Bellis

Founded in 1983, Bellis has over 40 years of knowledge gained from experience working within the adoption community as a nonprofit with no political or religious affiliation or agenda. Since 2021, Bellis leads national groundbreaking work offering grief support to people whose children are parented by others. We are experts in creating space to talk openly and honestly about the pain of ambiguous loss and complex grief. Bellis hears, validates, supports and connects people whose children are parented by others. Together, we work to fight stigma and offer compassion, hope, and resilience. Bellis is independent of child-placing agencies, child welfare systems and courts. Our services include: - 6 weekly online peer-based, expert-led grief support groups for people whose children are parented by others, due to termination of parental rights, transfer of legal custody, adoption, foster care, parental alienation, and other experiences. Our Stronger Together Peer Support Model™ is built on the knowledge that empathy — sharing your story with someone who accepts you completely — is transformative. Women and men join online from across the country to groups designated by gender. Minnesota participants have access to free limited legal guidance via our partnership with Mitchell Hamline School of Law. - Annual one-day and weekend retreats for women whose children are parented by others. Guided by licensed facilitators and rooted in peer-support and radical hospitality, attendees access educational sessions, activities, and discussions intended to address topics of grief, self-care, self-worth, and identity. - Presentations to professional and community-based organizations about our work. Our presentations include details about support and refer people to our services.