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Katie Searfoss SGP
- 1. Serving Families InNeed Families Serving Together to Help Other Families with Children in the Hospital Pres en tati on : K atie S ea rf os s
- 2. Thesis When a familyhas a child in the hospital, donating money will help them meet ends, but donating time will help them feel loved and cared for. Serving those families does not just impact everyone who has been affected by the child in the hospital; it also helps the family who serves together grow stronger as a unit.
- 3. 2001 Report: America’s Family Volunteers • 51% of all volunteers had taken part in some volunteer activity with a family member. • The larger the household size, the more often families volunteered together “All of us are givers and receivers, contributing what we can and benefiting from the bounty of what we obtain from others.” (“The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering” Friedman
- 4. 35% of familyvolunteers worked in education, while 30% volunteered in human services. 90.6% of family volunteers said compassion for those in need was one reason they volunteered. 37% had a family member or friend who benefited from the activity. 53% of family volunteers had children under 18 living at home.
- 5. Effects on theSer ving Family “The rewards for these families are important lessons in compassion, empathy, and community responsibility.” “Many families feel that it brings them closer together by improving communication and enriching their relationships.” “Every family has something to contribute. And every family, at sometime or another, benefits from and depends on the services of other volunteers.” (“The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering” Friedman p.9&10)
- 6. Volunteering Teaches Important Values Compassion Empathy Gratitude Good Stewardship Community Responsibility
- 7. Effects on theHurting Family Support Love Healthy communication Laughs
- 8. How to GetChildren to Want to Help Stories Bring their friends along Let them have a voice in deciding where the family should volunteer Go to a site where the kids can have an important job to do
- 9. The Hospital Becomes Home.
- 10. But what is home without a family?
- 11. They Don’t HaveTo Go It Alone! In Fact, They Shouldn’t Ever Have To!
- 12. Maggie’s Ministry A Tribute to Maggie Lynn Achuff www.carepages.com
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- 14. Maggie’s Ministry Maggie’s Ministry beganAugust 22, 2008 Mission: “To help children and their families in tangible ways, the same way we were helped.”- Bruce and Helen Achuff www.carepages.com
- 15. Ronald McDonald House MissionStatement: “To create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.” http://rmhc.org/
- 16. What it isThat They Do House families who have kids in the hospital Transport families to the hospital Provide activities for siblings and families Feed families and provide kitchen space
- 17. “I’m Loving It” “Webelieve that when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community, and ultimately the world.” -Ronald McDonald House Vision Statement http://rmhc.org/
- 18. The Process toBecome a Volunteer at CHOP Orientation Consistent time Training Age Requirements Medical Clearance Personal Attachment Personal Interests
- 19. Volunteer Ideas Child Life Humor Cart Family Service Paw Partners Clerical Reach out and Read Physical and Wawa Hospitality Occupational Therapy Cart Musicians on Call Summer Teen Program
- 20. Families What the Families Need www.carepages.com
- 21. Mom Space Time with sickchild Time with other children Time for herself Proactive help Meals www.carepages.com
- 23. Dads A job to do Distractions Reassurance and communication One on one time with sick child One on one time with www.carepages.com
- 24. Siblings Someone to talkto Trust Attention Somewhere safe to go Communication Time with Mom/Dad www.carepages.com
- 26. Application Getting Families Involved We C a n M a k e An Im p act !
- 27. Application Rebuild Maggie’s Help them learn how Ministry at Hope to serve as a family Community Church Create relationships Find a family who needs help Meet the needs of sick families Set up 6 families who are willing to help Strengthen a family by service
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- 29. Family Information Information about thefamily in need is handed out to the families willing to rally around them for a year
- 30. Prayer Cards and informationhanded out in packet for family.
- 31. Future of Project Maggie’sMinistry will be reinstated in the church. 6 families will rally around 1 sick family and help them receive the support they need and deserve. Donations will be collected for Bingo Night in the Children’s Ministry CDs will be made and collected in the Middle and High School Ministry
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- 36. Class Activity CDs of Hope
Editor's Notes
- #4 These statistics are focused in on the larger amount of family volunteers and the quote promotes the idea that everyone can serve and can benefit from serving. It’s not just a one way street.
- #5 These statistics are more focused on WHY they would serve and volunteer. The first statistic is about where they served (proving that most people serve where they can help other hurting people) The second statistic indicates that a huge percentage of volunteers volunteer as a family was for compassion for those in need. The third statistic is for personal reasons why they would serve (they’ve been effected by it or they know someone who will benefit from it) And the last statistic indicates that even though “Family Volunteers” doesn’t necessarily mean children have to be a part of that family, in 53% of cases, “family” includes children under 18.
- #6 These quotes are from expert, Jenny Friedman’s book, “The Busy Family’s Guide to Volunteering” on why families should volunteer and the benefits it has on their family.
- #7 This list may only be made up of 5 values, but these values are commonly ones parents want to be installed in their children. Family volunteering teaches these values by experience. Nothing is greater than the actual experience and so much can be learned just by helping other people.
