Resources

Grief Resources

This is a Retreat Center similar to Healing Hope that is located near Brainerd, Minnesota. This is where Healing Hope founders, Denny and Karri, went after their son died. We highly recommend them if you're closer to that area. Healing Hope is a product of Smile Again and we actually use similar programming. 

This free two-day camp for children and youth ages 7 -17 will include fun and laughter and offer hope and support as the children and youth participate in a variety of activities including a scavenger hunt, games, art and wood working projects, swimming, camp fire, music, and times for discussion and sharing. There will be prizes, fellowship, and a whole lot of fun!

Parents will have their own grief program they get to attend during the day with breakout times to interact with their children.

Sad Isn’t Bad is a free grief counseling and support program for children and adults who care for them. This non-denominational community program is open to all school-age children (K-12) and their parents or caregivers. 

Mourning Hope, located in Lincoln, Nebraska allows children, adults and families the opportunity to participate in grief support groups with peers their own age who have experienced similar loss.

Participants and clients are taught healthy coping skills for dealing with the death of a significant person. They are given the freedom to grieve in their own way and at their own pace.
Ultimately, they learn that hope and healing are possible, and that no one ever has to grieve alone. 

Led by death educator and grief counselor, Dr. Alan Wolfelt, the Center for Loss is an organization dedicated to helping people who are grieving and those who care for them. You will find numerous resources on their website. We highly encourage you to check out his book, Understanding Your Grief. 

A support group for parents who've lost children. They meet once a month in different cities. For more information and locations, click on the link below.

Awakening Grace encourages families during the loss of a child during pregnancy and infancy to grieve bravely, heal gently, and remember boldly. To support these families, Awakening Grace provides Care Packages during or after their loss at any time. These Care Packages include comfort and memorial items as a small token of remembrance and love from our family to theirs. Burial garments can also be chosen from items kept on hand or may be custom made at the time of the loss. These garments are for babies of any gestation or age, including during pregnancy from 0-12 weeks, 12-20 weeks, 20-42 weeks, and after birth, 0-12 months. 

Lorrie can take your child's clothing or special items and turn them into a beautiful memorial piece that you can treasure forever. Bears, pillows, blankets, furry weighted bears.... custom-made with love and prayer. Contact Lorrie Merkwan at 605-254-3912 or lmerkwan@hotmail.com. 

Silver thumb-print jewelry, custom hand-stamped jewelry, and many other unique designs. Custom orders and ideas accepted. Contact Shelli Felderman at 605-450-0261.

The Oaklyn Foundation provides emotional, financial, and educational assistance and support to families experiencing the loss of a child regardless of gestation or age. They offer weighted bears, care packages, and remembrance gifts.

We highly encourage you to find a counselor in your area that fits you and your family. Here are just a few ideas. 

​Mary Weber - Catholic Family Services, Sioux Falls, SD - 605-988-3775

Stronghold Counseling, Ellie Larsen, Jan Sanford, Marlene Ruff, Earl Witt, Sioux Falls, SD - 605-334-7713   

Abide Counseling Services, Anna Beard - Sioux Falls, SD 605-988-8125

Agape Counseling Center, Erin Sanford - Brandon, SD - 605-582-4722

Nancy Hines - South Sioux City, NE - 402-412-2000

Heart Therapy, Molly Pace - Sioux City, IA - 712-318-3351

Heartland Counseling Services, South Sioux City, IA - 402-494-3337 also has offices in O'Neill, Ainsworth, and Valentine, NE

Family Life Counseling, ​Carol A. Larson - Kearney, NE - 308-210-3638