The Compassionate Friends
Bereavement Peer Support and Grief Resources · About this organization
What you get
Peer-led chapter meetings, moderated live chats, and private Facebook groups connect bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings with people who understand child loss.
How to start
Choose a support process: locate a local chapter, register for a live chat, request a private Facebook group, or submit the grief-material packet form.
Good to know
- It's for after the loss of a child, grandchild, or sibling, not while your child is in treatment.
- Live chat sessions may occasionally be unavailable when a moderator cannot attend.
The details, as published
Free local and online peer support plus customized grief materials for parents, grandparents, and adult siblings grieving a child of any age and from any cause.
What help you may get
Bereavement And Memorial Support
Local and online bereavement peer support
Peer-led chapter meetings, moderated live chats, and private Facebook groups connect bereaved parents, grandparents, and adult siblings with people who understand child loss.
Noncash help · Recurring
Can cover
- Local chapter meetings
- Live online chats
- Private moderated Facebook groups
Does not cover
- Professional grief counseling
- Local schedules vary; live chats have a weekly schedule and depend on moderator availability.
Navigation Guides And Advocacy
Customized grief-resource packet
TCF emails a customized packet of bereavement materials and can include contact information for the nearest chapter.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- Customized bereavement information
- Nearest chapter contact information
Why this may help
Navigation Guides And Advocacy: Bereavement information and the nearest chapter's contact details help you find local grief support.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. Support is based on bereavement after a child's death from any cause, so a family bereaved after pediatric B-ALL is included.
Age
No numeric age limit is published.
- The deceased child may have been any age; online sibling chats are limited to adult siblings.
Treatment status
Bereavement
- Services are for bereaved parents, grandparents, guardians, and adult siblings after a child, grandchild, or sibling dies.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Nationwide chapter network and online support in the United States..
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- Online Support Community — Moderated live chats offered on a published weekly schedule.
- Local chapters — Peer-led local support groups across the United States. — Chapter locations found by ZIP or city/state.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Caregiver, Community Referrer
- Choose a support route: locate a local chapter, register for a live chat, request a private Facebook group, or submit the grief-material packet form.
- For packet requests, send customized materials by email within the published 2–3 day estimate.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page
- Online Portal · Open form or page — Select Enter Room and register with a username and password.
- Web Form · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
No documents are listed.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Applicable |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 27, 2026 |
- Live chat sessions may occasionally be unavailable when a moderator cannot attend.
- Access pages and forms are live; individual chat sessions may be canceled if no moderator is available.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Support is for bereavement after a child's, grandchild's, or sibling's death, not for families during active treatment.
- Online chats are peer support, not professional grief counseling.
- Online sibling chats are for adult siblings.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 27, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Chapters - The Compassionate Friends · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Online Support (Live Chat) · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Request Grief Resource Materials · checked Aug 27, 2026