What is Community Grief Support Service?

CGSS is a safe place where people grieving the death of a loved one can meet with others who have had this experience and understand. Together they learn how to regain control of their lives in an environment of care, comfort and healing.

Who provides this service?

Clinical Director Steve Sweatt, LPC/LMFT, supervises our grief support programs, our counselors and graduate interns. Together, they provide individual grief counseling and facilitate our support groups. Steve also provides couples and family counseling. All of our counselors are trained in bereavement. Trained volunteers who have experienced a personal loss assist with support groups.

Can anyone come to CGSS for grief support?

Any bereaved adult, 19 years or older, is welcome to participate in our support groups or receive grief counseling. Whatever your loss has been – spouse, parent, sibling, adult child, grantparent – 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 here.

What will it cost me?

Not one cent! All CGSS services are free. So often, times of bereavement are also times of great financial strain. CGSS has found that those who can, “give back” in time, making it possible for the next grieving person to experience support and healing.

So, who pays for the service?

Caring foundations, businesses, faith-based organizations and individuals fund these services through their grants and gifts. The need grows constantly and we hope never to have to turn anyone away due to lack of funds. We also have annual fund-raising events such as “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 or near Birmingham, Homewood, Ensley or North Shelby.

Do you help people who don’t live in Birmingham?

CGSS services are available free to all bereaved adults in the five-county Birmingham area. People come to us from Jasper, Pell City, Gadsden, Sylacauga, Tuscaloosa and other surrounding towns. We recognize the need for support groups in Bessemer, Trussville, Gardendale and other growing communities. When CGSS has sufficient funding to ensure that service in those areas, once begun, can be continued, we hope to establish a presence there as well.

A lot of your meetings are in churches – is CGSS affiliated with any religious group?

No. CGSS has no religious affiliation. 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 holds some group meetings in church, school or library facilities because they are made available to us as a service to the community and at no charge.