Self-Help Center

Bereavement

Bereavement (General)

Central Illinois

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD Illinois) (1980 A,L) This group provides phone support and victim court advocacy to people who are coping with the loss of a loved one from an alcohol-related crash. Contact MADD for meeting times. Meets at 2070 W. Munroe, Ste. B, Springfield, IL. MADD Illinois provides assistance with medical, emotional, and legal problems after an accident. Call: (217) 523-MADD (6233) or (888) MADD(6233)-HELP(4357) (24 hour helpline) Email: kristi.hosea@madd.org Local Website: madd.org/local-offices National Website: madd.org Write: MADD Illinois, 276 E. Deerpath Rd., Unit 405, Lake Forest, IL 60045

Champaign

Always Loved & Supported Bereavement Support Group This is a specialized program to support those who have lost a loved one to ALS. The focus will be on helping those bereaved to cope with their loneliness, how to understand their new roles, and healing ways to manage their emotional pain. For questions regarding the program, pleas reach out to Jennifer Beckman, LCSW, CSW-G. Meets the 4th Wednesday of every month 7:00-8:30 PM over zoom. Call: (309) 261-7052 Email: jennifer@alschicago.org

Bereaved Parents of the USA, Champaign-Urbana Chapter (2012 A,L) This group provides support for any adults who have lost a child, grandchild, or sibling. The group is the local chapter of the national nonprofit organization, Bereaved Parents of the USA. Meets 2nd Sun., 3:30-5:00 p.m., Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign. Call: Jane and Jerry Pica (217) 373-1321 National Website: bereavedparentsusa.org Write: Jane Pica, 2521 Pinehurst Dr., Champaign, IL 61822

GriefShare (Faith United Methodist Church) Starting Saturday, January 6, this group provides a 13-week, grief recovery seminar and support group. The program is nondenominational but comes from a Christian perspective. There is a $20 fee for a workbook. Meets at Faith United Methodist Church on Saturdays, 9-11am. Call: (217) 359-3631 Email: cory@champaignfaith.org National Website: griefshare.org

GriefShare (First United Methodist Church) This group provides a 13-week, grief recovery seminar and support group. The program is nondenominational but does feature biblical teachings for recovery. The focus is on healing. There is a fee for a workbook. Meets at First United Methodist Church. Call: Susan Schultz Email: National Website: griefshare.org

Grief Support Group (2023) This group provides support for those grieving from the loss of a loved one. Meets every Tuesday at the Rantoul Library from 10 am to 12 pm. Call: Michelle Clayton (217) 493-8765 or The Rantoul Public Library: (217)-893-3955. Email: Maprvi1@aol.com Local Website: rantoul.lib.il.us

Life After Loss Support Group (1990 F,P) This 7 week support group provides a place to connect with others who are going through loss, share memories of the person who died, learn about the grief process, and explore new ideas to help you cope and heal. Articles and resources are used from authors who specialize in grief. A packet of information will be provided to you to help facilitate discussion. This group is open to all grieving adults in the community who have experienced a loss through death and led by a trained facilitator. Call: (217) 902-3332 Email: jean.oliver-holder@carle.com

Presence Grief Support Group (2011 A,P) Facilitated through Presence Covenant Spiritual Care, this six-week program offers those grieving the loss of a loved one time to share stories, support, and hope with others who are grieving. The group meets in the Fall and Spring; contact Vera Duncanson for more information and to register Call: Vera Duncanson (217) 337-2487 Email: vera.duncanson@presencehealth.org Write: Vera Duncanson, Presence Covenant Pastoral Care, 1400 W. Park St., Urbana, IL 61801

Rainbows For All Children (1983 A,P/L) This program offers groups to help children who are grieving the loss of a parent or guardian due to death, divorce, deployment or other loss. Contact Rainbows to find groups. Call: (847) 952-1770 Email: info@rainbows.org National Website: rainbows.org Write: Rainbows for All Children, 614 Dempster St., Ste. C, Evanston, IL 60202

Coles

Pathways Through Grief (1991 F,L) This group provides education and support for anyone experiencing a loss through death. Meets 1st Wed. of the month, 6:30-8:00 p.m., Prairie Pavilion II at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Campus, 1004 Health Center Dr., Mattoon. Meet facilitator in the lobby. Call: Dawn Sexton, Bereavement Counselor at Sarah Bush Lincoln Hospice. (800) 454-4055 Email: dsexton@sblhs.org Local Website: sarahbush.org

