Heartstrings recognizes the importance of providing essential training for caregivers who are the first line of support to bereaved parents.  We have designed Practicing Hope:  Best Practices in Caring for Parents Experiencing Fetal and Infant Loss for medical professionals - including all staff within Obstetric and Gynecological practices, as well as inpatient staff in the hospital maternity setting.

Our Next Session will be:
Friday, April 22, 2016
8:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Forsyth Medical Center - Conference Center
Winston-Salem, NC

This half-day training will address best practices in caring for grieving parents, including a supportive plan of care for patient and caregiver, as well as parent panel discussions and collaboration with community experts.  Registration is required, details below.

Obstetric and Gynecological practices:  For many patients a fetal demise is detected during an office visit.  In addition to doctors and nurses, many other staff members interact with bereaved parents during this traumatic experience, as well as multiple points along their journey towards healing and hope.   Physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, midwives, genetic counselors, sonographers, and administrative staff will benefit from attending this training.

Inpatient hospital staff:  Numerous patients are supported by the medical staff within the inpatient hospital setting to care for their specific fetal demise experience and bereavement support needs before, during and after a loss.  Physicians, nurses, administrators, social workers, chaplains and bereavement coordinators are among the medical caregivers supporting parents at the hospital who will benefit from attending.

Registration will be available February 8 - April 8, 2016,       

Continuing education credits will be provided by Northwest AHEC.  Registration cost per person is $50.

For more information on this Practicing Hope training, please contact Cheri Timmons at 336-335-9931 or [email protected]  To download a flyer, click here.

All professionals participating in this unique training exemplify how important it is to instruct all staff on what parents need and how to support them before, during and after a loss. 

Thank you to the following organizations who were represented by participants at our May 1, 2015, Practicing Hope Training:

Novant Health WomanCare

Novant Health Triad Obstetrics and Gynecology

Lyndhurst Gynecologic Associates

Novant Health Midwifery Associates

Wake Forest Baptist Health - Department Obstetrics & Gynecology

Novant Health Today's Woman Ob/Gyn

Novant Health - Perinatal Bereavement Services

Novant Health - Women's Unit

Novant Health - NICU

Burke Hospice and Palliative Care

The loss of a child deeply affects the community at large, through personal connections and those made with healthcare and emergency workers.  The Circle of Hope enables bereaved families to honor the spirit and celebrate the lives of their children, to connect with others impacted by their deaths, and to connect with other families. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in and/or supported the inaugural Circle of Hope on August 8, 2015:

The families who shared their children with us, the medical professionals who shared their compassion, and everyone who made it possible for meaningful connections to unfold.

The Circle of Hope Steering Committee: co-chairs (and the inspiration behind everything) Tiffany Deonanan and Dr. Alison Gardner; Amanda Balwah, Susie Andrus, Kam Allen, Maureen Elrod, Anne Bandle, Ashley Wall, Annie Vorys, Cheri Timmons, Stacy Calfo.

Twain's Jackrabbit for fantastic bluegrass music throughout the event.

PorterHouse Burger Truck for delicious lunch.

And most of all Thank you to the generous sponsors who supported us!

Heartstrings is dedicated to partnering with the medical community to provide the most compassionate, practical support to parents suffering from pregnancy, infant, and child loss.

We are proud to introduce a co-operative outreach program with medical providers (Ob/Gyns, pediatricians, and hospitals) and related organizations (funeral homes) to share new support tools for parents suffering a loss.  The first outreach tools available to partnering organizations in 2015 include the following (click for more details):

Heartstrings Support Brochure

Heartstrings H.O.P.E. Brochure & Video Series

Heartstrings is proud of our community of volunteers that donate their time and effort to spreading hope to our families in need.  Volunteer opportunities range from administrative needs to event support, and we are constantly looking for new helping hands. 

Anyone can make a difference in the lives of people who are hurting in our community.  Our most pressing needs are listed below.  To volunteer, please complete the VOLUNTEER FORM or call 336-335-9931 and leave a message for Annie Vorys. We look forward to hearing from you!

Current Volunteer Needs:

Data Entry
Newsletter Article Writers
Event Photographers