We are a longtime supporter of Friends of Karen’s Family Support Program, which provides critically ill children and their families with financial support for basic living and illness-related expenses; advocacy assistance on issues such as social security, food stamps and Medicaid; and emotional support. Nearly one-third of the children served live in single-parent households; 37% of their families live on an income below the poverty line, and 60% have an income of $50,000 or less. Most (79 percent) of the children have some form of cancer, such as leukemia, brain, or bone tumors.
The Family Support Program professionals collaborate with non-profits, governmental agencies, and the 17 area hospitals that treat the children it serves and are its primary source of referrals.
Through the Sibling Support Program, specialists offer individualized, one-on-one support to help at-risk siblings understand and express their feelings about the illness and its impact on their lives. Long-term goals of the program have been that at least 90% of the children and families served will be stable, functioning, and better able to cope with the devastating impact of the child’s life-threatening illness.