Dear All..I post this so all here can see the inservice success that SA has had.
I post this to let you know that our Advocacy and Awareness that we promote both
for individuals AND for inservices DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. We have been doing
inservices for 23 years!! (Participating in our Outreach for Healing Programs
also promote support..4Bs, March of Dimes, memorial services, etc.) I am
grateful to everyone who makes an effort on whatever level to bring our issues
to others...

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Dear All,

Here is a recent email that I received last month...

" Our Bereavement Committee has done a lot of education of our staff, but the
SHARE Atlanta Conferences bring you to another level. I had the opportunity to
attend the SHARE Atlanta conference at our sister facility, Kennestone. (Feb.
2008) It was one of the best conferences I have attended. If you could let me
know the process of scheduling a conference, I would greatly appreciate it. Have
A Great Day!

Andrea Dotson-Gray, GSW/LMSW
WellStar Cobb Hospital
Women's Center Social Worker"

I/we am/are going to be giving another (our 4th) 2 hour presentation at the
Wellstar Developmental Center off of I-75 on Windy Hill on March 27 from 2 to 4
pm. I know the time isn't great, but it is what they wanted us to have so we
could do 2 hours. We usually speak to around 60 to 80 nurses/social workers
during these inservices. Many are new in their profession, but others are
gathering CEUs. They represent hospitals from all over the Atlanta/GA area. It
is an excellent venue to get the word out!!

I will be presenting our power point as we have in the past both there and at
inservices such as Kennestone. I would love to have at least one or two moms or
dads who could share with the audience as we to through the pp. I will carry
the program, but will invite comments and ideas for what helped you in the
hospital, etc. It also helps the audience to see that healing does happen and
how SA supports that healing.

I usually suggest that parents have been through their first year before joining
us for inservices. But, sometimes, a parent will feel as though this is
something they really wish to do before that first year is complete. If this is
your situation, we can talk about if it will work for you. We have enough
members so I NEVER want ANY parent to feel they HAVE to participate to make an
inservice happen. That isn't true with our group.

Below is a recent transaction between a bereaved mom and SA about Cobb Hospital.
Cobb with the help of SA volunteer Coretta Monroe and the SA inservices they
have attended are a clear and wonderful example of a nursing staff that takes
care of their bereaved parents. I sent this note to Andrea and she was pleased
to realize that what they are doing is working! (Coretta took our 2008 memorial
tree to Cobb and they have decided to keep it in the room that they have for
newly bereaved parents.)

"Marcia,
Believe it or not the hospital Social Services Dept-Wellstar Cobb was very
helpful with everything; we appreciate them so much. They gave me a Certificate
of Birth, locks of her hair, hand/foot prints, a SHARE Atlanta pamphlet, blanket
and outfit, (even though I had a blanket, and clothes) it just allowed us to
change outfits for the pictures. SHARE Atlanta has been a big help for me and I
continue to read the pamphlet to keep me going."

So, please help me make another inservice opportunity our best step for advocacy
and awareness!!

Take care,
Marcia
The love stays...forever in our hearts.
http://www.shareatlanta.org/legacy/SAoutreachbooklets.htm Find out what all SA
members do, and how you can be part of SA...all in memory and honor of your
baby.