Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. to Offer Bereavement Trainings

BRADENTON – The Healthy Start Coalition of Manatee County, Inc. was recently selected as one of only 15 organizations nationwide to complete a train-the-trainer, faith-based bereavement initiative at Georgetown University to support and assist families dealing with the loss of a child.

The training, sponsored by the Institute of Child and Human Development, First Candle, and the National Institute for Cultural Competence, covered skills development to provide appropriate services to families who have lost a child due to myriad circumstances including infertility, stillbirth, or accidental infant death.  

Healthy Start is now prepared to provide this training, which includes a curriculum, to any faith-based, civic, or social service organization interested in implementing a bereavement service/ministry or in equipping peer counselors, lay ministers, pastors, or staff with skills, resources, and support when dealing with bereaved families.

Despite a decline in overall infant mortality in the United States and an approximately 50 percent initial decline in reported Sudden Unexpected Infant Death deaths since the institution of the Back to Sleep Campaign, there continue to be significant racial and ethnic disparities in the rates of infant death. Thus the families needing both bereavement support and risk reduction efforts are more likely to be culturally, racially and ethnically diverse.

The National Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death & Pregnancy Loss Project at the National Center for Cultural Competence is designed to impact state and local SUID programs, family support and advocacy organizations, national organizations related to SUID/infant death issues and the three other national centers funded by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau. Activities of the project are designed to increase the capacity of these programs and organizations to incorporate cultural and linguistic competence into their services and supports, materials and training efforts, and community engagement.

To request a training, or for more information, contact Luz Corcuera, HSCMC Program Director at luz@hsmanatee.com.

Healthy Start Manatee is a community coalition dedicated to enhancing maternal and infant health care.  Since its inception in 1992 its goal has been to ensure women’s and infants’ access to prenatal and pediatric care, as well as to promote healthy birth outcomes, positive parenting, and optimal child development.  For more information, visit www.hsmanatee.com.