Macon

Hidden Victims Phone Support (F,P) This program provides phone support to people who have survived the death of a significant other from a homicide or DUI fatality. The service is provided by the Victim Services Coordinator of the State’s Attorney’s Office. The service also provides survivors with individual therapy by a licensed therapist. Survivors must be referred to therapy by the services coordinator. Therapy is provided through grant funds. There is no cost. The incident must have occurred in Macon County. Survivors must cooperate in the prosecution of a case. Survivors who reside outside of Macon County may participate in individual therapy if they are able to come to the program. Call: Melanie Long, Certified Advocate, Victim Services Coordinator (217) 424-1419 Email: mlong@sa-macon-il.us Write: Melanie Long, Macon County State’s Attorney’s Office, 4th Fl., 253 E. Wood St., Decatur, IL 62523

Vermilion

GriefShare (Southside Church of the Nazarene) (2004 A,P/L) This group provides a 13-week, grief recovery seminar and support group. The program is nondenominational, but does feature biblical teachings for recovery. The focus is on healing. There is a fee for a workbook. Meets Thurs., 6:00-7:30 p.m., fall and spring, Grace Community Church, Fellowship Hall, 1629 King St., Tilton. Call: Diane (217) 274-5349 or church office (217) 446-7876 National Website: griefshare.org Write: Diane Smith, Grace Community Church, 1629 King St., Tilton, IL 61833



Death of a Child or Unborn Child

Champaign

Bereaved Parents of the USA, Champaign-Urbana Chapter (2012 A,L) This group provides support for any adults who have lost a child, grandchild, or sibling. The group is the local chapter of the national nonprofit organization, Bereaved Parents of the USA. Meets 2nd Sun., 4:30-6:00 p.m., Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign. Call: Jane and Jerry Pica (217) 373-1321National Website: bereavedparentsusa.org Write: Jane Pica, 2521 Pinehurst Dr., Champaign, IL61822

Empty Arms (2006 F,L) This grief support network was established by two mothers who experienced the loss of their infants. The group provides understanding and compassion to parents who have suffered the loss of a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death at any time in the past. Grieving parents, adult family members, and their friends are invited to learn more about the grief process, to grow through the experience, and to share in each other’s lives. Meets 1st Thurs., 6:00-7:30 p.m., Windsor Road Christian Church, 2501 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign. Can be found on Facebook as Empty Arms (Champaign, IL Support Group). Call: Stephanie Helfrich (217) 493-6749 Email: EmptyArms@windsorroad.org

Share Support Group – Presence Covenant (2015 A,P) This group is for those experiencing perinatal loss (the loss of an infant during pregnancy, at birth or shortly following birth). There will be brief presentations, but mainly it is a time for parents to discuss their own experiences of grief and their coping strategies. Meets 3rd Weds. 5:00-6:00 p.m. alternating each month between Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana and Presence United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville. Please call for more information and to register. Call: Dorey Riegel (217) 337-4712 Urbana or Andrew Martin (217) 443-5265 Danville Email: vera.duncanson@presencehealth.org

McLean

Compassionate Friends – Bloomington/Normal Chapter (1986 A,L) This group is a national, self-help support organization offering friendship, understanding, and hope to families grieving the death of a child of any age, from any cause. There is no religious affiliation and no fees are charged. All bereaved family members are welcome. Contact The Compassionate Friends national office for current local meeting information. Call: National Office of The Compassionate Friends (877) 969-0010 Email: nationaloffice@compassionatefriends.org National Website: compassionatefriends.org



Survivors of Suicide

Champaign

Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group The purpose of this group is to come together to share our unique, yet common, experience as people who have a common story of losing a friend or loved one to death by suicide. Facilitators are trained by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and attendance is ongoing for as long as is helpful. There is no fee, however, an initial orientation interview is required before joining. MEETS: 2nd Monday of each month, from 6:00-7:30 PM. Currently the group meets online. A Zoom link will be sent by email after the initial interview. Email: Diane Fall at survivorsofsuicideloss.cu@gmail.com

Peoria

Survivors of Suicide Grief Support Group (Peoria) (1989 A,P/L) This group provides support to anyone who is grieving over a death by suicide. It does not provide support for those who have attempted suicide. The group is not for children or adolescents. Group literature is available. Call: Rev. Eimo Hinrichs (309) 697-3342 Email: eimopat@aol.com Write: Rev. Eimo Hinrichs, 5032 W. Burns Ave., Bartonville, IL 61607

Number: Year group was formed
A: Affiliated with a state, national or international group
F: Freestanding group
L: Lay run/organized group
P/L: Professional and lay persons share facilitation/organizational roles in group
P: Professional facilitates and/or organizes group meetings