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Ampersand International
Filling the Gap in Care in Pregnancy and Infant Loss
The loss of a baby can feel like a period at the end of a sentence.​​
Ampersand International desires to bring hope in life after loss.​
An Ampersand, in the place of a period.
International
The
A.I. deeply desires to bring the opportunity for quality trauma and bereavement care where losses happen most in the world. Unfortunately, the highest rates of stillbirth and infant loss are often in areas where there is a lack of compassionate care when babies die.
A.I. offers training for hospitals, clinics, government and non-governmental organizations, faith groups and nonprofits to guide and equip them in developing their own sustainable bereavement care programs.
Local
Our Founders reside just outside of Washington D.C. and provide local support groups, individual therapy as well as our manual and training for organizations, clinics, faith groups, hospitals to create their own bereavement care programs.
Whether facing miscarriage, stillbirth, TFMR, or infant loss, A.I. strives to provide compassionate care.
Most health organizations focus on preventing miscarriage, stillbirth and infant death but often do not have a response plan for when deaths occur. As a result, these organizations are ill equipped to provide quality trauma and bereavement care in order to comprehensively serve the needs of mothers and families.
Ampersand International (A.I.) aspires to fill this gap and provide culturally sensitive training and resources for hospitals, clinics, government and non-government organizations, faith groups and nonprofits. Its goal is to ensure staff and volunteers are educated and well-equipped to provide empathetic acute maternal care to bereaved mothers and quality bereavement follow-up. In doing so, A.I. is uniquely positioned to provide accessible, impactful care to grieving families worldwide.
Our manual includes a step by step plan for creating a quality bereavement program that allows for a range of cultural considerations and resource accessibility. Data and statistics are presented to support the needs for bereavement care, especially in areas of the world that are affected most significantly by perinatal death. Important components of a quality bereavement care program are presented including Establishing a Care Team, Gathering Resources and Supplies, Creating a Network, Providing Acute Care, and Providing Follow Up Care. Lastly, an extensive appendix of resources supports the implementation.