HAND originated in Marin County, California, in 1979, and HAND chapters in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties have been offering support to bereaved families and loved ones since 1981. HAND founded a San Francisco chapter in February 2009, and began to offer support groups and services there as HAND of San Francisco.
HAND of the Bay Area is based in San Mateo county, south of San Francisco. Our vision is to make our services available to parents and their loved ones who are grieving the loss of a child before, during or after birth. HAND of the Bay Area offers its own programs and collaborates on related programs with hospitals, universities and other organizations.