Combining Regional Expertise to Form a Bereavement Support Alliance

Abstract

Providing compassionate bereavement care for families experiencing perinatal loss is a standard of care in most healthcare organizations. In this article, we describe the development of The Alliance of Perinatal Bereavement Support Facilitators, begun over 25 years ago in Chicago by staff who identified the need to reach out to colleagues at other area institutions for advice and support in this work. This collaboration created a regional support network that has resulted in a long-lasting, active, sustainable organization of excellence focused on enhancing practice, education, and perinatal bereavement care. Alliance activities center around four main areas: education, networking/support, policy, and recognizing outstanding service to families. By continuing to draw upon the collective talent, wisdom, and expertise of its members, The Alliance still serves grieving families and provides mentoring for future interdisciplinary team members engaged in this work. The path taken to build this organization can be used by professionals in other specialties who are looking to create their own alliance infrastructure based on mutual benefit and interest.

Latent Profiles of Posttraumatic Growth and Their Relation to Differences in Resilience among Only-Child-Lost People in China

“…However, it is important to pay attention to this group and strengthen their contact with others to help them develop new interests. According to The Alliance of Perinatal Bereavement Support Facilitators, maintaining individuals’ interest and involvement is a critical factor in developing effective communication and forming a collaborative, supportive atmosphere among all members [47, 48]. Thus, social workers should consider OCL individuals’ interests and should provide opportunities to engage in collective discussion and problem solving.…”

Quality predictors of parental satisfaction after birth of infants with life‐limiting conditions

“…The provision of bereavement support would reasonably include anticipatory grief work following a diagnosis of a life‐limiting condition and preparation for a brief life for the affected infant . Attention to bereavement support in perinatology may involve providing education for clinicians in medicine and nursing, social workers, psychologists and chaplains . The importance of early and effective bereavement support for parents should not be discounted as a contributor to their perspective on receiving satisfactory care , their overall health and functioning following their infant's death and potentially their future reproductive health .…”