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Support

Sudden Infant Death Services (SIDS of Illinois, Inc.) strives to provide compassionate and culturally appropriate bereavement support to families and caregivers who experience a sudden and unexpected death of their infants. Begun by parents who lost infants to SIDS, the organization was founded as a peer support network for newly bereaved parent. They are not licensed counselors, however, they can refer people to professionals.

 

The most important message to parents, grandparents and caregivers suffering the loss of a child is that they are not alone. Most of the organization's board members have lost a child and the Peer Support Team is made up of caring individuals who have survived this tragedy and are prepared to companion the bereaved in their grief journey. SIDS of Illinois, Inc stands ready and willing to help anyone who has suffered an infant death, regardless of cause or length of time. While there is no set pattern for grief, strategies have been identified and some specific techniques can help and assist individuals in finding ways to cope with their loss.

 

Below you may find information about Support Groups, Memorial Services, and additional bereavement resources.

There is a sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than 10,000 tongues. They are the messengers of overwhelming grief, of deep contrition and of unspeakable love. ~ Washington Irving

Support Groups PDF

Loss Support PDF

Each bereaved family receives a customized packet of grief information. Resources are available for couples, single parents, teen parents, grandparents, siblings, childcare providers, healthcare professionals and law enforcement officials. Books, including SIDS and Other Infant Death Survival Guide, are provided on request. To order support videos please check the online shop.  Most materials are available in English and Spanish. Please contact the office at 630-541-3901 or sids@sidsillinois.org for more information.

Support Groups

The Support group is a gift that SIDS of Illinois, Inc offers to bereaved parents. Families have said that support groups provide a safe place to talk about their child, their feelings, their loss and their family dynamics.


The Support group is not intended to replace counseling or therapy and often supplements those services.

 

For Peer Suport a SIDS Bereavement Facilitator makes initial contact with bereaved family members.  One-on-one support is available in person and by telephone over a period of time, in English or Spanish.

Chicago –

Englewood

Neighborhood

 

Date: 3rd Monday of each month

Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Meeting Place: Englewood West Library

63rd & Wood

Chicago , IL

Contact Gail Patton at 312-745-0081 or 773-485-1111

Rockford

Group

Rockford - Healing Hearts Support Group
Date: 3rd Monday of each month
Time: 6:30 P.M.
Meeting Place: 124 North Water St.
Rockford, Il 60107
Contact: Haven Network - 815-962-1512

Springfield, IL

Group

 

Date: 1st Wednesday of each month
Time: 7:00pm
Meeting Place: St. John's Hospital
The Chapel Annex at
800 E. Carpenter St
Springfield, IL
Facilitator: Dee Stern, Chaplain
For Questions, please contact: 217-525-5675

*This support group is for persons 21 and over

Quad City Group

Quad Cities group meets as requested by appointment.

For information call Betsy (563) 332-6265.

Memorial Events

Memorial events connect parents to each other in a safe, supportive setting. SIDS of Illinois, Inc. hosts 2-3 memorial events each year for bereaved families throughout the state.

 

  • Bereaved family members are encouraged to make a quilt square in memory of their infants which will be incorporated into a current quilt. Over the years, families have contributed memorial squares to five SIDS quilts.  

  • A volunteer sends birthday and anniversary cards families in the first year.

  • Baby photo buttons are available at a nominal cost.  

  • A holiday ornament is available for purchase that retells the story of survival, growth and strength despite the loss of a child.


If you are interested in making a quilt square, having a photo button made, or purchasing ornaments, please contact the office at 630-541-3901 or email sids@sidsillinois.org.

Resources

ncbi.nih.gov  - The National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing  access to biomedical and genomic information.

 

sids-network.org - Sudden Infant Death Syndrome and Other Infant Death (SIDS/OID) Information Web Site

 

sidscenter.org - National SUID/SIDS Resource Center

 

cjsids.org - CJ Foundation for SIDS

 

sidsresources.org - SIDS Resources

 

cdc.gov/sids - Centers for Disease Control - SIDS

 

healthychildcare.org/sids - Healthy Childcare America

 

AAPpolicy.aappublications.org - American Academy of Pediatrics

 

asip1.org - The Association for SIDS and Infant Mortality Programs

 

 

 

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