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The following grief counseling and support groups are available in our region. These organizations offer help to people who have experienced loss through death. Your funeral director can offer additional information at your request.
Bereavement Support Groups in Des MoinesBelow we have provided a number of local area support groups that you may want to consider after the loss of a loved one. All of the groups welcome new members and encourage you to be as active as you want to be.
At the time of a loss and immediately after, friends and family provide a great source of comfort. But as the days pass, most of us find that the support and friendship of kindred souls who have suffered the same kind of loss is both helpful and healing.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUPS FOR : Please Choose: Loss of Child Loos of a Parent Loss of Spouse Grieving Children Loss in General Mercy One Hospice Grief Counseling The Compassionate Friends
Iles Funeral Homes and Amanda the Panda have partnered together to support children and families when someone they love has died. This support is provided through services which include: Weekend camps tailored to college students, children ages 5 – 17, and adults as well as support groups, Fun Days, and Holiday Support activities and programs. Amanda the Panda provides these services free of charge to our families. Amanda the Panda’s mission is to restore grieving children and families back into the mainstream of their lives through innovative services that provide hope and healing. For additional information call 515-223-2827 or visit www.amandathepanda.org
Compassionate Friends
Self-help organization for bereaved families after the death of a child. Meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Hamilton's on Westown Parkway, Children's Butterfly Garden Reception Room, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines. Contact from other parents who have also had a child die, provides the opportunity to talk to someone who has "been there." Lending library and newsletter available. Sibling and grandparent support also.
Group Leader: Lucy Suvalsky (515) 991-0581 Main Phone Number: (515) 635-1678 Email: contact@tcfdfm.org
Iowa SIDS Foundation
The Iowa SIDS Foundation is a statewide non-profit health organization dedicated to providing emotional support to SIDS and SUID families, educating professionals and the general public about SIDS and funding medical research into the causes of SIDS.
2963 100th Street, Suite #2 Urbandale, IA 50322 E-mail: info@iowasids.org Contact: Casey Mausercasey@iowasids.org 515-965-7655
GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A CHILD
GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A PARENT
GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A SPOUSE/PARTNER
THE JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF
MONTHLY WORKSHOPS
NO ONE ROAMS ALONE (RESTORATIVE OUTDOOR ACTIVITY AND MOVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP)
UNITYPOINT HOSPICE 11333 AURORA AVENUE URBANDALE, IOWA 50322 Contact Info: Anne Alesch, MDiv (515) 782-6149 anne.alesch@unitypoint.org
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has many resources for survivors; go to their website and search by zip code.
afsp.org
Life After Death of Spouse (LADOS)
LADOS is a group o widowed persons like yourself. We meet together monthly to help ourselves and one another understand and work through the many dimensions of grief, sorrow and pain which follow the death of a spouse.
LADOS meets:
The second Sunday of each month at Grace United Methodist Church at 7:00 p.m.
www.dmarcunited.org/services/LASOS/
Bari Hoskins 515-278-2494
AMANDA THE PANDA SUPPORT GROUPS
Children (ages 5-17) grieving the death of a loved one meet in separate groups with two facilitators per group for 8 weeks on Monday evenings in the fall, winter and spring. Starting at 6:00 p.m. a meal is served and groups conclude at 7:30 p.m. No Charge.
www.everystep.org 1821 Grand Ave. West Des Moines, Iowa 50265 Contact: 515-223-4847
CAMP AMANDA - for grieving children, teens and adults
This weekend grief camp is held in April and September for grieving children (6 years and older), teens and adults. Camp dates and application forms are posted on the website. No charge.
GRIEF SUPPORT - by Gloria Dei Lutheran Church
An interactive discussion-based curriculum which helps teens who have lost a loved one go through the grief process with others who are experiencing the same emotional situations. Activities take place at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.
www.gldc.church Contact: Pastor Tim Phillips 515-276-1700 8301 Aurora Ave., Urbandale, Iowa 50322
TOG
TOG "Touching Our Grief"—This monthly group for adults meets the 2nd Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7 at EveryStep’s Bright Kavanagh Center, 3000 Easton Blvd.
Understanding Your Grief
This is an 8-week educational/support group we offer 3 times per year. Every participant gets a book and a journal for use during the group. The flyer lists the dates for the next session, but feel free to call or check the website for the next group offering throughout the year.
Braving Grief
Our Amanda the Panda program offers these groups for children, teens, and adults. They are 6-week groups and are offered 5 times per year. They include a Traumatic Loss group, a Little Footprints group, and Grief in Common (for ages 5-adult). Again, the flyer lists the dates for the next session, but checking the website will give you dates throughout the year. For the most accurate, up-to-date information, please visit our EveryStep Website where we have a list of events including all of the grief support groups available at:
https://www.everystep.or/services/grief-loss Denise Nahnsen- Hospice Bereavement Counselor Office: (515) 333-5810 Mobile: (515) 493-9694 Email: dnahnsen@everystep.org EveryStep 3000 Easton Blvd. Des Moines, Iowa 50317
Adults grieving the death of a loved one meet with two facilitators per group for 8 weeks on Monday evenings in the fall, winter and spring. A meal is served at 6:00 p.m. and groups conclude at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge. (Groups are available for children and teens 6-17 at the same time.)
