What We Do

Welcome to The Sudden Infant & Child Mourning Outreach Network (The SIMON Project) of Vermont and Northern New England. This project has grown out of the efforts of two families in Vermont to create an outreach and bereavement support network for parents and families who have experienced the death of their child. Unlike many programs that provide support to specific populations of families suffering a particular kind of loss, The SIMON Project reaches out to all parents and families who are coping with the death of a child whatever the age or circumstance. This could include loss related to miscarriage, stillbirth, neo-natal death due to medical complications and/or birth abnormalities, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) or sudden unexpected death of an infant (SUDI), accidental death or disease-related death. We strive to provide access to information, support and resources. Many of us involved in the SIMON Project have experienced the death of a child. We are ready to stand with you through your experience. Our Peer to Peer outreach parents can be in contact with you as soon as you want them too. Sometimes a person who is been through a similar experience is in a unique position to comprehend your pain, grief, shock, and loss and to offer support.

My name is Jeff Hunsberger. I began The SIMON Project after the death of my first born son, Simon Jeffrey Hunsberger (May 16, 2005 - August 22, 2005) of SUDI/SIDS. Like many of you, I began looking for other parents who had been through a similar death of a child. Despite the supportive efforts of many friends and colleagues, it took me a long 6 weeks to actually make contact with another Vermont couple who also had experienced a SUDI/SIDS death and who was willing to reach out to my wife and me. That couple was Kathy & Richard Roosa. We spoke on the phone and eventually met together at our home in Eden, Vermont. Since that time, we have remained focused on remembering our children together and celebrating their lives, supporting each other, listening to each others challenges, stories, and pain. We have cried together and occasionally we laugh together. But most of all, we have a common bond that is unique. It is not anything we would have actively sought out if we had never experienced the death of our children. But, as fate has it, we are joined by the experiences and we know that we are not alone in our worst nightmare. We would like other bereaved families to have access to similar support when they need it.

Since the 1990 death of their son, the Roosas have participated in an infant loss support group affiliated with the Caledonia Home Health and Hospice Agency in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. This group has existed since 1991 and has drawn people from all over Vermont. Through their informal outreach to bereaved families, the Roosas came to recognize that while this group has been beneficial to many, there are those who have different needs than what a group provides or who cannot travel the distance to meetings. Part of the mission of the SIMON Project is to help people to find and access the information, resources, and support that fit their particular needs.

Give us a call or e-mail us - our services are free and so are our resource. We support you, the parent or family member - we have no other agenda other than to be available to support you through this most difficult of times.

With Compassion, Empathy and in Peace . . .
Jeff & The Members of The SIMON Project