Organizations and Support Groups

Finding Support After a Loss

Support Groups

Loss of a Child – Any Type of Death

• Compassionate Friends: The Compassionate Friends supports families after the loss of a child at any age. The Rochester chapter meets on the 2nd & 4th Tuesdays of each month from 7:15–9:00 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church of Rochester, 220 South Winton Road.
  Contact: Steven at (585) 727-9584, stecola1214@yahoo.com

Loss of a Child to Cancer

• Cure Childhood Cancer Bereavement Group: CURE supports families through the loss of a child to cancer or blood disorders. CURE meets on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 7:00–8:30 p.m. at the CURE office, 200 Westfall Road. Contact: Michelle Magin at (585) 473-0180, Michelle.Magin@curekidscancer.com

Infant/Child Losses

• SAIL: SAIL (Strong Arms in Infant Loss) supports families through stillbirth, miscarriage, and infant loss. SAIL meets on the 3rd Saturday of each month from 10:00–11:30 a.m. at the Ronald McDonald House, 333 Westmoreland Drive. Contact: Melisa Gaspard
• Forget Me Not: Forget Me Not supports families through stillbirth, miscarriage, and infant loss. Forget Me Not meets on the 4th Tuesday of each month from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Contact: Kim Doolittle at (585) 454-9299 or by email at  forgetmenotrochester@gmail.com

Loss of a Child to Congenital Heart Defects

• Mended Little Hearts Angels: Mended Little Hearts Angels supports families who have lost a child to a congenital heart defect. Mended Little Hearts Angels meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 10:00–11:30 p.m. at Mary Magdalene Church, 1008 Main Street in East Rochester. Contact: Lindsay Brooks (585) 698-5326, ljbrooks720@gmail.com or Laura Edwards at (585) 703-8359

Loss of a Loved One to Crime/Violence

• Rise Up Rochester: Rise Up Rochester’s Moving Forward group offers support to families of homicide victims. Moving Forward meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month at 2:00 p.m. at 244 S. Plymouth Ave. Contact: Marcella Cunningham (585) 745-0072, mcunningham@ccsi.org; Retha Rogers (585) 745-0069, rrogers@ccsi.org; Ms. J. Scott (585) 745-0070, jscott@ccsi.org

• ROC the Peace: ROC the Peace offers two support groups for families. All meetings are held at 3000 Mt. Read Blvd, Ste 202. Call or text Sirena at (585) 820-4049 for more information.

  • Why My Baby?! is for adults who have lost a loved one to homicide, suicide, or prison. Why My Baby?! Meets twice a month on the 2nd Friday and last Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

  • Youth for Peace is a twice a month group for young people age 5-18 who have lost a family member or close friend to violence.

Loss of a Loved One from a Drug Overdose

• HOPE for Survivors - Those Whom Drug Overdose Leaves Behind: HOPE for Survivors is for those struggling with death by drug overdose of a child, sibling, parent, spouse, partner, relative, or friend. HOPE meets on the 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30–8:30 p.m. The group meets in person in Syracuse at the HOPE Center, 4500 Onondaga Blvd and there is a Zoom option for those who live out of town. Contact: HOPE (315) 475-9675 for more information.

Loss of a Loved one from Suicide

• HOPE for Survivors - Those Whom Suicide Leaves Behind: HOPE for Survivors is for those struggling with death by suicide of a child, sibling, parent, spouse, partner, relative, or friend. HOPE meets on the 2nd Wednesday of the month from 6:30–8:30 p.m. The group meets in person in Syracuse at the HOPE Center, 4500 Onondaga Blvd and there is a Zoom option for those who live out of town. Contact: HOPE (315) 475-9675 for more information.

Support for Grieving Children/Siblings

• Dreams from Drake: Dreams from Drake offers support to children and teens who have suffered the loss of a sibling or parent. Dreams from Drake offers monthly healing circles for kids and a summer program for children. Contact: Jamie Erskine-Pettit (585) 225-5606 or Haverly Erskine (585) 230-7109, info@dreamsfromdrake.org