Child Support Groups
AMANDA THE PANDA SUPPORT GROUPS (ages 6-17) Children and families meet in a group with a therapist for 6-8 weeks periodically throughout the year. Individual home or school visits available. Weekend Camps. Family “FUN DAYS”. Pen Pal Program. No Charge CAMP AMANDA (for grieving kids and families) Children’s grief camp held 3 times a year for 40 kids age 6-17. Adult Camps also held 3 times a year. No Charge. 1000 73rd. St., Suite 12, Des Moines, Iowa 50311-1321 Contact: JoAnn Zimmerman………………………………..(515) 223-HUGS (4847) GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS (ages 8-17) Offered by Children & Families of Iowa: An eight session program for children and teens dealing with issues of grief and loss. Meets once a week for an hour and a half at Children & Families of Iowa. Sliding Fee Scale. 1111 University Avenue, Des Moines, Iowa 50314 Contact: Tamra Bench…………………………………..(515) 288-1981 Ext. 317 HEALING HEARTS (grades 1-6) Offered by Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss: Program for children who have experienced the death of someone very close to them. Held periodically throughout the year. Children can feel comfortable expressing their thoughts through art, stories, silly games, talking about feelings and becoming involved with a bunny puppet named “Hamilton”. Pre-registration required. No Charge. Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Contact: Coleen Niday/Sasha Mudlaff………………..(515) 285-3911/(515) 243-5221 LITTLE HANDS AT HAMILTON’S (ages 3-5) Offered by Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss: The Little Hands Group focuses upon issues unique to the grieving three to five year old child. Activities and discussions focus on such things as understanding what death means, the many feelings that accompany grief and the healing of “memories”. However, one of the most valuable experiences for the children lies simply in being surrounded by others their own age who have also experienced a loss and in realizing that they are not alone. Child must be “potty-trained”. Pre-registration is required. No Charge. Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Contact: Sasha Mudlaff………………………………………………..(515) 243-5221 Self-help organization for bereaved families after the death of a child. Meets the first Tuesday of each month at New Home United Methodist Church, 4525 Beaver in Des Moines, Iowa, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Contact from other parents who have also had a child die provide the opportunity to talk to someone who's "been there." Lending library and newsletter available. Sibling and grandparents support also. 1100 50th st. #1004, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266 Contacts: Accidental Death: Donnafred Hinman 515-226-2141 Infant Death: Dave and Ruth Carlson 515-224-0720 Infant Stillbirth: Larry and Linda Vavroch 515-278-5963 SIDS Death: Karen Wiederholt 515-965-1922 Grandchildren Death: Dale and Ellen Jackson 515-225-2219 Sibling Death: Carey Hinman 515-226-2141 Adult Child Death: Hannah Hacker 515-255-4927 Special Needs Death: Lee Davidson 515-278-8221 Twins: Ellen and Dale Jackson 515-225-2219 Sudden Death: Barbara Lorimor 515-274-3835 Empty Arms (part of Compassionate Friends) Support group for parents who have experienced miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. Meets, along with Compassionate Friends, the first Tuesday of each month at the New Hope United Methodist Church, 4545 Beaver Des Moines, Iowa, 7:30pm-9:00pm. Discussion group is lead by a trained volunteer. Lending library and Newsletter. 4021 57th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Contact: Danielle Welch 515-253-9739 Iowa SIDS Alliance Support group for parents who have loss a child to Sudden Infant Death. Meets the second Tuesday of the month from 7:00-9:00pm in the Kelly Dining Room at Iowa Methodist Medical Center, 1200 Pleasant St., Des Moines, Iowa; P.O. Box 13274, Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Contact: Stephanie Pettie Hotline: 515-279-6928 When Babies Die - A Time For Guided Grieving Provides individual and family counseling, workshops, and literature on early infant death. "When Babies Die-A Time for Guided Grieving" is a 6 week session providing education and support for anyone who has lost a pregnancy or newborn. No charge. Pastoral Care Services, Iowa Methodist Medical Center, 1200 Pleasant, Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Contact: Chaplain Linda Bets 515-241-5845 This is only a partial listing, if you would like further information please contact any of our Directors at Kale Funeral Home grief support material is available at Barnes and Noble Additional links available
Child Support Groups
The Compassionate Friends
National Funeral Directors Association
Kids & Death