Minnesota Support Group Meeting Locations and Times
Kentucky Support Group Information
Online Support Groups
GRACE Support Group Information
A Warm and Welcoming Atmosphere
Group Activities
Member Attendance
Pregnant Members
Meeting Cancellation Policy
Childcare During Meetings
Meeting Location Information
Group Facilitators
Starting a GRACE Support Group
GRACE Support Group Information
A GRACE Support Group is a safe place to find community with others who have had a
pregnancy or infant loss, or face fertility challenges. The groups are open to
individuals and couples looking to work through grief in healthy ways, and to commemorate their loved ones who left this world and the arms of their loving parents too soon.
MGF Support Groups traditionally meet 2 times a month for 2 hours at each meeting.
Meetings start with introductions and often include a time of open discussion and
sharing of individual stories. Members have an opportunity to share any recent
challenges they are working through or are anticipating as well as any areas of progress
they have made in their journey. The facilitators will prepare hand outs and materials
for topics that are pertinent to the current attending member needs and requests
(i.e. Marital issues, strained family and friend relationships, and difficult
days on the calendar such as anniversaries, due dates and
holidays, ). Facilitators may offer
a book for purchase for members to collectively read over
the course of several weeks. On occasion guest speakers are invited and videos
may be shown. When it works for a particular group, the facilitator may start a
meeting with couples together, and then break into separate male/female groups
for a brief period of time.
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A Warm and Welcoming Atmosphere
The atmosphere we create for our groups is one of grace,
gentleness, kindness, and respect. We ask that those participating in or joining
a group for the first time come with an open mind, making a point not to judge
others in how they choose to grieve while giving room to one another to be
at the place they are, without having to make excuses. We want people to be
real with one another and feel comfortable enough over time to be vulnerable
with their group in processing their grief.
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Group Activities
Often times, members from within the group form beautiful friendships.
Our hope is for members to create a tight knit community with
which they can share in the grief journey through the years. This happens through
the process of members having had time to join together in doing positive things to
process through grief. People get to know one another through the discussions at
the meetings, however, it is often through the activities both done
during meeting times as well as outside of group that the deeper friendships are cultivated.
Facilitators plan various activities together with their participating members
helping to determine what kind of things they want to do together as a group.
Activities that might be offered for bereaved families may include: having a potluck/BBQ,
scrap booking of a memory album, making birth announcements, making thank you notes,
planting a memorial garden, knitting baby items, making gifts to give to newly
bereaved parents, watching a short video, doing community service projects, and
attending memorial events.
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Member Attendance
GRACE Support Groups run ongoing and participants are welcome to attend for as
long as they feel the need. Typically members attend the group regularly or
off-and-on for 6 to 18 months. It is a delight to see friends of old who return
to visit the group after having not attended for a long while. Returning members
stop in to touch base, share their news of their newest additions to their family or
to receive support for issues that have brought their grief back into the forefront
of their life.
Members who attend the group for longer periods may wish to still be involved to
help give back and support other new members. This can be cathartic as they see
how far they have come personally compared to the person dealing with fresh grief
and it feels good to give back in memory of their baby.
To first attend a GRACE Support Group, we request that interested participants please
contact the facilitator at their given number or email and provide their name, email
address and phone number. It is helpful, too if they can share their circumstances
that have led them to seek out attending the group. Facilitators email out a reminder
the day of or the day before each support group meeting which includes meeting location
and information including any meeting changes or special announcements.
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Pregnant Members
Bereaved parents who are new to grieving often have difficulty with seeing and
being around others who are pregnant. Conversely, a grieving mother/couple who
is pregnant following a loss, can also feel anxious with an intense array of emotions
as they worry about the wellbeing of their baby. Pregnancy can also bring up many
new grief emotions not addressed before. Frequently, members of the group will
go on to have more children and yet still wish to attend the group. In order for
the GRACE Support Groups to feel "safe" for all members, a Pregnancy Policy was created.
Pregnancy Policy
The first meeting of the month, the mom can attend up until 13 weeks pregnant or
until she is obviously showing. After that time, she is welcome to attend the second meeting
of the month. Newly bereaved members can choose not to attend the second meeting of the month
and will be spared having to see the pregnant belly of women and not have to face
dealing with the emotions that can trigger in the setting of their support forum.
It is "ok" for pregnant couples to give mention of their pregnancy (fears, upcoming
important dates, etc.) but the meeting is not to have an overall focus on pregnancy rather,
it is intended to be a support group focused on the grief issues. It is appropriate and
encouraged when members meet early, stay later and to meet out of group to discuss pregnancy and
other personal things.
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Meeting Cancellation Policy
In the event of inclement weather or a facilitator is sick and can not lead the
meeting, an email will be sent out to members notifying of the cancellation.
In addition, when possible, facilitators will personally call or ask a member
of the group to help call all current attending members to notify them of the cancellation.
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Childcare During Meetings
Due to the sensitive nature of the where people may be emotionally after a loss
or with their infertility, we ask that babies and small children not be brought
with into the support group meeting room. Childcare currently is provided only at our Rogers
Support Group location.
For parents interested in utilizing the childcare, we simply ask that they provide
notice to the facilitator by the day of the meeting with information about the number
and ages of children who will be coming. This allows us to plan accordingly.
Missing GRACE pays the fee for the childcare staff and provides snacks, toys and
activities for the children. Freewill donations for the childcare fees are
appreciated but not required of parents who utilize the childcare.
The Center for G.R.A.C.E. offers a play castle that provides great entertainment
for the children along with knight and princess themed imaginative play items.
Please note: Childcare is only offered at the Rogers location at the Center for
G.R.A.C.E.
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Meeting Location Information
The first GRACE Support Group started out of a facilitator’s home and then as the
group grew it transitioned to meet at a church. Currently, GRACE Support Groups
are held at Faith Lutheran Church in Coon Rapids, MN and at the Center for G.R.A.C.E.
in Rogers, MN.
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Group Facilitators
It is important to understand that our facilitators are not professional psychologists
or counselors, and the meetings are not intended to be a private counseling session.
We do not promote any one type of treatment for depression, anxiety, or infertility.
We offer resources and support materials for people to make their own determination
as to what direction they choose to take with these issues. These are Support Groups,
and we are working to help create a small community network of others who can share
in the journey with you, both in the hard times and later down the road as there are
brighter days. Our hope is that you will form some lasting friendships with others
in your support group and you will not only glean from the group some strength and
courage for the journey, but also find yourself offering such support to others.
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Starting a GRACE Support Group
If you are interested in facilitating and starting a GRACE Support Group in your
area, please contact Missing GRACE at 763-497-0709 or email
info@missinggrace.org. Training, lesson materials and support are provided
to MGF Support Group Facilitators. There are many families in search of support
who cannot find a local group in their area at this time. Help us ensure that no
family has to go this journey alone without support! The men and women who attend
our groups share what a vital role the group had in their healing and survival.
Every member has stated in their evaluations of the group, how important it was
to connect with others who understood from personal experience what they were going
through. If you are a bereaved parent and are ready to give back in honor of your
child and help others, this may be an ideal way to start!
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