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Peer Contact Manual for Bereavement Support

One of the primary goals of First Candle/SIDS Alliance is to mobilize volunteers and professionals to provide compassionate and meaningful support services to every family and individual in the United States who suffers the death of a baby. 

Through the coordination of peer contact training efforts, we establish and foster a crucial affinity between family members who have experienced similar tragedies. 

We have found that parents and family members who have reconciled their own grief can be a source of comfort and support for newly bereaved families in ways that may be beyond the experience of relatives, friends and professionals. 

We encourage those interested in becoming Peer Contacts to be a minimum of one year past the death of their baby.  It is important that they have experienced specific “milestones” such as the first birthday, first holidays and first anniversary of death, to enable them to provide support to other families experiencing such milestones. 

For more information on becoming a peer contact, email info@firstcandle.org. 

Peer Contact Training Manual (PDF 800kb)