www.amandathepanda.org 1000 73rd St., Suite 12 Windsor Heights, Iowa 50324 Contact: Charlene "Charlie" Kiesling 1-877-533-4847
Mind and Spirit Counseling Center
Counseling that provides understanding, hope and healing in a variety of areas including: grief and loss, anxiety, depression, stress, self-esteem, relationship problems, parent-child issues, and spiritual matters. Compassionate counselors take a mind, body and spirit approach to helping individual adults, couples and families to live more fully. Innovative services for counseling children and adolescents. An independent non-profit organization providing counseling through insurance and/or on a sliding scale or ability-to-pay basis. Office hours 8-6 Monday-Friday, evening hours available.
info@mindspiritcenter.org 8553 Urbandale Avenue Urbandale, Iowa 50322 Phone:515-274-4006
WYG Education and Support Group Spring/Summer group meets on Saturday mornings: 5/4, 5/11, 5/18, 6/1, 6/8, 6/15
We will break for Memorial Day Weekend To register and for more information call 515-643-8400 Email: ann.luchterhand@trinity-health.org
Autumn group
meets on Saturday mornings: 9/21, 9/28, 10/5, 10/12, 10/19, 10/26
To register and for more information call 515-643-8400 Email: ann.luchterhand@trinity-health.org
Winter group
meets on Saturday mornings: 1/18, 1/25, 2/1, 2/8, 2/15, 2/22 (3/1 for inclement weather)
Grief and the Holidays
Celebrating our loved ones and sharing coping strategies for the holidays November 10, 1:30 pm
For the Love of Books
(a book group model support group) Meets 4 times a year. July 17 at 3:00 Dancing at the Pity Party: A Dead Mom Graphic Memoir by Tyler Feder October 9 at 3:00 Voices of the Grieving Heart ed. Mike Bernhardt January 8 at 3:00 H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
Putting the Pieces Together: Grief and Creativity
Putting the Pieces Together: Grief and Creativity at The Des Moines Art Center. We are partnering with the Des Moines Art Center to provide a way to express emotion without words and to put together pieces of grief through mosaic making and other art forms. All that are required is interest in making something new and two Saturday mornings. No fee or experience necessary. Please call for next class.
Managing Grief During the Holidays:
An educational event that will meet one time on a Sunday afternoon in early November to help prepare us for the holiday blues. Our next meeting is November 10th.
Memories and Butterflies:
Our annual memorial service and butterfly release will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024 at 7:00pm at First Baptist Church in Johnston. The greater Des Moines Community is welcome. Contact us for your invitation and photo release.
For the Love of Books: For the Love of Books is for people aged 15 and older. We will read books based upon the themes of healing and moving forward after a loss, and will discuss your questions, reactions to what you read, the author, etc. We meet four times a year.
July17, 2024 Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli October 9, 2024 Voices of the Grieving Heart ed. Mike Bernhardt January 8, 2025 H is for Hawk Helen MacDonald April 16, 2025 The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin July 16, 2025 Someone You Love is Gone: A Novel by Gurjinder Basran
WYG:
In What’s Your Grief? we will learn about grief and coping, and share our thoughts/experiences related to grief. We will use a different style of learning and coping by utilizing lists. This style is excellent for short attention spans during the stressful time of grief. Classes are 6 weeks in length. Each class starts: September 21st, January 8th, 2025. Call or email for more information.
Rev Ann Luchterhand MDiv – ann.luchterhand@trinity-health.org Chaplain/Bereavement Coordinator 515-643-8400 Mercy One Des Moines Hospice: 500 SW 7th St, Ste 104 Des Moines IA 50309
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF DES MOINES
Services provided to families, couples, and individuals struggling with a variety of issues including grief, loss, sexual abuse, and family conflict.
601 Grand Ave. Des Moines, Iowa 50309 Information: 515-237-5045
Mine & Spirit Counseling Center
(formerly Des Moines Pastoral Counseling Center)
The Mind and Spirit Counseling Center is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community for our clients and employees. We recognize that diversity and inclusion of age, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion and disabilities will enhance our ability to honor our core values of equity, respect, compassion, and creating accessibility to high-quality services for all. Committed to creating a diverse and inclusive community for our clients and employees. We recognize that diversity and inclusion of age, gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, religion and disabilities will enhance our ability to honor our core values of equity, respect, compassion, and creating accessibility to high-quality services for all.
www.mindspiritcenter.org 8553 Urbandale Avenue, Urbandale, IA 50322 Information: 515-274-4006
Every Step Care & Support Services
Support groups are hosted at EveryStep Hospice locations in eight Iowa communities and at the EveryStep Grief & Loss Services office (home of Amanda the Panda) in West Des Moines. EveryStep Grief & Loss Services' bereavement counselors are available to meet with families or visit by phone. These services are available to anyone (not limited to hospice patients’ families). The counselor can provide families with information or simply lend a friendly ear.
All support groups are free and open to the public. To learn what services are available in your area, visit our events calendar https://www.everystep.org/about/events or call an EveryStep location near you https://www.everystep.org/locations Centerville: (641) 856-5502 Mount Pleasant: (319) 385-4472 Des Moines: (515) 333-5810 Osceola: (641) 342-2888 Mount Ayr: (641) 464-2088 website: https://www.everystep.org/services/grief-loss
MercyOne Hospice
Grief Support Group
Please RSVP by September 10th for soup and to get directions 515-643-8400 Ann.luchterhand@trinity-health.org
The Compassionate Friends
Supporting Family After a Child Dies
The Compassionate Friends Central Iowa Chapter meets: 7pm the 1st Tuesday of the month, at Hamilton's, 3601 Westown Parkway, West Des Moines IA
Chapter Phone Number: 515-635-1678 Email: Contact@tcfdsm.org Website: tcfdsm.org
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