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Support and Services
SIDS Support Organizations in California
National Bereavement Support Organizations
National Partners
The following is an array of organizations and agencies providing grief and bereavement support, education, information and/or other assistance for those impacted by the tragedy of SIDS or loss of a child before, during or after birth.

SIDS Support Organizations in California

Located throughout California, these non-profit volunteer peer support groups serve those experiencing a SIDS loss and/or other sudden unexpected infant death. Services include grief support groups, individual peer counseling and public education. For meeting locations/times and available bilingual services, contact the local support group directly. Access the links below to download a listing of the groups and communities served.

National Bereavement Support Organizations

This national network of support agencies/organizations provides grief services to local communities including individual and/or group support for SIDS and other infant/child losses. Services vary but may include: crisis support; intervention; bereavement resources; education/outreach programs; peer/professional counseling services; and bilingual support. Refer to the listing below for specific services and local chapter information.

  • Alliance of Grandparents, A Support in Tragedy ( AGAST) An all volunteer organization in conjunction with Mothers In Sympathy and Support (MISS) offering grief support, trauma intervention and resources specifically for grandparents.

    MISS Foundation/AGAST
    Joanne Cacciatore, Founder
    PO Box 5333
    Peoria, AZ 85385-5333
    1-888-455-MISS (6477)
    info@missfoundation.org

  • Compassionate Friends assists families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child and also provides educational resources. There are 37 chapters in California. For a chapter's contact number and meeting information, call or email the national office.

    National Office
    P.O. Box 3696
    Oak Brook, IL 60522-3696
    (630) 990-0010
    (877) 969-0010 (toll-free)
    Fax (630) 990-0246
    Email: nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org

    California Chapters
    Anaheim*, Bakersfield, Brentwood/West Los Angeles, Camarillo, Chino, Davis, Eureka, Fort Bragg, Garberville, Glendale*, Irvine, Jackson, Joshua Tree, Lancaster, Lodi, Los Angeles/Beverly Hills*, Monterey, Nevada City, Oakland, Palo Alto/Burlingame, Palos Verdes Estates, Petaluma, Redlands, Ridgecrest, Riverside*, Sacramento, San Diego*, San Rafael, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita/Saugus, Santa Maria, Tracy, Vacaville*, Victorville*, Walnut Creek, Woodland Hills, Yreka, and Yuba City*. (Note: Those cities with an asterisk * offer Spanish Speaking Support)

  • Empty Cradle is a nonprofit peer group for San Diego and Riverside County area parents who have experienced the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth or infant death. The Empty Cradle organization offers grieving families opportunities for both group and individual support, as well as a lending library and community education. Monthly group meetings provide a forum for the open discussion of feelings and concerns. Individual telephone support is also available through a network of trained resource parents, all of whom have experienced a loss. For support services, meeting information, and/or assistance contact:

    San Diego residents call: (619) 595-3887
    Riverside County residents call: (951) 686-LOSS (5677)

    Mailing Address

    Empty Cradle
    30520 Rancho California Road
    Suite 107 PMB 63
    Temecula, CA 92591
    support@emptycradle.org

    San Diego County Meetings

    North San Diego County
    1st Wednesday of each month (7-9 pm)
    All Saints Episcopal Church
    651 Eucalyptus Avenue
    Vista, CA 92084

    East San Diego County
    3rd Wednesday of each month (7-9 pm)
    Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
    2766 Navajo Road
    El Cajon, CA 92020

    Riverside County Meetings

    2nd Wednesday of each month (7-9 pm)
    Mary Phillips Senior Center
    41845 6th Street
    Temecula, CA 92590
  • Helping After Neonatal Death (HAND) of the Peninsula is a volunteer group of parents who have experienced the loss of a baby before, during or after birth . Their experience has established a desire to offer support to parents, their relatives and friends during the normal mourning following miscarriage, genetic abortion, stillbirth or newborn death of their babies. HAND volunteers are not professional psychotherapists, however they may make referrals to professional counselors.

    HAND of the Peninsula
    PO BOX 3693
    Redwood City, CA 94064
    (650) 367-6993
    (650) 579-0350 ~ 24 hour crisis center
    (888) 220-7575 ~ toll free 24 hour crisis center
    info@handsupport.org

    HAND of Santa Cruz County
    PO Box 3693
    Redwood City, CA 94064
    (831) 438-4513

    HAND of Antioch
    PO Box 3693
    Redwood City, CA 94064
    (925) 437-3406

    Helping After Neonatal Death
    Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa Counties and Central Valley
    PO Box 341
    Los Gatos, CA 95031-0341
    (408) 955-6102
    (888) 908-HAND (4263)
    info@handonline.org

    Counties Served:
    San Mateo, Santa Cruz

    24 Hour Telephone Crisis Line In the event of an emergency, a HAND volunteer may be reached 24 hours a day through the Youth and Family Enrichment Crisis Center. All HAND volunteers are bereaved parents and are very well acquainted with the difficulties surrounding the loss of a baby. We urge you to call day or night for assistance. The phone numbers for the Crisis Center are: (650) 579-0350 or (888) 220-7575 toll free.

  • Helping After Neonatal Death (HAND) of Santa Clara County is a resource network of parents, professionals, and supportive volunteers that offers a variety of services to help parents, their families and their healthcare providers cope with the loss of a baby before, during or after birth, throughout Northern California and the Central Valley.

