Support
Meeting Dates, Times, and Locations
Our monthly group meetings provide a forum for the open discussion of feelings and concerns. Parents are free to share in whatever way is most comfortable for them. Although there are no simple answers to the complex emotions surrounding the death of a baby; mutual reassurance is obtained in the group setting.
Our peer support meetings are held three times per month in the three different locations. The time and location of each meeting is listed below.
North County San Diego
Meets on the first Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
All Saints Episcopal Church
651 Eucalyptus Ave
Vista, CA 92084-6241, US
Southern Riverside County
Meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Mary Phillips Senior Center
41845 6th St
Temecula, CA 92590-1825, US
East County San Diego
Meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 7:00 to 9:00 pm.
Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
2766 Navajo Rd
El Cajon, CA 92020-2121, US
Meeting Topics and Speakers
August 2009 Meeting Topic: Quilt Squares
September 2009 Meeting Topic: Memorializing
October 2009 Meeting Topic: Annual Memorial Service
December 2009 Meeting Topic: Holiday potluck and making ornaments for our babies in heaven.
North County San Diego
- April 7, 2010: Speakers: Angela Amoroso and Drew Skinner
Angela and her husband Drew lost their infant daughter, Isabella, to SIDS in December 2004. Isabella died in Angela's arms with Drew sitting next to her. Isabella lived for three months and five days.Isabella's passing was a deep calling for Angela and Drew to help others move through their grief. Angela and Drew have been involved with many educational programs, including speaking at various medical seminars and symposiums and presenting at training sessions to emergency workers, first responders and public health nurses and doctors. They serve on the Southern California Regional SIDS Council that reports to the governor.Inspired by their tiny daughter, they founded Isabella's Giraffe Club www.isabellasgiraffeclub.org just two days after she was born.Angela and Drew wish to share their message that love never dies, it merely changes form. Their story is quite inspiring.
- January 2009: The Basics of Grieving - Extended Sharing Circle
- February 2009: Couples Grief
- March 2009: Topic to be announced
South Riverside County
Whitson Family Therapy (www.whitsonfamilytherapy.com)
- July 2010: Dr Julie Byrd discussing art therapy
- August 2010: Meredith discussing meditation
- September 2010: Danielle discussing anger
- November 2010: Dr Byrd discussing the effects of grief on family dynamics
- December 2010: Meredith on anxiety
- January 2009: Eliene Adams will be speaking about the Basics of Grieving.
- February 2009: Couples Grief
- March 2009: Topic to be announced
East County San Diego
- January 2009: The Basics of Grieving - Extended Sharing Circle
- February 2009: Rochelle Perper, Ph.D., a psychologist from the Center for Cognitive Therapy will talk about transforming pain into positive change. She will also address the topic of regaining your intuitive confidence following a loss.
- March 2009: Tish McAllise Sjoberg, Expressive Art Therapist, Coach and Consultant will lead the group through a simple art experience, showing how art can help us move through the feelings associated with grief and loss.
- April 2009: Topic to be announced
- May 2009: Andrew Skinner and Angela Amoroso Skinner, founders of Isabella's Giraffe Club, will share the story of their little angel Isabella who lived for 3 months and 4 days before she passed as a result of SIDS. In her memory and in her honor, Andrew and Angela have done some incredible work - their story is quite inspiring.
- August 19th, 2009: We will be making our individual quilt squares in remembrance of our angels. Although materials will be provided, feel free to bring anything you would like to use to decorate your square(s).
- September 16th, 2009: Topic to be announced
- October 14th, 2009: In honor of Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month we will be remembering our babies with a Memorial Service and sharing our memories. Please bring any pictures, books, or mementos you would like to share.
Lending Library
A valuable resource at monthly meetings is the lending library, which contains an extensive collection of literature. The books are available for check out in our library and topics include: general grief and healing, pregnancy loss, the loss of multiples, men’s grief, children’s grief, memorializing, poetry/inspiration, infertility and subsequent pregnancy.
Our bibliography of titles available through the Empty Cradle lending library is being updated, and will be available soon.
Telephone Support
Parents can receive individual telephone support through a network of trained resource parents, all of whom have experienced a loss. Parents who are in need of support are matched with a resource parent that has had a similar type of loss. The resource parent can offer comfort, support, friendship and hope to the newly bereaved parent.
We also offer telephone support to those parents that are experiencing a subsequent pregnancy, as this can be a very scary time for parents who have experienced a previous loss.
Parents can request telephone support by calling the Empty Cradle phone line at (619) 595 3887 or (951) 686 LOSS (5677). You may also request phone support by filling out the form below.
Request For Phone Support
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Empty Cradle
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