Cathy Blanford, has had over 20 years of experience working with grieving children. This work began in the 1980s when Cathy started Positive Care, a program for HIV+ children who were orphaned or separated from their birth families. As a part of her position with Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Cathy found homes for the children and supported both the children and their families through the grieving process when a number of the children and their birth parents died due to AIDS.
Cathy's work with grieving people continued in hospice. She served with Elmhurst Memorial Hospice in Elmhurst, IL as a chaplain and bereavement coordinator. Cathy founded and directed the Children Grieve Too grief groups at Elmhurst Memorial Hospice. She then founded and is currently directing the Tommy's Kids Support Group at St. Thomas Hospice in Burr Ridge, IL.
Cathy is also currently serving as a bereavement counselor for Still Missed, a support program for families who have experienced pregnancy loss. This program is a part of the Adventist Hinsdale Hospital in Hinsdale, IL. Cathy wrote Something Happened after seeing the need families have to explain a sudden infant loss to their surviving children.
Cathy has a Masters Degree in Early Childhood Development from Erikson Institute in Chicago, IL.
Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA.org)Parents & health professionals helping bereaved families.