    HAND of Santa Clara County
    Post Office Box 341
    Los Gatos, CA 95031-0341
    (408) 955-6102
    (888) 908-HAND (4263)
    info@handonline.org

    Counties Served:
    Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, and the Central Valley

  • Mothers in Sympathy and Support (MISS) Foundation is a nonprofit, international organization which provides immediate and ongoing support to grieving families, empowerment through community volunteerism opportunities, public policy and legislative education, and programs to reduce infant and toddler death through research and education.

    MISS Foundation
    Joanne Cacciatore, Founder
    P.O. Box 5333
    Peoria, Az 85385-5333
    Email: info@missfoundation.org

    MISS Foundation Support Groups in California:
    Arcadia
    Third Thursday of each month, 7:00 p.m.
    Church of the Good Shepherd, Lounge
    400 W. Duarte Road
    Arcadia, CA 91007
    (626) 963-9120
    Kristin Jared
    Email: kristin@missfoundation.org

    Armona
    First Thursday of each month 7-8 P.M.
    First Missionary Baptist Church
    10649 Railroad Ave.
    Armona, CA 93202
    Dana Duva
    (559) 925-1111
    dana_duvall@missfoundation.org
    Martha Medina (Spanish)
    559-836-9065
    Amy Nace
    559-707-8719
    amy@missfoundation.org

    Fremont
    Peer Contact
    Laurie-Beth Brennan
    (510) 744-0512
    laurie-beth@missfoundation.org

    Hemet
    Peer Contact
    Teri Blanton
    951-927-2018
    teri@missfoundation.org

    Los Angeles
    2nd Wednesday of each month 7-9 pm
    Wilshire Blvd. Temple
    (at Olympic and Barrington Blvds.)
    11661 W. Olympic Blvd.
    Los Angeles, CA 90064
    Sari Edber
    (310) 474-2817
    sari@missfoundation.org
    Tracey Letteau
    (213) 804-7281
    tracey@missfoundation.org

    Merced
    Peer Contact
    Kim Lotz
    209-201-2832
    Email: kim@missfoundation.org
    Website: lotz.homedns.org/missmerced/

    Westlake Village
    Peer Contact
    Heather Lipari
    805-497-3939
    heatherl@missfoundation.org

  • New Hope Grief Support Community A nationally recognized non-profit therapy and grief education program based in Southern California. This community based organization offers grief groups, resources and seminars/educational opportunities for professionals and bereaved families.

    New Hope Grief Support Community
    3443 San Anseline
    Long Beach, CA 90808
    888-490-HOPE (4673) or 562-429-0075
    562-233-3218 (Cell)
    562-429-0076 (Fax)
    info@newhopegrief.org

  • SHARE Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. is a not-for-profit nondenominational organization providing support to those whose lives are touched by the tragic death of a baby through early pregnancy loss, stillbirth or newborn death .

    National Office
    St. Joseph Health Center
    402 Jackson
    St. Charles, MO 63301-2893
    800-821-6819 or 636-947-6164
    Fax 636-947-7486
    E-mail: share@nationalshareoffice.com

    Megan Heddlesten
    Saddleback Memorial Medical Center
    34451 Health Center Drive
    Laguna Hills, CA 92653
    (949) 222-6604
    healingheartsshare@cox.net
    www.healingheartsshare.net

    Heidi Lozano
    Kelly Joppa
    PO Box 19538
    Sacramento, CA 95819
    (916) 424-5150
    sharingparents@yahoo.com
    www.sharingparents.org

National Partners

Programs provided by these non-profit organizations address a variety of needs of those impacted by SIDS, stillbirths, miscarriages, and other sudden unexplained infant/child loss. Services include grief support, research, education, public awareness, advocacy and linkages to an array of other related resources. Consult the listings below for contact information and an overview of services.

  • CJ Foundation for SIDS
    National charitable organization dedicated to serving the SIDS community by funding SIDS research, support services and public awareness campaigns. Also supports bereavement and counseling services for families experiencing loss due to SIDS or Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC).
    HUMC-WFAN Pediatric Center

    30 Prospect Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601
    (888) 8CJ-SIDS toll free or (201) 996-5111
    (201) 996-5326 FAX
    info@cjsids.com

  • First Candle/SIDS Alliance
    This national non profit health organization has as its mission to advance infant health and survival by offering programs of advocacy, education and research. Bereavement support is available to those experiencing SIDS, stillbirth, miscarriage and other infant deaths. Bilingual resources as well as a 24 hour crisis support line are available.

    First Candle/Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Alliance
    1314 Bedford Avenue, Suite 210, Baltimore, MD 21208
    (800) 221-SIDS (7437) 24 hour bilingual line or (410) 653-8226
    (410) 653-8709 FAX
    info@firstcandle.org

  • Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood Program (SUDC) a project of the CJ Foundation for SIDS, supports those impacted by the death of a child over twelve months of age in which all other causes of death have been ruled out. Services include peer support, internet based email support groups, telephone conference calls with other SUDC families and pen pal programs for siblings experiencing the death of a brother or sister.

    Sudden Unexplained Death in Childhood (SUDC) Program
    C/o CJ Foundation for SIDS
    The Don Imus WFAN Pediatric Center
    30 Prospect Ave.
    Hackensack, NJ 07601
    800-620-SUDC
    201-996-5080
    201-996-5326 Fax
    info@sudc.org

  • SIDS and Other Infant Death Network
    • A web based global information and support network founded by a SIDS parent and operated by volunteers. Specifically intended for bereaved parents and families it offers: grief support via chat rooms; electronic newsletters; memorial dedication opportunities; and answers to frequently asked questions about SIDS, research topics and other current issues. Language translations are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

    SIDS and Other Infant Death Network
    PO Box 520
    Ledyard, CT 06339
    sidsnet1@sids-network.org
 

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