- TCF believes that bereaved
parents can help each other toward a positive resolution of their grief.
We understand that each parent must find his or her own way through
grief. We know that expressing thoughts and feelings is part of the
healing process. We offer an opportunity for sharing and learning from
other bereaved parents. We do not offer professional psychotherapy or
counseling. We seek the cooperation and the support of the professional
community but do not depend on it for supervision or formal guidance.
We welcome the opportunity to share with the professional community
what we have learned about the needs of bereaved parents.
- TCF reaches out to all bereaved
parents across barriers of religion, race, income or ethnic group. We
espouse no specific religious or philosophical ideology. We support
our activities through voluntary contributions and assess no dues or
fees. We do not participate in legislative or political controversy.
We express our individual views on controversial subjects with respect
and consideration for those who may disagree with us.
- TCF understands that every
bereaved parent has individual needs and rights. We never suggest that
there is a correct way to grieve or that there is a preferred solution
to the emotional and spiritual dilemmas raised by the death of our children.
Everyone deserves an opportunity to be heard. No one is compelled to
speak. All have the responsibility to listen.
- TCF helps bereaved parents
primarily through local chapters. We have established local chapters
to provide sharing groups that create an atmosphere of openness and
honesty. We believe that local chapters should be autonomous in all
matters except those affecting other chapters or the organization as
a whole. We believe that chapters succeed most frequently if there are
three or more founders, at least two of whom are a year or more from
their loss and including at least one father and one mother.
- TCF chapters belong to
their members. We treat what is said at meetings as confidential and
what we learn about each other as privileged information. We recommend
that attendance at meetings by the media, by students, or by other observers
be permitted only with prior announcements and with the consent of the
chapter members.
- We realize that some time
must be spent on organizational problems and financial matters but we
prefer to keep this to a minimum and out of the regularly scheduled
TCF meetings.
- TCF chapters are coordinated
nationally to extend help to each other and to individual bereaved parents
everywhere. We maintain a national office to serve us by assisting in
the development of new chapters, by offering support and consultation
to existing chapters, and by responding to bereaved parents where there
is no local chapter. We have learned that it is often easier and more
effective to provide program material and educational services by working
together at the national or regional level than to work alone. We seek
opportunities to share with society the insights our grief has brought
us that future bereaved parents may receive needed understanding and
support. We encourage other family members, especially siblings, to
share in our task of mutual support. We acknowledge our responsibility
to support our local and national goals by contributing what we can
of our time, our talent, and our resources.
- Adopted 1981
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