Resources and Support
We know that when you are newly bereaved, looking for support can be overwhelming. Google searches often produce disconnected numbers, inactive support groups, and email addresses that are no longer in use. This can be exhausting, especially in a time when simply remembering to breathe takes all the energy you have.
We want to change that. We work with groups and resources in the area to compile up-to-date information (support groups, organizations, online tools, and events) that may be helpful to you.
If you are a group or organization that offers a resource for grieving parents, please let us know so that we can edit it.
We do update this page regularly, but if you find out that something is incorrect, please email us at parentsleftbehindar@gmail.com.
Books
My child has died and I don’t know how to relate to the world any more. Where do I go from here? Will life ever be anything but hard and dark and sad? Am I normal?
These questions and more plague bereaved parents. Judith R. Bernstein, who examines these questions in When the Bough Breaks: Forever After the Death of a Son or Daughter (1997), concludes that while one never overcomes or recovers from grief for the lost child, it is possible to live and even thrive after the unthinkable has happened.
Other books on grief include:
Finding Meaning David Kessler
Sometimes Mountains Move by C. Everett Koop
Lament for a Son by Nicholas Wolterstorff
A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis
A Sorrow Shared by Henri J.M. Nouwen
A Grief Unveiled by Gregory Floyd
Life After the Death of My Son by Dennis L. Apple
A Decembered Grief by Harold Ivan Smith
First You Die by Marie Levine
Not by Accident by Isabel Fleece
Tracks of a Fellow Struggler by John R. Claypool
Surviving the Death of a Child by John Munday
When Life is Changed Forever by Rick Taylor
I Wasn’t Ready to Say Goodbye by Noel & Blair
Local Support Groups
Grieving Parents Support Group of NWA (GPS)
Steve Sheely, Facilitator
Rolling Hills Baptist Church
1400 E Rolling Hills Dr. Fayetteville, AR 72703
rhbaptist@sbcglobal.net
479-521-2660
Meets 2nd Monday of each month 6-7:15p
Parents Left Behind of AR (PLB)
Tania Brewer, Coordinator
tania.parentsleftbehind@gmail.com
https://www.parentsleftbehind.org
Annual conference for grieving parents and retreats for grieving parents
While We’re Waiting – Springdale
Missy Pile
479-640-1171
Meets 2nd Tuesday, call for location
Circle of Life Hospice
901 Jones Rd. Springdale, AR 72762
1201 NE Legacy Pkwy Bentonville, AR jbassarear@nwacicleoflife.org
479-750-6632
nwacircleoflife.com
Visit website for available dates and sites.
Family of Fallen Soldiers
Vet Center, Fayetteville, AR
Jason Cates
479-582-7152
* No bereavement support group. Individual family counseling up to 6 times.
Walking the Mourner’s Path St.Paul’s Episcopal Church 224 North East Avenue Fayetteville, AR 72701
Bernadette Reda educatingreda@gmail.com www.stpaulsfay.org 479-442-7373
GriefShare
Visit website to for available local dates and sites.
Washington Reginal Hospice (Willard Walker Hospice Home)
325 D Longview Street, Fayetteville, AR 72703
Alyssa Stewart
hospice@wregional.com
479-463-7385
www.wregionalhospice.com
*Men’s grief support group meets Tuesdays 3pm *Women’s grief support group meets Mondays 1pm Call 479-463-7166 for available dates.
Benton & Washington County Survivor of Suicide Loss Support Group
609 West Dyke Road, Rogers, AR, USA Maureen Cover-Bryan
479-381-4581
support@ozarkoutreach.org
Meeting 2nd Tuesday of each month, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
The Center for Good Mourning
Yessica Carrola, Greg Adams
501-364-7000 https://www.archildrens.org/center-for-good-mourning goodmourning@archildrens.org
Free educational support groups for grades K-12 who have experienced the death of a family member or friend. January group sessions through Zoom and must register through the website. Occasional in-person groups at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Springdale.
