Start a Support Group
In 1977, St. John's Hospital in Springfield, IL, along with area physicians and community members, became actively involved in meeting the needs of parents who had experienced the death of their baby due to pregnancy loss, stillbirth or early infant death. It was there that the mutual-help group Share was organized and had its initial growth.
The Share philosophy encompasses supportive hospital care and follow-up support as well as mutual-help support. All facets are seen as one very important unit, although the development was adopted as a gradual unfolding process. Growth has continued over the years, and a new name was adopted in the summer of 1991: Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc.
To start your own group contact Jeanna at the National Share Office.
What are the benefits of being part of the Share network?
- Credibility and recognition as part of the Share network - Since Share's inception in 1977, the National Share Office has gained national and international recognition as a pioneer and leader in pregnancy loss, stillbirth and early infant death issues. Because of this, Share is highly respected and acknowledged as the definitive resource on the needs and rights of bereaved parents and their families. This lends a tremendous amount of credibility to any group that is part of the Share network and that uses the easily recognizable logo. In addition, health care professionals, clergy and funeral directors, as well as researchers and authors, come to Share as their primary source to enhance their knowledge and understanding of specific grief issues and community awareness concerns.
- Support and counsel of the National Share Office - Initial and on-going direction and support in organizing and maintaining a Share Group is available from experienced National Office staff members. Timely, personal responses to inquiries and concerns from Share Groups is a top priority for the National Office. For hospital-based groups, assistance is available in establishing Share policies and protocol.
- 20% discount on purchase of books from the Share Bereavement Resource Catalog
- Access to the bi-monthly newsletter, Sharing. Our online newsletter contains articles, poems, and tributes written by parents, families, staff members and professionals. The theme of each newsletter is often related to a specific grief issue or season of the year. It is the main form of communication from the national office on upcoming events, important dates and spotlighting our support groups throughout the world.
- National listing of perinatal loss support groups and resources
- Message board support
What are the requirements for starting a Share group?
If you are interested in starting a new Share Group, the most important requirement is the desire and commitment to helping families who have suffered the devastating death of a baby, at any stage of pregnancy or early infancy. If you have suffered such a loss yourself, Share does require that it has been at least 18 months since your loss before you begin the process of starting your group.
What is the application process?
Please contact Jeanna or call 1-800-821-6819 to obtain an application packet and discuss your desire to start a group.
What are the requirements and responsibilities of Share Groups?
As a new Share Group leader, you will need to attend a Sharing and Caring Training Workshop sometime within the first year of the start up of your Share Group. This training gives an excellent foundation for everything from running support group meetings to gaining the support of your local hospital staff. We also require you to complete at least 3 hours of continuing education every two years thereafter. Since the National Share Office depends on donations to continue its mission of helping bereaved parents, we expect that a small portion of any funds your group raises, either through private donations or fundraisers, will be donated to the national office. We also encourage all of our Share Groups to keep in close contact with us so we can maintain accurate contact information as well as help with any needs you may have.
How much does it cost to start a new Share Group?
Once your application is reviewed and accepted by the Share staff, you will be sent an invoice for your start-up fee as follows:
- Independent group: $400
- Small hospital-based group (Under 300 beds): $450
- Large hospital-based group (Above 300 beds): $475
Start-up fee includes the fee for Sharing and Caring Training Workshop. Attendance at this training workshop is required of all new group leaders within the first year of starting a new group.
Once you are established as a Share Group, you will also pay yearly fees as follows:
- Independent group: $100
- Hospital/Organization based group: $300
What is included in my start-up kit?
Once your application has been accepted and your start-up fee has been paid, you will receive the following from the National Share Office:
- Sharing and Caring: Establishing and Maintaining an Effective Share Program - This is a comprehensive guide that will help you on your path of getting your group off to a successful beginning.
- A copy of the ritual planning guide Bittersweet. . . Hello, Goodbye. This is an invaluable resource for not only helping parents plan memorial services but also for planning group memorial services, walks, balloon releases, etc. It is a compilation of poems, songs, and other resources gathered by the National Share Office.
- Sample copies of Share's informational trifolds and booklets covering grief and perinatal bereavement topics.
- Previous issues of Sharing, the bi-monthly newsletter written for bereaved parents
- Share logos in various sizes for use on your own stationary, literature and printed materials
- Samples of Share stationary
- A copy of The Christmas Box by Richard Paul Evans
- Share Walk for Remembrance & Hope Planning Packet
Once you have received your start-up kit, all you need to do is contact the National Share Office when you are ready to announce your group is up and running.
