What Is CARES?

Community Aftercare and Response for Everyone Surviving Suicide Loss

CARES is SPARK’s postvention initiative — a trained volunteer team that provides compassionate support and practical resources to families and communities impacted by suicide loss across East Texas.

When a suicide occurs, loved ones are left facing unimaginable grief, stigma, and uncertainty about what to do next. CARES steps in during this critical window to offer connection, hope, and tangible help.

CARES volunteers are trained to:

  • Provide compassionate outreach within hours to days of a loss

  • Offer trauma-informed emotional support

  • Supply grief and postvention resources

  • Assist families in navigating practical next steps

  • Connect survivors with long-term counseling and community supports

  • Provide faith-sensitive care when welcomed

Our mission is simple: No one should face the aftermath of suicide alone.

The History of LOSS Teams

CARES is modeled after the proven national LOSS Team (Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors) approach first developed by Dr. Frank Campbell in the 1990s.

Research shows that survivors of suicide loss are at 4 to 5 times greater risk of suicide themselves, especially in the absence of timely support. LOSS Teams address this need by bringing trained volunteers into the lives of survivors as early as possible.

Key outcomes in communities with LOSS Teams include:

  • Increased survivor connection to counseling and support groups

  • Reduced stigma around suicide and mental health

  • Lower rates of complicated grief and secondary suicides

  • Greater community awareness and resilience

CARES brings this life-saving model to East Texas, tailored to our region’s faith-based values and rural communities.

Why CARES Matters

In East Texas, stigma and isolation can deepen the trauma of suicide loss. Many families are unaware of available support or feel unable to reach out. CARES changes that — by going to survivors with compassion and offering a bridge to healing.

Every family served by CARES gains access to:

  • Compassionate listeners

  • Trusted resources

  • Community connections

  • Hope beyond tragedy

Get Involved: Volunteer or Host a Training

You can make a difference. CARES is powered by trained volunteers — everyday people with a heart for bringing light into the darkest moments.

Ways to get involved:
✅ Become a CARES volunteer (training provided)
✅ Host a CARES volunteer training for your church, agency, or community group
✅ Help us expand CARES across the region through outreach and partnership

Volunteer Requirements:

  • Compassionate and nonjudgmental presence

  • Completion of a two-part CARES training

  • Willingness to serve on an on-call volunteer rotation (flexible and team-based)

Upcoming Trainings: [See our Trainings page]
Contact: info@sparkcares.org

👉 Join CARES. Help bring hope beyond tragedy. Together, we can support healing across East Texas.

CARES Volunteer FAQ

Who can become a CARES volunteer?

Anyone with a compassionate heart and a willingness to be present for families in crisis can serve as a CARES volunteer. Our teams include people from all walks of life: faith leaders, healthcare professionals, survivors of suicide loss (with appropriate time in their own healing), educators, counselors, and caring community members.

What does a CARES volunteer do?

CARES volunteers respond as part of a trained team to offer immediate support to families after a suicide loss. Volunteers:

  • Provide a compassionate presence

  • Offer printed resources and information about local supports

  • Help families navigate the first days of grief

  • Serve as a bridge to long-term help (counseling, support groups, faith-based support if requested)

Volunteers do not provide therapy, investigate the death, or attempt to "fix" grief. Their role is simply to walk alongside survivors with kindness and care.

How often would I be asked to serve?

CARES volunteers serve on an on-call rotation, usually once every few weeks, based on your availability. Some areas experience more frequent calls than others. You can always accept or decline an assignment based on your schedule and comfort level.

What training is required?

All CARES volunteers complete a two-part training program based on national LOSS Team best practices and adapted for the East Texas region and faith-informed care. Topics include:

  • Understanding suicide loss and grief

  • The role of the CARES volunteer

  • Postvention best practices

  • Responding with compassion and cultural sensitivity

  • Self-care for volunteers

Upcoming Trainings: [See Trainings page]

Do I need to have a counseling background?

No. CARES volunteers are not expected to provide counseling. The most important qualifications are compassion, listening skills, and respect for survivors’ experiences. We will give you the tools you need to serve in this role safely and effectively.

Can I volunteer if I have lost someone to suicide?

Yes — many survivors of suicide loss become powerful CARES volunteers. However, we ask that survivors wait at least two years after their personal loss and be actively engaged in their own healing journey before joining the team. This helps ensure you are ready to support others while caring for yourself.

Is this a faith-based role?

CARES is a program of SPARK, which engages faith partners across the region, but CARES volunteers serve survivors of all faiths or no faith with respect and compassion. Volunteers are trained to offer faith-based support only when requested and to always prioritize the needs and preferences of the family.

How do I sign up or learn more?

👉 Join CARES. Help bring hope beyond tragedy to families in East Texas.