MIAMI — Continuing their commitment to improving neonatal health care, the Healthy Start Coalition of Miami-Dade (HSCMD) is hosting free Perinatal Loss Professional Development Seminars, May 16-19.

The sessions will provide physicians, nurses, social workers, counselors and hospital chaplains working in the field of maternal and infant health with tools to help families bereaving the death of a baby. 

The classes are taking place at Homewood Suites, 5500 Blue Lagoon Drive (N.W. 11 Street), second floor, Miami. 

All workshops are free, but seating is limited and registration is mandatory. For more information and to register visit hscmd.org, call 305-541-0210 or email training@hscmd.org.

In addition to earning continuing education units (CEUs) and continuing medical education (CME) credits, required for medical professionals by Florida health care oversight boards, attendees will gain skills in talking to parents, starting support groups and meeting the needs of caregivers working with grieving families.

The seminars are being conducted by staff from Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. (Share), a national organization serving those whose lives are touched by the death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth or in the first few months of life. 

The Compassionate Caregiving seminar on Wednesday, focused on developing health care staff skills.

The three-day Sharing and Caring: A Perinatal Loss Seminar continues Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on both days and focuses on effectively starting family support groups.

The final seminar, Perinatal Loss: Strategies for Health Care Professionals, will be Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m.-noon, and explore grief models to help physicians care for families experiencing a loss.