Resources for Bereaved Families
The following is a list of support programs that provide services to bereaved families. We would encourage you to interview the program and ask specific questions regarding the program’s philosophy, group structure, fees, and goals.
Support for Children and their Families:
After the Death of a Close Family Member (adult or child)
The Companionship/University of ChicagoComer Children’s Hospital
Meets on the South Side of Chicago near University of Chicago Hospitals (773) 834-1776
-support group for children, teens and adults caregivers
Adventist St. Thomas Hospice
Meets in: Burr Ridge
(630) 856-6990
-support group for children, teens and adults. They also have a camp in the summer.
Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center-Braveheart Center
Meets in the South Suburbs; Flossmoor, Dolton
(708) 283-8150
-adult support group for adults with children; individual counseling services
Good Mourning/Rainbow Hospice
Meets in the North Suburbs; Park Ridge
(847) 685-9900
-support groups for children (ages 3-18) and their families
Herbie’s Friends/Fox Calley Hospice
Meets in Geneva
(630) 232-2233
-support groups in various locations in Kame and Kendall counties; short-term individual counseling (2-3 sessions)
Heart Connection at Little Company of Mary Hospital
POMC (Parents of Murdered Children) at Little Company of Mary Hospital
Meets in Ecergreen Park
(708) 229-5484
-support groups for children and their families dealing with grief and also a group for parents of murdered children
Hospice of Northeastern Illinois-Center for Loss and Hope
Meets in Barrington and Crystal Lake
(847) 381-5599
-support groups for children and adults in community locations; individual counseling for a sliding scale fee
Journey Toward Healing/Loyola University Medical Center
Meets in Maywood
(708) 216-1646
-support groups for children and adults
Rainbows
Programs through local schools and religious institutions
(800) 266-3206
Willow House
Meets in: Arlington Heights, Libertyville, and the Ladiview neighborhood in Chicago
(847) 940-0779
-monthly support groups for children, teens and their adult caregivers
Support in Indiana:
Brooke’s Place for Grieving Young People
Meets in Indianapolis, IN
(317) 705-9650
-support groups for young people age 3-20 (college age included) and their adult caregivers
Support for Children and their Families:
After The Death of a Child or Infant:
Hearlight (Also offers a Spanish-speaking group, Luz del Corazon, on the Northwest side of Chicago)
Meets on the North side of Chicago, on the 2nd & 4th Thursday of the month for the English group, and the 1st & 3rd
Thursday of the month for Spanish group
(773) 975-8829
-support groups for siblings and parents
After the Death of a Parent or Caregiver”
Buddy’s Place
Meets in LaGrange
(708) 354-5280
-support groups for families; individuals counseling paid by insurance or sliding scale for persons residing in the area
Midwest Palliative and HospiceCare Center
Meets in the North Suburbs, Glenview, and Lake County, IL
(847) 467-7423
-support groups for children and families; individual and family counseling for a sliding scale fee
After a Cancer Related Death:
Gilda’s Club
Chicago
Noogieland program for children
(312) 464-9900
-support groups and activities
Wellness Place
Palatine
(847) 221-2400
-brief short-term counseling for children and families and referrals
cancercare.org
(800) 813-4673
telephone counseling and support, online support groups (located in New York, but online available to all)
Cancer Wellness Center
Northbrook
(847) 509-9595
-programs and activities
Kids Connected/Cancer Support Center
Homewood
(708) 798-9171
-support groups
After a Homicide/Murder:
Homicide Survivors Support Group/Cook County States Attorney Office
Chicago
(773) 869-5321
POMC (Parents of Murdered Children) at Little Company of Mary Hospital
Meets in Evergreen Park
(708) 229-5484
Support for Children and their Families:
After a Suicide:
Journey Towards Healing/Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood
(708) 216-9056
-support groups
LOSS (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)/Catholic Charities
Local Chapters
-support groups; individual and family counseling
Willow House
Wilmette
(847) 940-0779
-support group for children, teens, and their families
Individual and Family Counseling:
The Barr Harris Children’s Grief Center
Individual counseling and child guidance services to families on a sliding scale of payment in multiple locations.
Main Number: (312) 922-7474
Downtown Chicago: (312) 922-7474 Ext. 313
Little Company of Mary Hospital: (312) 922-7474 Ext. 415
La Rabida Children’s Hospital (312) 922-7474 Ext. 421
Highland Park Hospital: (312) 922-7474 Ext. 416
Swedish Covenant Hospital: (312) 922-7474 Ext. 428
Riverdale Resource Center: (312) 922-7474 Ext. 430
Institute for Therapy through the Arts
Chicago, Evanston, Buffalo Grove
(847) 425-9708
Karen Freehill
Southside of Chicago/South Suburbs
(708) 802-0689
Center for Grief Recovery
Northside of Chicago
(773) 274-4600
Mary Pappas, LCPC
Chicago
312-787-5840
Chicago Center for Family Health
Downtown Chicago
(312) 372-4731
Kirsten Randall
Southside of Chicago
(773) 643-1940
Illinois Masonic Behavioral Health Services
Northside of Chicago
(773) 296-3220
Center for Psychological Services
Oak Lawn – takes many insurance plans
(708) 424-0001
Courtney Bell, LCSW
Northside of Chicago and Bloomingdale
(630) 924-0199
Cindy Thelan
Oakbrook
(630) 415-0674
Support for Grandparents:
Heartlight/Children’s Memorial Hospital
Chicago
AGAST (Alliance of Grandparents, A Support in Tragedy)
(888) 774-7437
www.agast.org
Support for Adults after a Death:
Compassionate Friends (Death of a young child or adult child)
Call for a group in your area.
