Resources for Providers Supporting Families in Loss
Supporting families through pregnancy and infant loss is sacred work. It is also heavy, complex, and often lonely. Providers are asked to hold grief, offer guidance, and maintain professionalism — all while managing their own emotions.
You don’t have to do it alone. Resources exist — for skill-building, for education, and for emotional support.
Why Providers Need Resources Too
We often remind parents that they can’t pour from an empty cup. The same is true for providers. Without resources, supervision, and support, the weight of repeated loss can lead to compassion fatigue, burnout, or disengagement. Investing in your own development and well-being is not indulgent — it’s necessary for sustainable, compassionate practice.
Trusted Organizations and Trainings
Here are some established resources that offer both training and community for providers:
Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support — Offers resources for families and professional trainings for providers in bereavement care.
PLIDA (Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance) — Provides education, guidelines, and networking opportunities for healthcare professionals worldwide.
Resolve Through Sharing (RTS) — Evidence-based bereavement training designed specifically for medical staff.
The MISS Foundation — Focused on education, advocacy, and support for providers and families navigating child and pregnancy loss.
Continuing Education for Mental Health Providers
Mental health clinicians can access specialized trainings in perinatal mental health through Postpartum Support International (PSI). Their certification programs and continuing education courses include modules on pregnancy loss, grief, and trauma-informed care.
Even therapists already skilled in grief work find that perinatal-specific training equips them to meet the unique needs of families navigating miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss.
The Importance of Peer Support
Beyond formal training, providers benefit deeply from consultation and reflective practice. Joining peer groups, case consultation circles, or supervision cohorts offers a place to process the emotional impact of loss.
When we connect with other providers, we remind ourselves that we are not alone in carrying these stories.
Closing Thought
Resources aren’t just for families. They’re for us, too. Providers who seek out training, support, and community not only sustain their own well-being, but also strengthen the care they can offer grieving parents.