The Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness Fund

The Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness Fund (HCCwSIF) supports additional full-time pediatric behavioral health practitioners (social workers or registered nurses) at Children's Hospitals. These Helping Children Cope (HCC) practitioners work with doctors, nurses and staff, and provide outpatient health counseling for children and families coping with serious illness. This additional health counseling (with standardized training, service delivery and outcome) contributes to the documented need for continuous outpatient health counseling for those who are facing serious illness. The HCC practitioner expands upon and puts into action the educational "Here For You: Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness" DVD presented by Sesame Street and the Center for Advanced Illness Coordinated Care (CAICC).

At present, the following children's hospitals are part of the "Here For You" Children's Hospital Collaborative:
- Albany Medical Center Children's Hospital; Albany, NY
- Children’s Hospital at Dartmouth; Lebanon, NH
- Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Columbus, OH

Ongoing fundraising by the HCCwSIF donates up to $150,000 a year to each participating children's hospital to support an additional full-time pediatric behavioral health practitioner, as well as standardized training and continuing education. In order to donate to the Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness Fund or to find out more, click here.

The History of The Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness Fund

CAICC has a longstanding, significant commitment to the field of pediatric chronic illness care coordination and health counseling. Established in 2001 and directed by Dan Tobin, M.D., a nationally recognized leader in healthcare planning and health counseling, CAICC has led several national efforts focused on improving healthcare for children facing serious illness and their families.

In 2005 Sesame Workshop noted both "Shelter From the Storm," a book by Drs. Dan Tobin and Joanne Hilden, and the Knight Ridder Tribune "Finding Our Way" series created by Dr. Tobin. These works resulted in the initial planning of the "Here For You: Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness" DVD. The DVD and materials have been created with the support of Paul Newman, Target and CAICC with significant in-kind contributions by Sesame Workshop, led by Mr. Kevin Clash, the internationally recognized and beloved character, Elmo. The project debuts on May 15, 2008 at the annual meeting of the American Pediatric Oncology Social Workers (APOSW) in Bar Harbor, Maine.

In May 2006, Mrs. Jane Henson, widow of legendary Muppets creator Jim Henson, inspired the vision that the Sesame Workshop DVD, "Here For You" could create an ongoing program of value. The HCCwSIF began with her generous donation and technical support from the Charitable Leadership Foundation, a private foundation integrating high-engagement grant-making in healthcare, education and housing. Guided by a National Advisory Board including pediatric practitioners, healthcare executives, community members and business leaders, the Helping Children Cope with Serious Illness Fund will help put additional pediatric health counseling services into five children's hospitals in 2008.