FAQs
Heartlinks does not bill insurance. Billing insurance requires a mental health diagnosis and Heartlinks believes grief is a problem in living and not necessarily an issue of mental health.
Our services are open to all, regardless of their ability to pay. We do not want finances to limit individuals and families from receiving services at Heartlinks.
We do ask all clients to make donations of whatever they can afford for each session/group meeting they attend. No clients are turned away for an inability to donate.
Our services are funded through donations, fundraising and grants.
Heartlinks serves anyone (all ages) who is grieving the loss of someone significant in their life. We also serve those who are grieving the anticipated loss of someone significant due to terminal illness or serious, life-changing illness.
Officially, we serve a six-county area in Southern Illinois (St. Clair, Madison, Monroe, Clinton, Washington and Randolph counties). Individuals and families from other areas use our services as well.
Many schools, churches, mental health agencies and other human service programs use Heartlinks as a resource for information for their clients.
Absolutely! While Heartlinks Grief Center is an outreach program of Family Hospice of Belleville Area, we are open to all even if they do not qualify for hospice or if they choose not to utilize hospice care.
The majority of clients we serve (98%) come from the community and have not used hospice services.
If you are confronted with the change and scary times that comes with a serious illness, we are here for you. While our support groups have a grief focus, we meet individually with families managing serious illness to help them find ways to cope and support one another. Call us and see what we have available for your particular need!
Our counselors are able to serve clients in person as well as virtually and over the phone however, the majority of our support groups meet in person.
Depending on where you live, there may be closer grief resources for you. Contact us!
We offer individual and family grief counseling, support groups and community services.
You can only know by trying. Come and visit with our staff first to get a feel for our program and environment.
When you try a group, anticipate the first visit to feel slightly uncomfortable. The second group session will feel a little better and by the third group meeting, you will have a good sense if the program is right for you.
If the group you've tried is just not the right fit, please let our staff know. We have connections to other programs and groups. Our goal is to help you find the right place and the right resources.
At adult groups, we talk, learn new coping strategies, share pictures and memories. Occasionally we will watch videos of share articles.
At children's groups, there is some talk and learning along with a lot of play, art, games and togetherness.
Throughout the year, we have additional gatherings and activities.
You are welcome at Heartlinks for as long as you need to be here. Most clients attend regularly for over a year and then maintain contact as needed.
Because grief is an ongoing process, people stay in touch with us as they live with their loss over time and life changes.
Many clients grow into becoming mentors and helping others through our volunteer program. Others stay in touch via email and/or events throughout the year.
Your child is fine. But their life has changed and their peers mostly don't understand what they are dealing with. Heartlinks is a place where normal kids come to be with other normal kids who have had the not so normal experience of losing someone they love.
It's also a place where kids who have a loved one become seriously ill are able to find support and ideas for handling a life problem outside of what most of us consider a normal childhood experience.
That's amazing! We would love to get you started and find a place in Heartlinks for you to make a difference!
We are so grateful that you'd like to honor your loved one by donating to Heartlinks. On the donation page, under the dropdown labeled: please apply my donation to, select memorial donation.
Call us for details about our current needs! (618) 277-1800
Heartlinks depends on community donations to keep our program running. We are so thankful for each person who chooses to support us. If you'd like to make a monetary donation, you can click here.
We also have a frequent need for snacks, craft supplies and other items. We update our Amazon wishlist regularly for community members who wish to support us. You can click here to visit our wishlist.