Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative
During the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, the legislature passed House Bill 37 (H.B. 37) known as Everly’s Law, relating to perinatal bereavement care. Perinatal bereavement care is supportive care for a prenatal diagnosis of a life-limiting fetal condition. This bill takes effect September 1, 2025, and does the following:
- defines what perinatal bereavement care services are required in hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation under Section 241.182
- establishes a Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative and
- establishes a hospital recognition program for perinatal bereavement care
2026 DSHS Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative Training Events
Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative (PBCI) Training Information Sheet (PDF)
Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative Training Day Agenda (PDF)
Registration is now open. Seats are limited so register early! DSHS will be contacting birthing facility administrators to coordinate attendance.
If your facility would like to support this effort, please provide contact information to DSHS at PerinatalBereavement@dshs.texas.gov.
| Location | Date | Registration Link |
|---|---|---|
| Austin | April 20, 2026 Check-In and Breakfast: 7:00am - 8:00am Training: 8:00am - 4:30pm | Register - Registration Deadline April 13, 2026 |
| Houston | April 29, 2026 Check-In and Breakfast: 7:00am - 8:00am Training: 8:00am - 4:30pm | Register - Registration Deadline April 22, 2026 |
| Dallas | May 6, 2026 Check-In and Breakfast: 7:00am - 8:00am Training: 8:00am - 4:30pm | Register - Registration Deadline April 29, 2026 |
| Lubbock | May 21, 2026 Check-In and Breakfast: 7:00am - 8:00am Training: 8:00am - 4:30pm | Register - Registration Deadline May 13, 2026 |
| Corpus Christi | June 2, 2026 Check-In and Breakfast: 7:00am - 8:00am Training: 8:00am - 4:30pm | Register - Registration Deadline May 25, 2026 |
Continued Education Credits will be offered to attendees who take part in the entire PBCI training.
Continuing Medical Education:
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program is accredited by the Texas Medical Association to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program designates this live activity for a maximum of 5.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nursing Continuing Professional Development:
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 5.75contact hours of Nursing Continuing Professional Development.
Licensed Professional Counselors:
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 5.75 contact hours for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Social Workers:
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 5.75 contact hours for Social Workers.
Certificate of Attendance:
The Texas Department of State Health Services Continuing Education Program has designated a maximum of 5.75 hours for attendance.
Perinatal Bereavement Care Services Required in Hospitals Assigned a Maternal Level of Care Designation
Following an intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth, hospitals with a maternal level of care designation shall make available to parents and family members:
(1) perinatal bereavement care counseling options; and
(2) any available perinatal bereavement device
The perinatal bereavement device, if available, should be offered to parents and family members for a period of time equal to the length of stay recommended by a medical professional for a birth. Everly’s Law defines a perinatal bereavement device as an apparatus with technology capable of delaying the deterioration of human tissue for up to 72 hours following an intrauterine fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth. H.B 37 does not impact a hospital’s maternal levels of care designation status.
As part of the Texas Department of State Health Services Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative, perinatal bereavement cooling devices are being distributed at no-cost to facilities with a maternal level of care designation to help support compassionate care following fetal demise, neonatal death, or stillbirth.
Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative
The Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative is intended to improve access to and quality of perinatal bereavement care in the state of Texas. Everly’s Law allows for DSHS to receive gifts, grants, and donations for the purposes of this initiative. DSHS is currently in the planning stages for this initiative and will have more details available in the coming weeks. All information on this initiative will be posted to this website. For any questions, or to make a donation to the Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative, please contact us at PerinatalBereavement@dshs.texas.gov.
Hospital Recognition Program
The Executive Commissioner of the Health and Human Services Commission, along with the Perinatal Advisory Council, will develop and implement a program to recognize hospitals assigned a maternal level of care designation that provide perinatal bereavement care training to hospital personnel. More information on this program will be available soon.
Contact Us
Submit donations or Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative questions to PerinatalBereavement@dshs.texas.gov.