Regional Support Groups
Bereaved Parents of the USA (Conway Chapter)
Need information (Elaine Holmes is moving)
Bereaved Parents of the USA (Central Arkansas Chapter)
501-681-1464
Parents of Murdered Children (Central Arkansas)
Melinda Crowder
(501) 351-7662
Lakesia Smith
(501) 412-2629
1015 W 2ND Suite 107
Little Rock, AR 72201
This group meets on the 2nd Tuesday & Zoom Meeting on the 4th Thursday of each month.
Fort Smith POMC group meets 2nd & 4th Thursday
400 North Waldron in Fort Smith Central Christian Church contact Bethany Ault-Pyle 479-561-3467
Online Support Groups
The Compassionate Friends
https://www.facebook.com/groups/41019955773/
Large group for bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings. With over 10,000 members, this group is highly active. It’s a great place to get quick responses and support.
TCF - Loss of a Child
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcflossofachild/
This is a sub-group for bereaved parents only, a break-off group of The Compassionate Friends. The group is large and highly active.
TCF - Infant and Toddler Loss
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1511758585777339/
A sub-group of The Compassionate Friends group for parents and grandparents who have lost infants or toddlers. Large and active group.
TCF - Loss of an Adult Child
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcflossofanadultchild/
Another sub-group of the Compassionate Friends. For parents who have lost an adult child. Large, active group.
TCF - Loss to Homicide
https://www.facebook.com/groups/924779440868148/
A sub-group of The Compassionate Friends group for parents, grandparents, and siblings who have lost to homicide. Active, mid-size group of 1,000+
Family of Murder Victims
https://www.facebook.com/groups/30147594894/
A mid-size group of family members (not just parents) who have lost loved ones to murder. Active, mid-size group of 1500+
CLICC Children Lost in Childcare
https://www.facebook.com/groups/122157498440692/
Online group for parents or grandparents who have lost children when they were in daycare or with a babysitter. Small but active group.
Baby Loss Support for Agnostic & Atheist Moms
https://www.facebook.com/groups/369800506375450/
A non-religious group for miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss. Active, mid-size group of 1,000+
TCF Sibs
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcfsibs/
A Compassionate Friends group just for those grieving the loss of their siblings. Large and active group.
TCF - Men in Grief
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcfmeningrief/
A Compassionate Friends group for men only. Mid-sized active group of around 1000. Mostly men grieving the loss of a child or grandchild, but some adult males grieving the loss of their siblings.
TCF - Sudden Death
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcfsuddendeath/
A Compassionate Friends group for parents and siblings grieving a sudden loss.
TCF - Loss to Suicide
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcflosstosuicide/
For parents, grandparents, and siblings grieivng a loss due to suicide.
TCF - Loss to Substance Related Causes
https://www.facebook.com/groups/tcflosstosubstancerelatedcauses/
For parents, grandparents, and siblings grieving a loss due to a substance related cause.
Other Resources or Activities
Parents Left Behind Annual Grief Seminar
Dr. Susan Averitt, pediatrician and bereaved mother
https://www.facebook.com/parentsleftbehindar/
Annual grief seminar in Fayetteville, AR for bereaved parents, grandparents, and their support people. It consists of small breakout sessions for parents with different needs.
While We’re Waiting Faith Based Retreats for Bereaved Parents
https://www.whilewerewaiting.org/home.html
They offer four types of no-cost retreats:
- One day mini-retreats just for Moms
- One day events just for Dads
- Weekend-long retreats for bereaved singles and couples with a grief focus
- Weekend-long retreats for bereaved couples with a marriage focus
*There is currently a long waitlist for these retreats, but those who attend speak very highly of the experience.
Candlelight Service for the Loss of a Child
Rolling Hills Baptist Church
1400 E Rolling Hills Dr.
Fayetteville, AR 72703
479-521-2660
Service held the second Sunday night of December. Parents are encouraged to bring a photo of their child and share with other attendees.
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) Arkansas State Headquarters
Yolanda Holmes - State Director
2300 Andover Ste. 500
Little Rock, AR 72227
501-246-8810
855-227-6233 (toll free)
ar.state@madd.org
