Our Vision:

Bereavement Services is the leading national and international provider of bereavement training and support services for professionals who care for bereaved families. Recognizing death as a part of life, and grief as a normal, healthy response to loss, Bereavement Services teaches an interdisciplinary approach to help professionals implement effective, consistent bereavement care in their own healthcare, organizational, or community setting.

Our Mission:

Bereavement Services’ mission is to

• provide and promote dignified, respectful, and compassionate bereavement care for patients and families suffering loss throughout the continuum of life
• develop and distribute bereavement training and support resources for healthcare professionals and their patients, and for organizations and communities concerned for the health of their members
• establish and maintain professional expertise and international leadership in bereavement care education and support services

In 1981, Bereavement Services developed a comprehensive approach to caring for families whose babies died during pregnancy or shortly after birth. In 1981, the RTS program (formerly known as Resolve Through Sharing) was unique in healthcare. But today, more than 29,000 healthcare professionals have completed RTS Training. Based on our experience and research, we’ve found that these skills can be learned. We’ve developed other bereavement courses and a wide range of bereavement resources to support continued bereavement care and education throughout the world.

Bereavement Services is a department of Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation, Inc., La Crosse, WI.