Program Expansion

Bereavement Considerations for Infant/Child Deaths Occurring in Hospitals

Bereavement services for infant/child deaths occuring in hospitals may be a more difficult expansion for an organization to undertake because the deaths take place in the hospital, the deaths are often expected and the bereavement issues are, therefore, different. It may make sense to pilot the expansion in this area to a limited geographical area, such as a county, initially.

Training and Education Considerations

• Medical issues related to common birth defects, LBW, etc.
• How bereavement issues are different for families with an expected death and issues related to subsequent children
• How to accept changes in programs and philosophy

Developed by the Program Support Center at First Candle with collaborative assistance from the Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Centers.