(877) 969-0010 National number
www.compassionatefriends.org
(773) 721-8817 Southside Chicago area (Univ. of Chicago Hospital)
(708) 748-6940 Little Company of Mary Hospital (Evergreen Park, IL)
(708) 748-6840 Rich Township Center (Richton, IL)
(815) 544-9864 Northwestern IL Chapter (Belvidere, IL)
(773) 384-5744 Northside of Chicago area (4350 W. Sunnyside)
(219) 662-0902 Valparaiso, Indiana
The Bereavement Program of Northwestern Memorial Hospital (Death of an adult)
Meets in Chicago
(312) 296-6972
-support groups for adults who had a loss through death; limited individual counseling available
Journey Toward Healing/Loyola University Medical Center
Meets in Maywood
(708) 216- 1646
-groups for adults grieving the loss of a spouse, child, adult child, loss by suicide, and a motherless daughters group
Horizon Hospice
Meets in River North neighborhood of Chicago
(312) 733-8900
-support group for adults grieving the loss of spouse/significant other, and loss of parent
Hyde Park Grief Support Group
(312) 733-8900
-support group for adults grieving the loss of spouse/significant other
Coffee and Comfort – Support Group for the Loss of a Child at any age
Meets in Orland Park and Lansing
(708) 532-4900
Providence Home Health and Hospice Care
Meets in South Holland
(708) 331-0400
-bereavement group for adults
Adventist St. Thomas Hospice
Meets in Burr Ridge
(630) 856-6993
-Adult loss of parent group
Cindy Thelan
Meets in Oakbrook
(630) 415-0674
-Bereavement Adults support group
Support for Adults after the Death of an Infant:
SIDS Alliance of Illinois
Chicago/Naperville
(630) 305-7300/ (800) 432-SIDS
Footprints/Fox Valley Hospice
Geneva
(630) 232-2233
Journey Towards Healing/Loyola Hospital
Maywood, Nancy Kid (708) 216-1646
(708) 216-9056
Caring Connections/Christ Medical Center
Oak Lawn
(708) 684-5175 or (708) 684-1146
HANDS
Roselle/Wheaton
(630) 582-0874
Pregnancy Loss Support Group
Oak Park
(708) 848-2227, at Parenthesis Parent Child Center, 405 S Euclid Avenue
Perinatal Loss Support Group/Edward Hospital
Naperville
(630) 527-3263
Perinatal Loss Support Group/Evanston
Evanston
(847) 570-2882
Pregnancy and Loss Group/Provena St. Joseph’s Hospital
Joliet
(815) 725-7133
Still Missed/LaGrange Hospital
Lagrange
(630) 856-4497
Resolve Through Sharing/Lake Forest Hospital
Lake Forest
(847) 535-6336
support group, can bring husband, friend, mother, etc.
Meets 7-8:30pm, 3rd Tuesday of the month, free
H.O.L.D/Lutheran General Hospital
Park Ridge
(847) 795-3165
Perinatal Loss Support Group/Rush Pres.
Chicago
(312) 942-2298
Together in the Loss of a Child/Northwestern
Northwestern Hospital-Chicago
(312) 908-8400
Still Missed/Hinsdale Hospital
Glendale Heights
(630) 856-4497
Renew Through Sharing-
NW Community Hospital
Arlington Heights
(847) 618-5220
Healing Habitat Art Therapy- Rita Gerden
(847) 934-3033
Chicago Spanish-Speaking Therapy Resources:
Access Clinics
(773) 254-6044
47th Street & Kedzie
Back of the Yards Mental Health
(312) 747-3560
4313 S. Ashland
Catholic Charities
(312) 655-7700 (intake)
Greater Lawn Mental Health
(312) 747-1020. Social Work Referral required
4150 W. 55th Street,accept public aide
Metropolitan Family Services
(773) 884-2235 (intake)
3843 W. 63rd Street. Waiting list, sliding scale from $5 – $100
Bereavement Camps for Children
Hand Together, Heart to Art ($50 per child/scholarships are available)
Downtown Chicago
2 Two-week sessions, non-residence arts camps for children ages 7-14 who’ve experienced the death of a parent;
limited capacity; may need a letter of reference
(312) 922-2110 Ext. 353
Camp Courage/Hospice of Northeastern Illinois ($25/week, scholarships available)
Day Camp for 4 days in July in Ingelside, IL
Bus picks up and returns to Barrington, IL
(847) 381-5599
Grief Takes a Hike/Fox Valley Hospice (Free)
(630) 232-2233
Must reside in Western Cook County, Kane County, and parts of McHenry County
Weekend overnight camp for kids (ages 4-18) and their parents
Busses leave from Geneva, IL
Camp Care/Midwest Palliative and Hospice Care Center (free)
- Family Day Camp in Glenview, IL
Overnight Camp and Adventure Camps in Wisconsin for children and teens
2. Camps for kids 4th, 9th grade for all types of loss in Lake Geneva
(847) 556-1999
Tommy’s Kids Camp ($25 per child/scholarships are available)
- 5-day summer camp for ages 5-12 in Willowbrook
For children who have experienced death of family member or friend
(630) 856-6485
2. Day camp in Clarenden Hills, held at Arabian nights farm, Western Theme.
St. Thomas Hospice
Burridge
(630) 856-6990
Websites where grief and bereavement resources can be ordered: