Bereavement support services are offered to everyone in need, including but not limited to those who:

• Experienced the loss of an infant or child.
• Lost a loved one to a drug-related death.
• Lost a loved one to homicide.
• Lost a loved one to suicide.

The Medical Examiner’s Office (MEO) offers grief resources, information about next steps, and short-term grief counseling.  Most of these services are provided by phone. The MEO also provides referrals to long-term counseling and other resources.

To get support, call the MEO bereavement counselors at (215) 685-7408 or (215) 685-7411 during regular business hours.

For sudden, unexpected deaths of most Philadelphia infants, children, and teens, the MEO offers counseling by phone or in your home. To learn more, call (215) 685-7402.

The Substance Use Prevention and Harm Reduction program offers grief therapy and peer support groups for individuals and families grieving a drug-related death.

Fetal and infant deaths

• First Candle – Online resources for parents after the death of an infant or toddler.
• UNITE, Inc. – Local support groups and online resources for parents after miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant deaths.
• Glow in the Woods – Online community and resources for parents after fetal and infant deaths.

Death of a child of any age

• Compassionate Friends – Support groups and online resources for parents, grandparents, and siblings after the death of a child of any age.
• Bereaved Parents USA – Support groups and online resources for parents after the death of their child.

Drug-related deaths

• Broken No More – Online community that provides support and guidance to those who have lost a loved one to substance use.
• GRASP – Online community of support and healing for those who have lost a loved one to substance use; includes listing of area peer support groups.

Suicide deaths

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) – Online resources for those who have lost a loved one to suicide, including a directory of support groups. The local AFSP chapter also offers outreach via telephone and care packages via mail to suicide loss survivors.
• Healthy Minds Philly  – Local support groups for those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

Homicide deaths

• Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia – Provides local support and free services for families who have lost a loved one to violence.
• Pennsylvania Office of Victim Services – Provides assistance in locating counseling and application forms for victims compensation.

Resources and camps for grieving children

• Uplift Center for Grieving Children – Local, free, support groups and other grief support services for children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers.
• Peter’s Place  – Local area support groups and other grief resources for children and teens (4-17) and their caregivers and for young adults ages 18-25 (located in Radnor, PA).
• The Dougy Center – Online resources for grieving children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers.
• Highmark Caring Place – Free brochures for families and professionals that address some basic concepts of grief.
• Camp Erin Philadelphia – A free weekend bereavement camp for youth ages 6-17 who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
• Camp Kesem – Online resources and free summer camps for children who have been impacted by a parent’s cancer; local camps sponsored by chapters at UPenn and Temple.
• Camp Mariposa – A national addiction prevention and mentoring program that offers free weekend camps for children ages 9-12 who have been affected by substance abuse in their families.
• A Haven (in Exton, PA) – offers free individual/family sessions and support groups for kids ages 3-18 and their caretakers, including a group for teens and groups for kids who have lost a parent or a sibling