Bereaved Parent Support - The TEARS Foundation - Free Ongoing Groups

The TEARS Foundation walks beside families through one of life’s heaviest losses — the death of a baby or child. Headquartered in Puyallup, Washington with chapters across the country, TEARS pairs practical help (including funeral assistance) with ongoing emotional support built on a philosophy it calls companioning.

What to Expect

Instead of telling you how to heal, TEARS goes with you on your journey — coming alongside as you choose how you need to grieve and honor your child, and helping as much or as little as you want. Ongoing support groups for bereaved parents offer a safe, compassionate space to share with others who understand, and the foundation’s Centers for Child Loss extend that support to families grieving a child of any age. TEARS also hosts remembrance events throughout the year and a moderated pregnancy and infant loss Facebook community for support between meetings.

Who This Group Is For

Parents and families grieving a pregnancy loss, the death of an infant, or the loss of a child. If counseling or other community resources would help, TEARS will assist in finding them — but the heart of the program is parent-to-parent companionship.

Why Peer Support Works

The death of a child can isolate parents even from each other; friends often don’t know what to say, and the world moves on far too quickly. Sitting with other bereaved parents who speak the same language of loss validates grief that has no timeline. The companioning model — presence over prescription — reflects what bereavement research keeps finding: grieving parents heal best when they are accompanied, not corrected.

How to Join

Support groups are offered at no cost. Email families@thetearsfoundation.org for current group times and availability, or call (253) 200-0944. Visit the TEARS Foundation website to find your state’s chapter and learn about additional programs, including funeral assistance for families who have lost a baby.