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 and on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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