Grief and Bereavement
Disclaimer: These resources are regularly reviewed to ensure that links still work correctly and the resources listed continue to be helpful to our visitors. If you find that a link isn't working or information is incorrect or if you'd like to have your own organization listed here, please email thedirectory@lls.org.
Because we want to be sure that our visitors find the most relevant resources, we've listed these organizations in order of relevancy from most specifically relevant to most generally relevant to the topic of this page.
2-1-1
Population served: Everyone in the United States (check the website for availability in your area)
2-1-1 is the telephone number of a call center that offers information and provides referrals to health and human services for every-day needs and in times of crisis. Services vary from community to community.
Examples of service referrals include:
- Basic human need resources: food banks, clothing, shelters, rent assistance and utility assistance
- Physical and mental health resources: medical information lines, crisis intervention services, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention
- Employment support: unemployment benefits, financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs
- Support for older Americans and persons with disabilities: home healthcare, adult daycare, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, transportation and homemaker services
- Support for children, youth and families: childcare, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services
Compassionate Friends
Contact: (877) 969-0010
Population served: Parents, grandparents, siblings worldwide
Compassionate Friends assists families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and provides information to help others be supportive.
- Provides a listing of U.S. chapters and some international chapters with free support groups
- Provides guidance on how to start a chapter
- Offers resources on its website including information on handling the holidays, printable brochures
- Provides online support community (live chats)
- Provides a link to a weekly web/radio series that feature experts in the bereavement field
Dougy Center/National Center for Grieving Children and Families
Contact: (866) 775-5683
Population served: Children, teens, young adults and their families worldwide
The Dougy Center provides a safe place for those who are grieving to share their experiences.
Provides free peer-support groups for children, teens, young adults and families - age groups are divided and groups are facilitated by trained volunteers
- Provides a search locator to find support groups in the United States and internationally
- Provides information for all ages on how to help during the grieving process
- Offers a bookstore with information to order (for a fee)
Bereaved Parents of the USA (BP/USA)
Contact: (708) 748-7866
Population served: Parents, grandparents and siblings in the United States
BP/USA is a self-help group that offers support, understanding, compassion and hope especially to the newly bereaved.
- Offers local chapters listed by state and information on how to start a chapter
- Offers information for the newly bereaved and free printable brochures on topics such as bereaved grandparent, when a child dies, suicide and bereaved parents raising their grandchildren (available in Spanish)
- Provides listing of other organizations for resources
- Provides quarterly national newsletter
- Provides articles and poems written by the bereaved
CancerCare
Contact: (800) 813-4673
Population served: People affected by cancer in the United States
CancerCare provides free, professional support services to anyone affected by cancer: people with cancer, caregivers, children, loved ones and the bereaved.
- Provides individual counseling and online support groups
- Provides telephone education workshops on topics appropriate to bereavement
- Provides fact sheets on a variety of topics to help cope with the loss of a loved one
- Offers practical information on legal/financial issues, local resources to help with respite care, funeral planning and estate planning services
American Cancer Society (ACS)
Contact: (800) 227-2345
Population served: Patients and caregivers in the United States
ACS provides information about diseases, financial support, support groups, lodging and medical equipment. ACS has local chapters throughout the United States to provide assistance within the community.
- Provides general information about grief and loss including phases of grief, loss after illness, depression and family changes
- Provides information about grief during childhood, talking to children about death and losing a child
- Provides links to other organizations for additional resources
- Provides a select reading list with books about loss or discussing death with children
