM if needed.

Grady Hospital Adult Psychiatric Emergency Clinic
80 Jessie Hill Jr Drive, SE Atlanta , 30303
404-616-4762

This emergency clinic operates 24 hours/day, 7 days/week and treats walk-ins. Assessment and referrals available.

MACON / CENTRAL GEORGIA

First Christian Church of Perry
2100 Macon Road
Perry , GA 31069
478-987-5428

Staff at the church provide assistance with grief and are available Monday thru Friday from 9-3. A bereavement support group meets at the church regularly. Call for details.

Cheryl Kish, Support Group Coordinator
tiggkish@yahoo.com

A parent support group dealing with grief over loss meets the third Tuesday of each month in Building C at the Coliseum Medical Center .

Individualized grief counseling is available Monday thru Friday 8:30-5:30 and by appointment. There is a $65 fee. They provide services in the following counties: Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Hancock, Houston , Monroe , Peach, Putnam, Twiggs , Washington and Wilkinson.

This center is operated by the Mercer School of Medicine on a sliding scale fee structure. The office is open Wednesday and Thursday from 11 AM - 7 PM. Serves all of middle Georgia .

HELPLINE - 706-327-9999
Crisis Intervention HotLine
United Way of the Chattahoochee Valley
1100 - 5 th Ave
Columbus , GA 31901
706-327-3255

Silent Footprints Support Group

Volunteer Services Suite, The Medical Center
710 Center Street ,
Columbus , Georgia 31901
Call 571-1103

Compassionate Friends Chapters

Thomasville Chapter – 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Jameson Inn – Breakfast Room
1670 Remington Ave – Thomasville
229-227-9500

Satilla River Chapter - 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Brantley County Library
Highway 82 - Nahunta
Elaine Richardson 912-462-5966

Middle Georgia Chapter - 7 PM on the 4 th Thursday of every month *
The Pavilion (old Houston Mall)
Watson Boulevard - Warner Robbins
Freddy Nichols * except for November which is 3 rd Thurs and
478-923-1584 December which is special candlelight memorial

Columbus Tri-County Chapter
706-569-8400

AUGUSTA / SAVANNAH / SOUTH GEORGIA

Bereaved Parents of the USA
Central Savannah River Area Chapter - Augusta
Christa Haitiwanger, DM
27 Converse Drive , Aiken , SC 29803
(803) 648-4587
www.bereavedparentsusa.org

Bereaved Parents of the USA aids and supports bereaved families who are struggling to survive their grief after the death of a child. The Georgia chapter is located in Augusta . Meetings are held the first Thursday of every month at the Millbrook Baptish Church in Aiken, S.C., the second Thursday at the Shepard's Corner (behind Baptist Church) at 253 Jackson St. in Thomson, GA and the third Thursday at the Aldersgate United Methodist Church at 3185 Wheeler Rd in Augusta, GA. Meetings begin at 7:30 PM.

A support group for parents who have experienced pregnancy, stillborn, neonatal or SIDS loss meets the first Monday of each month at 7PM in the hospital cafeteria.

A support group for parents who've suffered prenatal, neonatal, infant or child loss meets the second Thursday of each month at 7 PM at the church. Currently, a sibling group meets concurrently.

MISS Foundation - Georgia
Ricky Wildes, Program Contact
Douglas , GA 31534
912-384-1900
www.missfoundation.org

The MISS Foundation is a national non-profit group which provides online newsletters, stories, suportive information and memorials for anyone grieving the death of an infant or toddler. The Georgia support group meets the third Monday of each month at 7 PM in the Coffee Regional Medical Center in Douglas .

Medical College of Georgia -Children's Medical Center
1916 North Leg Road , Augusta , GA 30909
Teasa Sheridan, Family Support Coordinator
706-721-2929

Individual and group support is available through the Coordinator and Medical Center chaplains.

Clinical social workers are available to provide grief counseling to individuals and families regardless of ability to pay.

Compassionate Friends Chapters
Satilla River Chapter - 7 PM on the second Thursday of every month
Brantley County Library
Highway 82 - Nahunta
Elaine Richardson 912-462-5966

Savannah Chapter

evenings:
919-925-9549 Evenings
919-925-5196 Daytime

Emmanual County Chapter
Swainesboro 912-763-3877

Tifton Chapter

912-386-2229

Valdosta Chapter

912-242-0402