Organizations and Support Groups
Finding Support After a Loss
Golisano Children’s Hospital Bereavement Support
As you navigate early grief, you are not alone. Golisano Children’s Hospital offers a bereavement buddy program where you can be matched with another parent who is 2+ years out in their grief for eight weeks of consistent bereavement support. To be matched with a bereavement buddy, please contact Liz Conrow, Bereavement Coordinator, at (585) 275-8304.
Support Groups
Loss of a Child – Any Type of Death
- Compassionate Friends: The Compassionate Friends supports families after the loss of a child at any age. The Rochester chapter meets on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month from 7:15 - 9:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 South Winton Road.
Contact: Steven at (585) 727-9584, stecola1214@yahoo.com
Loss of a Child to Cancer
Infant/Child Losses
- SAIL: SAIL (Strong Arms in Infant Loss) supports families through stillbirth, miscarriage, and infant loss. SAIL meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00 – 11:30 am at the Ronald McDonald House, 333 Westmoreland Drive. Contact: Liz Conrow at (585) 275-8304, Elizabeth_Conrow@urmc.rochester.edu
- Forget Me Not: Forget Me Not supports families through stillbirth, miscarriage, and infant loss. Forget Me Not meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:00 – 8:00 pm. Contact: Kim Doolittle at (585) 454-9299 or by email at forgetmenotrochester@gmail.com
Loss of a Child to Congenital Heart Defects
- Mended Little Hearts Angels: Mended Little Hearts Angels supports families who have lost a child to a congenital heart defect. Mended Little Hearts Angels meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10:00 – 11:30 pm at Mary Magdalene Church, 1008 Main Street in East Rochester. Contact: Lindsay Brooks (585) 698-5326, ljbrooks720@gmail.com or Laura Edwards at (585) 703-8359
Loss of a Child to Crime/Violence
- Rise Up Rochester: Rise Up Rochester’s Moving Forward group offers support to families of homicide victims. Moving Forward meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at 244 S. Plymouth Ave. Contact: Marcella Cunningham (585) 745-0072, mcunningham@ccsi.org; Retha Rogers (585) 745-0069, rrogers@ccsi.org; Ms. J. Scott (585) 745-0070, jscott@ccsi.org
Loss of a Loved One from a Drug Overdose
- HOPE for Survivors - Those Whom Drug Overdose Leaves Behind: HOPE for Survivors is for those struggling with death by drug overdose of a child, sibling, parent, spouse, partner, relative, or friend. HOPE meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The group meets in person in Syracuse at the HOPE Center, 4500 Onondaga Blvd and there is a Zoom option for those who live out of town. Contact: HOPE (315) 475-9675 for more information.
Loss of a Loved one from Suicide
- HOPE for Survivors - Those Whom Suicide Leaves Behind: HOPE for Survivors is for those struggling with death by suicide of a child, sibling, parent, spouse, partner, relative, or friend. HOPE meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. The group meets in person in Syracuse at the HOPE Center, 4500 Onondaga Blvd and there is a Zoom option for those who live out of town. Contact: HOPE (315) 475-9675 for more information.
Support for Grieving Children/Siblings
- Dreams from Drake: Dreams from Drake offers support to children and teens who have suffered the loss of a sibling or parent. Dreams from Drake offers monthly healing circles for kids and a summer program for children. Contact: Jamie Erskine-Pettit (585) 225-5606 or Haverly Erskine (585) 230-7109, info@dreamsfromdrake.org
More Information
If you need help finding support groups in surrounding counties, please contact Liz Conrow, Bereavement Coordinator.