Services

Peer Support:

It is crucial for parents and families to receive on-going support. While many grieving parents have a strong support system through friends and family, contact with another bereaved parent for longer periods of time can prove invaluable. Another bereaved parent, or Peer Supporter, can provide insight to grieving parents that may go beyond that of well-intentioned families and friends.

Peer Supporters receive specialized training from certified bereavement facilitators. While their role is not to fill the space of grief counselors, they are able to provide support in ways very few can. Their role is to provide support. They are not counselors nor do they give advice.

Family Packet/Bereavement Resources:

Upon receiving a referral, newly bereaved families and/or caregivers are contacted and, based upon their individual needs, given a packet of information. Each new family also receives a copy of the “SIDS Survival Guide,” which provides a wealth of information to the grieving family and a Memory Book.

Support Group Meetings:

SIDS Mid-Atlantic holds monthly support group meetings for parents, relatives, friends and child care providers. Participants can share their feelings and concerns in a safe environment.

Meetings are held on the first Thursday of every month at McLean Presbyterian Church, 1020 Balls Hill Road, McLean, Virginia. For more information, please contact us at 703-933-9100.

Please click here and scroll down to "Support Groups" for more information and resources.

Newsletters:

SIDS Mid-Atlantic publishes a newsletter, which provides information on grief, current research, education updates and events. Please call 703-933-9100 or email info@sidsma.org to request our newsletter.

Memorial Event:

Each holiday season a memorial event for families who have lost a child is held. As part of this special gathering, family members are invited to share memories of their child.

Other Special Events:

Each year, there are special events to support our organization. Events have included the annual CJ Foundation/Wawa Walk for SIDS, quilt raffles, bowl-a-thons and golf tournaments. These special events give parents and friends a tangible opportunity to participate and support the work of providing bereavement support to families and education and training regarding risk reduction and prevention of infant deaths.

Education & Public Awareness:

* Information Distribution and Special Events: SIDSMA distributes a wide range of educational materials, including Halo Sleep Sacks, luggage tags promoting safe sleep, a newsletter with risk reduction education articles and numerous flyers, publications and videos on SIDS, SIDS risk factors, newborn screening, newborn safety and infant death. Click here for links to the Back To Sleep campaign.

For information about SIDS Awareness Ribbons and Pins click here.

* Community Education: Staff and volunteers provide risk reduction seminars to new parents at a variety of settings and events. Information regarding SIDS and risk reduction, newborn screening, infant safety is also provided. Please contact us if you would like to schedule training.

* Childcare Providers: Staff and volunteers provide specialized training for childcare providers on how to reduce the risk of SIDS, how to handle a potential SIDS medical emergency and bereavement services should a SIDS death occur in a childcare setting. Please contact us if you would like to schedule training.

* Professional Services Providers: Staff provides “train the trainer” education to medical personnel including childbirth educators and nurse midwives on risk reduction and safe sleeping environments, newborn screening and safety, and infant mortality issues.

Training is also provided to emergency first responders on how to appropriately handle a suspected SIDS death scene.

The Stop Smoking Stop SIDS Program provides training in "The 5 A's" smoking cessation counseling method. Contact us for details.

* Community Partnering: SIDS MA maintains strong relationships with other organizations including the March of Dimes, the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition, the Virginia State Medical Examiner, local and state health departments and a variety of organizations dedicated to improving children’s health.

* Speakers’ Bureau: SIDS MA can provide speakers on all aspects of SIDS and other infant deaths including risk reduction, bereavement services and medical research.