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. MADD Illinois provides assistance with medical, emotional, and legal problems after an accident.
Phone: (217) 523-MADD (6233) or (888) MADD(6233)-HELP(4357) (24 hour helpline) Email: kristi.hosea@madd.org Location: 2070 W Munroe, Ste. B, Springfield, IL 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, please reach out.
Contact Person: Jennifer Beckman, LCSW, CSW-G Phone: 309-261-7052 Email: jennifer@alschicago.org Format: Online Via Zoom Schedule: 4th Wednesday of every month, 7:00-8:30 p.m. 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.
Contact Person(s): Jane and Jerry Pica Phone: (217)-373-1321 Format: In-person Schedule: 2nd Sunday of every month, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Location: Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign. 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.
Contact Person: Cory Phone: (217) 359-3631 Email: cory@champaignfaith.org Format: In-Person Schedule: Saturdays, 9-11am. Location: Meets at Faith United Methodist Church 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.
Contact Person: Michelle Clayton or Rantoul Public Library Phone: (217) 493-8765 or (217)-893-3955. Email: Maprvi1@aol.com Format: In-Person Schedule: Tuesday , 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Location: Rantoul Public Library 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
Making Sense of Your Grief (2011 A,P)
Facilitated through OSF HealthCare, this six-week program offers a warm, caring and confidential environment that provides you the opportunity to be supported by others who understand. You are not alone.
Phone: (217) 355-4120 option 7, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
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.
Phone: (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. Meet facilitator in the lobby.
Contact Person: Dawn Sexton Phone: (800) 454-4055 Email: dsexton@sblhs.org Format: In-Person Schedule: 1st Wednesday of the month, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Location: Prairie Pavilion II at sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center Campus, 1004 Helath Center Dr., Mattoon. Local Website: sarahbush.org
*Meet facilitator in the lobby
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.
Contact Person: Melanie Long Phone: (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.
Contact Person: Diane Smith Phone: (217) 274-5349 or church office (217) 446-7876 Format: In-Person Schedule: Thursday, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Location: Grace Community Church, Fellowship Hall, 1629 King St., Tilton, Il 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.
Contact Person(s): Jane and Jerry Pica Phone: (217) 373-1321 Schedule: 2nd Sunday, 4:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Location: Stephens Family YMCA, 2501 Fields South Dr., Champaign Il
National 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.Can be found on Facebook as Empty Arms (Champaign, IL Support Group).
Contact Person: Stephanie Helfrich Phone: (217) 493-6749 Email: EmptyArms@windsorroad.org Format: In-Person Schedule: 1st Thursday of the month 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Location: Windsor Road Christian Church, 2501 W. Windsor Rd., Champaign Il
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.Please call for more information and to register.
Contact Person(s): Dorey Riegel or Andrew Martin Phone: D-(217) 337-4712 or A-(217) 443-5265 Format:-In-person Schedule: 3rd Wednesday , 5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Location: Alternate each month between Presence Covenant Medical Center in Urbana and Presence United Samaritans medical center in Danville . Email: vera.duncanson@presencehealth.org
*Please call for more information and to register
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
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