Appalachian District Health Department

Policy and Procedure Policy Name Clinical Protocols and Procedures Policy Topic Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Grief Counseling

Section 500

Approved Date: 1/89

Chapter 512

Revised Date:

Purpose: To ensure Appalachian District makes SIDS Grief Counseling and information available for parents have lost infants due to SIDS (when applicable) in Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties. Policy:. It is the policy of Appalachian District to maintain a minimum of one SIDS counselor in Appalachian District Health District in order to make SIDS Counseling available to residents of Ashe, Alleghany and Watauga counties. Procedure: 1. A minimum of one SIDS Counselor will be trained by attending the Women’s and Children’s Health Section SID’s Basic Training, annual update and provide appropriate grief counseling for bereaved families. 2. Counselors will maintain current knowledge of program guidelines. 3. Grief Counseling and documentation will be provided according to program guidelines. 4. A designated backup will be assigned for ADHD area, by having two trained SIDS counselors in the district. 5. Updates offered by the state will be attended by the SIDS counselors in Appalachian District.

1|Clinical Protocols and Procedures – SIDS Grief Counseling