Family Services
Bereavement

Bereavement support groups, grief education and events

The death of a child is both heart-breaking and life-changing. Children’s Minnesota offers programs intended to give comfort and support to families during the first year and beyond. We also collaboratively work with Allina Health to serve parents and families grieving a perinatal/infant loss.  Grief education programs offer families and children the opportunity to learn, explore and gain some understanding about a variety grief topics.  Grief related events offer families the chance to participate in a gathering where their child and other children will be remembered.

Grief education programs, support groups, and grief events all offer reassurance that grief is a normal reaction to the deep and profound loss experienced when a child dies.  These programs provide an opportunity for emotional connection, during a time when many families describe feelings of isolation. Additionally, each setting is designed to be comfortable and safe, allowing a space where powerful emotions can be experienced and released.

Support groups

Joining a support group can be very helpful for a variety of reasons. Parents tell us that support groups:

  • Offer them a place to talk about their child in a safe setting
  • Connect with other bereaved parents to get and give support
  • Give reassurance that their grief is a normal reaction to their deep sense of loss
  • Allows children to see and hear from other children who may also be experiencing loss

Our recurring and annual events are listed below with a description that may help you determine which support group is best for you, or your family:

Grief and bereavement events

Click the icon (+) below to view upcoming dates, description and registration information.

Living with Grief: Youth program

The death of loved one is both heartbreaking and life-changing. The Living with Grief Youth Program is a safe space for children and teens who are grieving the death of a loved one — a sibling, parent, grandparent, friend or any special person — to talk about their special person, and connect with others who have experienced a similar loss.

Each session focuses on a different grief topic. Children and teens will explore this topic through age-appropriate conversation, art, music, movement and creative interactions. Child life specialists and music therapists offer children and teens the opportunity to learn, explore and gain some understanding about a variety grief topics. Grief groups can be helpful to children and teens because it helps them see that they are not alone, that there are other kids just like them who are grieving.

See dates and details of all 2023 bereavement groups and events

Living with Grief: Youth Program

Living with Grief: Parent program

Throughout the grief journey many parents find value in coming together with other grieving parents who can understand and appreciate the intense grief that comes when a child dies. Each session of this program will cover a pre-selected topic, while also having time for open discussion. Parents will have the option to talk about their child and their family’s story, as well as share feelings, thoughts and concerns. Parents are welcome to participate as they feel comfortable, however there is no pressure to talk — we understand the value of simply gathering together.

The Living with Grief Parent program serves grieving parents/guardians who have experienced the death of a baby or child during “childhood” (ages of preterm birth to approximately age 25).

This program is free of charge and open to any family in the greater community — families do not have to have been cared for in the Children’s Minnesota system to participate.

See dates and details of all 2023 bereavement groups and events

Living with Grief: Parent Program

Living with Grief: Grandparent/Aunt/Uncle program

The death of a child impacts an entire family. This special program is designed to recognize and support the unique grief experienced by grandparents and other close adult extended family members when a child dies.

Each session of this program will cover a pre-selected topic, with time for open discussion. Grandparents, aunts and uncles will have the option to share their family’s story, along with feelings, thoughts and concerns. Participants will receive support for their own loss, as well as ideas of how they can be present to the grief of their family members.

The Living with Grief Grandparent/Aunt/Uncle Program serves grieving grandparents and close adult extended family, who have experienced the death of a grandchild or family member who died in “childhood” (preterm birth to approximately age 25).

This program is free of charge and open to all grandparents and adult extended family in the greater community — families do not have to have been cared for at Children’s Minnesota to participate. New participants are welcome.

See dates and details of all 2023 bereavement groups and events

Living with Grief: Grandparent/Aunt/Uncle Program

Pregnancy and Infant Loss support group

Grieving is painful for everyone, and the death of a baby creates a very special grief. Family and friends may be unable to give grieving parents the support they need. If your baby has died, there are people who understand these intense feelings of loss and emptiness: other parents who have lost a baby. The natural bond between bereaved parents enables them to support and encourage each other in a very unique way.

The Pregnancy and Infant Loss support group helps parents whose baby has died through ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, stillbirth or newborn death (shortly following birth or during an NICU stay). The group is made up of parents, and is led by staff members from both Allina Health and Children’s Minnesota.

This support group is not therapy, rather it is a group of parents who find comfort and courage in walking this difficult path together. Some groups are lead by a facilitator and feature specific grief topics, while others are open-ended and focus on the current needs of the participants. Every group is a safe and confidential place to share feelings and coping strategies. The group is free of charge.

See dates and details of all 2023 bereavement groups and events

Pregnancy and Infant Loss groups

Virtual workshop: Parenting while grieving

A virtual workshop for parents/guardians who are actively parenting, while also grieving the death of a special person in their life.

During this single-evening workshop parents/guardians will:

  • Explore your experience of parenting while grieving.
  • Understand how grief impacts your child/adolescent/young adult.
  • Support your child’s/adolescent’s/young adult’s grief and healing.
  • Develop strategies to support your own coping, self-care and well-being.

Each virtual session of the workshop will be limited to 20 families.

Dates

  • Tuesday, Feb. 7, 6–7:30 p.m. (Please register by January 31)

How to register

Registration is required. Please contact Bereavement Services with questions or to register at 612-813-7216 or [email protected].

Memory Bash in a Box

Join together with family and friends to lovingly remember those you miss so much.

The Memory Bash in a Box activity offers you the opportunity to celebrate and honor your loved one who died with remembrance activities in the comfort of your own home.

Interested families will receive a care package filled with a variety of art projects, activities and musical interventions designed to keep the memories of your loved one alive. In addition to ideas and supplies, the package will include written instructions and links to online content.

Families do not need to have experience or ability in the area of art or music to creatively participate. The activities in the box are designed to be used in ways that suit your family best and are intended to promote healing and joy.

Projects are able to be adapted to a variety of age levels. The Memory Bash in a Box activity is available to:

  • Parents/families grieving the death of a child.
  • Youth grieving the death of a special person in their life.

Formal invitations with registration information will be mailed in September 2022.

If you have questions, please contact Bereavement Services at [email protected] or 612-813-7216.

Annual events hosted by Children’s Minnesota

Children’s Minnesota Annual Memorial Service

We offer an annual event for families, dedicated to honoring the lives of children who have died within the Children’s Minnesota system.   This meaningful service is held once yearly in the spring.  The program typically includes readings, music, and remembrance of each child during a candle-lighting and slide-show ceremony.  The service ends with a butterfly release.  For more information, please contact Children’s Minnesota bereavement services at [email protected] or 612-813-7216.

How to find additional support groups or grief education resources in your area

Individuals may feel isolated in grief. There are many resources in the community that you can contact to find bereavement support near you, including:

Search online using the phases listed below plus the name of your community (for example “grief resources, Minneapolis”):

  • Grief support groups
  • Grief resources
  • Children’s grief
  • Bereavement support groups