Bereavement Support Services

Culturally-Competent Support Services

Provision of Culturally- and Linguistically-Appropriate Bereavement Support

Program staff must be able to address the bereavement needs of a diverse population. To meet the needs of underserved populations in receiving culturally-appropriate bereavement support, programs should:

• Work with representative community organizations to prepare and disseminatematerials.
• Provide leadership and resources for recruitment and retention of persons of color.
• Provide training on cultural competency and health problems associated with particular ethnic groups.
• Ensure translation of materials and services into other languages.
• Support local ethnic group support providers such as funeral homes and faith institutions.

Funeral homes are a major provider of bereavement support in many underserved communities. Funeral directors have an important role in providing an early positive outlet for grief, knowledge of existing local resources to assist a family in making arrangements, planning the funeral services and assistance to the parents in their return to work.14

Developed by the Program Support Center at First Candle with collaborative assistance from the Sudden and Unexpected Infant/Child Death and Pregnancy Loss Centers.