|
Special Projects
The Center offers many services which helps bereaved families struggling with the immediate impact of their loss.
|
|
|
Empty Arms Project
The Center is currently offering a state-wide initiative which targets bereaved families struggling with the immediate impact of their loss. The Empty Arms Project provides a packet to newly bereaved parents upon leaving an emergency room. The packet contains a stuffed bear with a ribbon imprinted with the Center's toll-free number, and a card giving suggestions for coping in the next few hours and days following their child's death. These bears have been provided to 27 hospital emergency rooms across Maryland.
|
How Can I Help?
Adopt A Bear!
By adopting a bear for $20, you will be providing a local hospital a cuddly comfort bear along with literature to help ease the pain for a grieving family. In return, you will receive the Center's sincere thanks and a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. Most importantly, you will get the satisfaction of knowing you have stretched out your hand to fill a grieving family's empty arms.
To adopt a bear or to receive a bear because you have experienced a loss, please contact the Center for Infant & Child Loss at 800.808.7437 or send email to caring@infantandchildloss.org.
Things To Do If Your Child Has Died
|
|
|
Hannah's Angel Prints
The idea of Hannah's Angel Prints came from parents who wanted to assure that every bereaved family has a rememberance of that precious life. To do this, Hannah's Angel Prints project was initiated in October 2003. The center is providing funeral homes with plaster kits that will allow families to have a permanent imprint of their child's hand. It is our hope that this small rememberance will assist families as they learn to live with the loss of their child. Since this is a new project, if you have comments about it please contact the Center.
|
How Can I Offer Support?
Leave your mark!
Make your own imprint by donating $20 to Hannah's Angel Prints. You will be providing a local funeral home a casting kit along with literature to help them ease the pain for a grieving family. In return, you will receive the Center's sincere thanks and a tax-deductible receipt for your donation. You will leave you mark that will create a lasting memory for a grieving family.
To leave your mark or to receive a Hannah's Angel Print kit, please contact the Center for Infant & Child Loss at 800.808.7437 or send email to caring@infantandchildloss.org.
|
|
|
New Remembrance Quilt
A few months ago the Center asked parents to submit a quilt square as a remembrance of their child. The response was terrific. A number of parents wrote to say how thankful they were for this project. One mother may have summed it up best , she wrote, "This quilt square helps enormously as a part of each grieving parent wants others to 'know' their child. It validates our children's lives and reminds us that they had a purpose even though their time with us was so brief." And indeed, when the quilt is displayed all are interested and pay their respects to those portrayed in the fabrics.
It has been decided that the Memory Quilt will be an ongoing project. One of the Center grandmothers has kindly offered to quilt the existing squares, and leave room so others can be added periodically. The quilts are displayed at all Center events and are a special remembrance of the children that have touched all of our lives.
If you wish to contribute a quilt square please use an 8"x8" cotton/poly blend square decorated as you choose. Suggestions for making the design are: cross-stitch, transfer pictures, applique ewn, stitch witchery or glue, fabric markers/crayons, stamps, etc.
If you have any questions, call Mary le Sueur at 410-706-8466. Mail your completed quilt square to the Center office.
|
|
|
Back To Sleep
Providing a safe sleep environment for baby is important for parents and caregivers to help reduce the risk of SIDS and other infant deaths related to bedding. Since the beginning of the National Back to Sleep Campaign in 1994, SIDS has dropped 38% in the United States. Read on for more information about what to do.
|
 |
Information on ordering Back to Sleep materials, posters, light switch covers, video, "Keep Your Baby Safe and Healthy" brochures in English, Spanish, Korean and Vietnamese.
For Back to Sleep material and information visit
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/sids
|
|
|
Light Switch Covers
Since 2002, the Center has provided "Back to Sleep/Tummy Play" light switch covers to delivery hospitals in Maryland for new parents when they leave the hospital. Each year approximately 60,000 light switch covers are distributed. Now available in Spanish!
These are a very popular item among new mothers and those working in maternal and child health. If you would like a supply of the covers, please contact the Center.
|
|
|
|
Family Service