Embracing Texas, Texas Bereavement Care

A Collaborative Movement Inspired by Everly’s Law Supporting Texas Families Facing Stillbirth

Image of Katie Talman holding her daughter Everly Grace Talman after having a stillbirth. There are words on the image that say A story of hope inspired by one family's stillbirth journey that's changing the future of bereavement cafe for ALL Texas families.

This image contains text that reads In May 2025, Texas passed House Bill 37, now known as Everly’s Law, named in honor of Everly Grace Talman.

This groundbreaking legislation creates a Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative aimed at enhancing emotional support for families experiencing the heartbreak of loss. It’s a huge victory for compassionate bereavement care, and we’re so grateful for the advocates who made this possible.

This image contains text that reads: Effective September 1, 2025, perinatal bereavement care services will become necessary in hospitals that have a “maternal level of care designation.”
What does this mean for bereavement care in Texas?
The services that will be made available to parents and family members include:

(1) perinatal bereavement care counseling options; and
(2) any available perinatal bereavement device (aka cooling unit or CuddleCot)
This initiative in Texas is a powerful step for compassionate care; however, there is still work to be done to ensure every designated maternal care hospital in Texas has access to a perinatal bereavement device.

This photo contains text that reads: How will we achieve 100%
coverage for designated hospitals?We will achieve 100% coverage by bridging the
funding gap - together.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is moving forward to implement Everly’s Law statewide, prioritizing hospitals with the greatest need. While state dollars will fund resources, they must also stretch to cover counseling, training, and staffing.

This is where we come in! Our Embracing Texas campaign works alongside this initiative to provide cooling units for designated hospitals—freeing up more state funds to support those vital services.

This image includes a quote from Katie Talman, "Everly's Law is a message to families that we see you, we support you, your child mattered, existed and will not be forgotten.
It also includes this statement:
Double the impact! Ashlie's Embrace will match up to $15,000 - doubling the power of community generosity!

Helpful Resources

CNN, All There Is with Anderson Cooper
“The Greatest Loss” with Katie Talman

Hand To Hold, with Kathryn Whitaker
“The Reality of Stillbirth – One Mom’s Story”
with Katie Talman

Finding Hope After Loss with Sarah Cox
“Everly’s Law: Transforming Baby Loss Care in Texas” with TX State Representative Mihaela Plesa

Texas Department of State Health Service
“Perinatal Bereavement Care Initiative”

CuddleCot
“What You Need to Know About
Everly’s Law (HB37)”

Ashlie’s Embrace
“Embracing Texas”

CBS Texas
“More babies are dying. Texas is offering families a small comfort”

About Ashlie’s Embrace: Founded in 2016, Ashlie’s Embrace is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing hospitals nationwide with cooling units (i.e. CuddleCot™). By donating cooling units to hospitals, the organization creates the opportunity for families to spend more time holding, bonding with, and saying goodbye to their child in a comfortable and private setting. Ashlie’s Embrace relies on the generosity of individuals, foundations, and community partners to further its mission of bringing comfort and support to families during their most difficult times, ensuring that no family faces the tragedy of infant loss without the option of extended moments with their baby.

About Everly’s Law: Everly’s Law (HB 37) is a Texas initiative aimed at improving perinatal bereavement care for families experiencing stillbirth or infant loss. Named in memory of Everly Grace Talman, the law encourages hospitals and birthing centers to offer enhanced support, including access to bereavement devices like cooling units, and establishes a state-led recognition program to elevate standards of care across Texas.

A Collaborative Movement Inspired by Everly’s Law Supporting Texas Families Facing Stillbirth

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