A Network of Support for Families
The mission of the Family Support Network at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is to support the quality of life for children and families experiencing cancer, a blood disease or immune disorder.
The Family Support Network consists of a team of specialists who can provide physical, emotional, spiritual and financial support.
- Child Life specialists prepare children and their families for hospitalization, clinic visits or procedures through the use of play experiences, developmentally appropriate information and therapeutic support.
- Teachers with the School Intervention Program help children ages 3-22 make the transition back to the classroom following hospitalization or the diagnosis of a chronic illness. Our teachers can work closely with a child’s teachers and school staff to help them accommodate the child’s specific educational needs. They can also educate classmates about a child’s cancer, blood disease or immune disorder.
- Bedside Education teachers provide school-aged children with grade-level appropriate instruction during a hospital stay when the child's condition allows.
- Financial Services counselors help families understand their medical bills and apply for financial assistance when needed. For information about your medical bills, or to manage your account online, visit Billing Services.
- Integrative Care specialists at Cincinnati Children’s offer education and counseling on holistic health topics. Members of the team who serve patients with cancer, a blood disease or immune disorder are licensed massage therapists. They provide pain management techniques, stress reduction strategies and other comfort measures, including massage therapy, acupressure and reflexology therapy.
- Pastoral Care offers spiritual and emotional support 24 hours a day. Our chaplains provide visitation and prayer and are always available to reflect with family members about upcoming decisions. Members of our pastoral care team also provide regular worship services and prayer times and administer the sacraments. They can also help families draw on the support of local religious communities.
- Social Workers are here to provide families with emotional support and connect them with helpful resources during the journey through treatment. Soon after you arrive at Cincinnati Children’s, you will be introduced to a social worker, who will be available to you during and after your child’s stay.
