Resources

We’ve created a list of trusted local service providers, widowed groups and crisis services that can offer assistance in your time of distress.

External

Crisis Services

Widow Care is not a crisis hotline. If you are in a crisis situation, please call 911, or find a list of crisis services below.

other

grief

groups

Widow Care offers monthly peer support groups, which can be found here. If you're looking for additional grief or bereavement groups, find a list of local groups below.

Widowed persons may need assistance with things like financial planning, searching for new jobs, transportation & more. Find a list of local service providers below.

Widow Care hosts monthly social meet-ups, found here, but we also created a list of other social groups below.

Crisis services

Telephone Hotlines (24/7):​

• Crisis Call Center -  Call: (775) 784-8090

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline -  Call 1-800-273-8255

• Online Crisis Network - Call 1-800-442-HOPE  1-800-442-4673

• PRS CrisisLink - Call 703-527-4077 (24/7)

Text or Online Chat:

• Crisis TEXT Line - Text “SUPPORT” to 741-741 (24/7).

• Crisis Call Center - Text: “ANSWER” to 839863

• Suicide Prevention LifeLine CHAT - Chat online, or call 1-800-273-8255

Grief groups

In addition to our own peer support groups found here, we aim to connect members with other grief groups in the DC/Maryland/ Virginia area, or even nationwide, we have compiled a list of resources below. We know this list is small right now, but it’s only growing! If you’re interested in Widow Care promoting your group, then contact us at marissa@widowcare.org.

Maryland​​

Bereavement support groups

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Baltimore County, MD

• Baltimore County Govt. Local Support Groups

  • Baltimore County, MD

  • This website​ contains a list of support groups located within Baltimore County, Maryland. The list is broken down into categories including bereavement/grief, caregivers, etc. 

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FRederick County, MD

• Hospice of Frederick County

  • Frederick County, MD

  • Programs include general grief support groups, specialized spousal loss support groups, and specialized categories depending on the type of loss.

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montgomery County, MD

• CaringMatters

  • Montgomery County, MD

  • CaringMatters ​serves children, adults and families who are facing life-threatening illness or have experienced the death of a loved one. They offer free groups specifically for those affected by spousal loss. Groups are broken down into different age groups and are held in various locations throughout Montgomery County. 

• Holy Cross Hospice

  • Montgomery County, MD

    • ​Holy Cross offers specialized grieving support through groups targeting those who have suffered the loss of a spouse/partner.

• Jewish Social Service Agency (JSSA)

  • Montgomery County, MD

  • ​JSSA offers faith-based support, including bi-monthly support group for those who have lost their spouse within the past year. These groups are free, but registration is required.

• Holy Cross Hospital

  • Montgomery County, MD

  • Holy Cross Hospital​ offers a variety of support groups focusing on grief, caregiving, and more.

• Montgomery Hospice

  • Montgomery County, MD

  • Montgomery Hospice bereavement support groups and workshops are open to all who live or work in Montgomery County. 

  • All the programs are free. There is a $25 non-refundable registration fee for the six-week Support Groups.

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prince george's County, MD

• Capital Caring

  • Prince George's County, MD

  • Capital Caring offers a variety of grief groups, support groups and workshops including groups specifically for those dealing with the loss of a spouse.​​

• Hospice of the Chesapeake 

  • Prince George's County, MD

  • ​Chesapeake Life Center grief support is available to anyone in our community who is grieving the loss of a loved one, regardless of their relationship to hospice or the type of loss. 

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queen anne's County, MD

• Compass Regional Hospice ​​

  • Queen Anne's County, MD

  • Compass Regional Hospice programs include adult support groups, holiday workshops, remembrance events & more-- for all types of losses.

Virginia

Bereavement support groups

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northern va

• Capital Caring

  • Fairfax, Loudoun, Henrico & Prince William Counties, VA

  • ​Capital Caring offers a variety of grief groups, support groups and workshops including groups specifically for those dealing with the loss of a spouse.​​

• Circle of Support

  • Fairfax County, VA

  • ​The Circle of Support invites participants to come together to learn and share their feelings, thoughts, questions, challenges and concerns. Group meetings usually have 10 or fewer participants. 

• Haven of Northern Virginia

  • Fairfax County, VA

  • They offer a variety of programs, including a Six-Week Suicide Loss Support Group, a Six-Week Widow/Widower Bereavement Support Group and a Six-Week General Bereavement Support Group.

• TAPS- 

  • Fairfax County & Arlington County, VA​

  • The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a loved one who died while serving in our Armed Forces or as a result of his or her service. TAPS Care Groups provide safe spaces for honest discussions focused on grief, loss, and connection in a structured support group format. In most cases, Care Groups are lead by a TAPS Peer Mentor and a mental health professional.

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Washington, D.C.

Counseling services

• Capital Hospice

• The George Washington University Community Counseling Services Center

• Whitman Walker Clinic (for LGBT & AIDS related bereavement)

• Wendt Center for Loss and Healing

• Monthly Grief Support Group by Kevin Bliss in SW DC

• Washington Hebrew Congregation

• The Washington Home & Community Hospices​

• Washington Adventist Hospital

• Washington Regional Transplant Community Young Widowhood Groups​

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Other Grief Resources

Losing a loved one is unimaginably heartbreaking, and can cause a lot of stress-- not just from the grief, but also due to the insurmountable piles of paperwork & responsibilities that arise.

Many people question how to budget on a single income, how to gain access their late-spouse's bank accounts, and how to sustain their lifestyle. Even worse, many widowed individuals end up losing their jobs due to missing work during their initial grievance period, adding to the stress of the situation.

To help our members tackle all of the obligations that may arise following loss, we've created a list of local resources below.

Other social groups

In addition to our monthly support and social events, we update our website with other local and national Widow/Widower events. We know this list is small right now, but it’s only growing! If you’re interested in Widow Care promoting your social/support events, then contact us at marissa@widowcare.org. If you’re interested in seeing Widow Care’s meet-ups, click here.

Groups:

• Widows/Widowers of Howard County

• Widowed Stepping Forward Connection

• The Boomer Gang- For Widows/Widowers of the Senior Variety