The grief process can be a long and lonely road after the death of a baby. Peer Support is helpful, and often necessary for parents and siblings. The WNYPBN Virtual Support Group is here to assist bereaved families through their grief & healing journey.
Please fill out the interest form by clicking the below button. Once the form is completed or family support group leader will reach out to you.
If you are interested in either benefiting from this program as someone in need of a peer mentor to walk through your grief with you or are at least one-year post-loss and interested in becoming a Peer Mentor, please reach out to Kristen for more information
Please fill out our HIPAA form and mail to us so that we may contact you for support. This form also lets you choose to be informed of our events and programs, get notified via our newsletter and you can choose to be contacted by our Parent Telephone Support Team.
Please feel free to distribute this Care Card to friends, family and co-workers to give them a few "helpful" and "not helpful" phrases to support you during your grief. Please contact Emily Doring, 716-626-6363 to obtain printed copies, free of charge from the WNYPBN, Inc.
On March 21 2012, the Certificate of Still Birth became law. It was a proud day for many that worked to grant stillborn children a certificate. As a member of the bereaved parent community and the Executive Director of the WNY Perinatal Bereavement Network, it was moving to watch on-line live the remarks and comments made by members of the NYS Assembly and NYS Senate. I was so proud that Senator Kennedy thanked all of us who worked and advocated for this bill to become a law for years. Kelly Anderson, a bereaved mom, who is very involved with our Network was there in person representing all of us and the Network.
The law will now allow any parent who has had a stillborn child (20+ weeks) to apply for a birth certificate with the New York Department of Health. The law also has a retroactive clause that allows certificates to be requested for losses that occurred prior to the passing of this law. There is a $30.00 fee that must be submitted with the notarized application.
Christine Scott
Bereaved Mother of Jacob Wesley Scott
Former Executive Director of WNYPBN, Inc.
Download Still Birth Certificate Application:
The WNYPBN is here to help you and endure your grief, during and after your baby. Below are several support resources that we have compiled which may help you with your grief.
inSocialWork Podcast Series featured Christine Scott: Shadow Grief: Perinatal Loss & Bereavement July 8, 2013. inSocialWork is the podcast series from the University at Buffalo School of Social Work.
In 2019, WNYPBN, Inc. was chosen to be a part of the Grief Initiative, funded by the New York Life Foundation, and produced by WPSU Penn State.
Due to the restrictions and safety precautions required by New York State because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WNYPBN has to restructure our annual events. In response to this series of unfortunate circumstances, the creative team has come up with alternatives to our annual events, while still paying tribute to your beautiful babies and helping others who are in need of assistance after the loss of their babies, while keeping our community safe.
Please visit our Events tab for information about our upcoming 2022 Events and Fundraisers. We hope you are all able to participate in one or all of our events as we adapt to our “New Normal” and continue to stay in good health and be safe. We are grateful for your support!
Thank you, Emily, Christine, Sue, Kelly and our Event Volunteer Committee
