Peer companion bedside bereavement support since 2016
Please direct questions about the HUGS program to
“Hugs felt like a lifeline during the worst time of our lives. I’m so grateful that I had someone to reach out to when I needed reassurance that life would eventually feel more manageable, and that I had someone with whom I didn’t have to pretend that everything was fine.”
What is HUGS?
HUGS volunteers provide one on one grief support to families who have experienced miscarriage, pregnancy loss, stillbirth, termination for medical reasons, or infant death. HUGS has two branches: Bedside Support and Community Support, and all volunteers have personally experienced perinatal or infant loss. Bedside volunteers work closely with area hospitals and clinics and are available "on call" to support newly grieving families while they are in the hospital. Community Support volunteers reach out after a family has been discharged, or sometimes even before delivery, and continue that support for up to a year. Our volunteers work to meet you, the parents, where you are at, and offer support as you re-enter life in your 'new normal.' They are knowledgeable about area resources and offer many ideas for facilitating healing.
Bedside Volunteers
Our HUGS Bedside Volunteers are on-call to come to visit at your hospital bedside to answer questions, hold space, and offer ideas to help you through your time in the hospital. Quite often all a newly grieving family wants is to talk to someone who has been through this journey before to hear they are not alone and to give them a little hope. One bereaved dad offered a testimonial about his experience in the hospital:
“Seeing my wife in such physical and emotional turmoil when we learned that our baby didn’t make it at 20 weeks gestation was so incredibly difficult. Then, of course, my own pain started to set in, but I didn’t really give myself permission to feel it fully until two amazing volunteers from Hugs came to our delivery room. I no longer felt like I had to be the proverbial rock for my wife since the volunteers were so supportive. ”
Community Volunteers
Our HUGS Community Volunteers connect with families after discharging from the hospital, or sometimes even before delivery, and will stay in touch for up to a year after your loss. On-going support is tailored to the individual needs of each family but might include text messages, emails, phone calls, mailed cards, or meeting in person. Volunteers are able to answer questions and offer a listening ear, support the emotional needs of the family, and offer ideas to help support each member of the family. We can also accompany families to support group and other activities if interested.
“My Hugs volunteer was someone who had walked the grief journey before me. She guided me through tough days when I wasn’t sure how to put one foot in front of the other. She was there for me in ways people who haven’t experienced a death of a child couldn’t be.”
We Are Here For You
Whether through one on one peer support or through group peer support or other parent events we are here for you. You do not have to walk this road alone.
HUGS Impact
In 2024, Bereaved Parents of Madison, Inc. marked its 50th anniversary of supporting area families. Read more in this Cap Times article about the group's history and HUGS' impact.
Click here to watch a Madison TV story that explains what HUGS is doing to support area families and the impact it is having.
HUGS Volunteers
All of our HUGS volunteers have experienced baby loss themselves and have been through 8 hours of grief and bereavement training to join the HUGS program. Bedside volunteers have completed extra training to be hospital volunteers.
Have you experienced baby loss and are interested in joining our HUGS volunteer team?
Please reach out to us at hugs@bereavedparentsofmadison.com to find out more
HUGS On-call Coordinators
Our three HUGS Coordinators are on-call to answer the phone: 920-643-0217.
Calls are answered during waking hours. You may leave a message, we will gladly call you back. The coordinators rotate monthly and are in close communication with our bedside and community support volunteers.
