 Community
Grief Support Service
“Making
a Difference”
CGSS
is a place of care, comfort and healing for people who
walk the grief journey. Begun in the 1990’s as a
service of Ridout’s Funeral Homes, the program grew
and, in 1996, CGSS was incorporated as an independent
nonprofit agency.
Since
that time, CGSS has continued to provide compassionate
professional grief support, at no charge, to adults who
struggle with the painful aftermath of loss. We have grown
consistently, always trying to reach more of those in
need.
Our
Clinical Director, Steve Sweatt, is a Licensed Professional
Counselor and a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist.
Steve supervises all of our programs as well as our counselors
and interns. Counselors trained in bereavement lead all
of our support groups.
Can
anyone come to CGSS for grief support?
Any
bereaved adult (19 years or older) is welcome to join
our support groups or receive individual counseling. Whatever
your loss has been – spouse, parent, sibling, adult
child, grandparent – CGSS is here for you. Whether
yours is a recent loss or whether it occurred further
in the past, if you are struggling with your grief, you
are welcome.
Community
education programs are open to everyone. CGSS has directly
helped more than 10,000 bereaved persons in the Greater
Birmingham area and indirectly helped many more thousands
of their family members, friends and coworkers. While
that sounds impressive, you should know that CGSS reaches
less than 10% of those in need!
Why is that?
Well,
for one thing, CGSS does not charge for any service. So
often, times of bereavement are also times of great financial
strain. CGSS has recognized that those who are able typically
“give back” over time, making it possible
for the next grieving person to experience the same hope
for healing.
So,
are those donations enough to support CGSS services?
No. CGSS receives substantial support from foundations,
businesses, and faith-based communities as well as from
caring individuals. But the need grows constantly and
we hope never to have to turn anyone away due to lack
of funds. So we also have fund-raising events –
“Birdies for Charity” in the spring and “Lift
Your Spirits” in the fall.
Are
CGSS services available in my part of town?
Yes, if you live in Birmingham, Homewood, West End or
North Shelby. Our services are available to all adults
in need in the five country metropolitan area. People
come to us from Jasper, Pell City, Gadsden, Sylacauga,
Tuscaloosa and other surrounding towns. We recognize the
need in Bessemer, Trussville, and other growing communities.
When CGSS has sufficient funding to ensure that services
in those areas, once begun, can be continued, we hope
to establish a presence there as well.
I
notice a lot of your meetings are in churches –
is CGSS a religious organization?
No. CGSS has no religious affiliation. CGSS holds larger
group meetings in church, school and library facilities
because they are made available to us at no charge. CGSS
is respectful and supportive of persons of all faith groups,
as well as persons who are related to no faith group,
who desire grief support. We recognize the value of faith
or central core beliefs in dealing with loss.
CGSS
MISSION
To
enhance the quality of life for bereaved adults who face
the challenge of rebuilding their lives without their
loved ones, by providing grief support groups, professional
grief counseling and grief education.
OUR
LOGO
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The CGSS logo shows fellow strugglers encouraging
one another, helping one another and learning
from one another. The upward movement illustrates
the uplifting healing power of a support group
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How We Help --
Grief support
groups – Grief support groups provide
a safe supportive environment in which to share and
learn to cope with life following the death of a loved
one. CGSS held 16 support groups in 2009, representing
more than 400 support group hours. Most groups were
loss-specific. New outreach groups were begun in the
West End and North Shelby. CGSS will offer 20 support
groups in 2010.
Individual
grief counseling – In 2009, more
than 360 hours was devoted to individual counseling.
These clients included referrals from Alethia House,
The Amelia Center, The Crisis Center, The Lovelady Center,
Oasis, Pathways, TASC, hospice and faith-based organizations
and others.
Continuing
support – Friendship Groups are formed
at the conclusion of many support groups. These continue
to meet informally and independently, as group members
often form close friendships. Many such groups continue
meeting for several years.
Grief-in-the-Workplace
Initiative - Our educational program for
employers and employees provides crisis intervention,
consultation with managers, workplace counseling and
educational seminars such as “Lunch and Learn”.
Please see Programs for upcoming lunch-and-learn events.
Community
Education - CGSS fosters partnerships with
others involved in bereavement services, provides speakers
on grief topics, distributes newsletters and offers
Internet resources through our website and online Grief
Library.
"Hope
for the Holidays” Community Programs
- The holiday season can be difficult for those who
have recently lost a loved one. Our free annual Holiday
Help programs encourage a time of remembrance and offer
practical ways to cope with this emotional time. More
than 130 people attended the program in 2009, cosponsored
by Ridout’s Funeral Home and featuring nationally-known
grief psychotherapist and performing artist Paul Alexander.
Holiday
Help events are offered on request to groups or as lunch-and-learn
programs. Watch our “Events”
page for the details of 2010 Holiday Help programs.
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