- #8 The family that is being helped by volunteers may never actually interact with those special people who helped them. However, it’s important to remember that the hurting families benefit greatly from the family’s act of kindness. First of all, it reminds the family that they have support out there. That somebody cares for their family and is thinking of them. It also shows a great deal of love. Often times families feel victimized that their child is in the hospital and it’s a personal attack or their fault. Acts of kindness remind them that they have people who love their family and want to help them in anyway they can during their battle. Volunteers may also help with healthy communication among the family. Being someone for the family to vent to or being a distraction and tell of all the things going on out in the “real world.” Volunteers can be good listeners and allow cooped up family members to release some thoughts inside their head. And of course whether volunteers see the family or not, laughing is essential and laughter can be brought to the hurting family whether they are there laughing with them or sent something silly to brighten up their day with. Volunteers make a huge impact on each family in many personal ways as well.
- #9 A lot of children can be easily encouraged and influenced to do something when they see others doing it too. Before volunteering read books to the kids about some of their favorite characters such as, “Franklin” or “ The Berenstain Bears” who have volunteered and helped other people out too. Another idea which can easily help influence teenagers is bringing along a friend to join the family for the day, or even joining up with another family so that they have friends serving with them as well. It may be cliche but have kids think they are coming up with the idea to serve. If you talk about a family who needs help, wait to hear what the child has to say about a solution. If they can become passionate about something, they’ll be more eager to help. And always go to a place where a child can feel like they are doing something to make a difference. There are many “grown up” jobs but having a special job for the child to do is so exciting for them.
- #10 When you live in the hospital, you have to give children a place to be a kid. The hospital becomes a home for them. Their room becomes their bedroom and bathroom and the halls become their living room and backyard. All of their “neighbors” come out and play together. They celebrate their big moments and they mourn together hard trials.
- #11 Though hospital staff and other families certainly become a family to you, nothing compares to the feeling of friends and family members rallying around and supporting you in ways that are more helpful then they’ll ever know. These families want to talk about normal life about what’s going on in the news and what’s going on in life in general. Having extra support is essential.
- #12 Maggie’s Ministry started this idea after getting so much support from other people (bottom lower corner). People who would make Maggie feel special and do fun things for her and for the family. Maggie’s Ministry has helped Trey Love (Above) connect with people who are really good at being loving and supportive. In these situations, the families wanted face to face connection. In other situations its just too much to have people come visit and much more helpful having people just go out and do.
- #14 Maggie Achuff is a “forever 4 year old.” Maggie passed away of Neuroblastoma on August 7, 2008 after fighting cancer for 2 years and 2 months. She leaves behind her Mother, Helen, Father, Bruce, older sister, Molly, and older brother Rocco.
- #15 Maggie’s blood type is B Positive. This soon became their family slogan and is now what they encourage other families to do. Be Positive! Have hope. Bruce and Helen Achuff serve as a family and encourage other families to serve together to help those families who have a child/sibling at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- #16 The Ronald McDonald House houses families of patients who are living at CHOP. The Mission Statement above states that they are trying to support the programs that will be for the well being of the patients. Maggie’s Ministry helps these families by coming and delivering packages of essentials the family may need during their child’s stay at CHOP. Maggie’s Ministry and the Ronald McDonald House both serve the family and try to take care of and support the family in anyway they can.
- #17 The Ronald McDonald House is mostly volunteer based. Their main goals as a facility are to house families who have children who are in the hospital that may not be able to stay with their child overnight, have other children with them, have a child who is going to the hospital daily, but not living there, or people who have a large commute. They provide meals for the families that are staying there but also provide kitchen space if families want to make meals as a family or feel more at home. They also provide activities for siblings and families to take their minds off of the crazy day they’ve had. And they transport families to the hospital from the Ronald McDonald House.
- #18 The Ronald McDonald House vision statement goes on to say that they try to be a part of the solution by improving the lives of children and their families. The Ronald McDonald house relies on the help of the medical teams as well as the help of volunteers and donors who wish to help too. The Ronald McDonald House has been such a positive experience for so many that they wish to give back and help other families. This is where Bruce and Helen come in and where they choose to give back.
- #19 In order to volunteer at CHOP there are some critical criteria that need to be met. All volunteers must go through orientation and an interview to determine why they want to volunteer and a little bit more of your background. They must be within the required age to volunteer (18-68 or 16 and have finished 9th grade for teen summer program) They must have medical clearance and not currently be involved in a program at CHOP. If a family member has lost a child they are required to wait 18 months before volunteering. They must have consistent time block for their volunteering. (3 hours minimum a week, same day and same department each week) If a person cannot commit to their time block, they are asked to wait until their schedule has a consistent time for it. Volunteers are interviewed again to find out their personal interests and see if they can be matched up where it is best appropriate for them. And in the end there is lots of training so that the children and families in the hospital are given the best care.
- #20 These are different areas that you can serve in the hospital. Child Life consists of rocking babies for nurses, playing with patients at bedsides or playrooms, and tutoring patients. Family Service consists of greeting families and answering any questions families may have. Clerical consists of filing, mailing, copying, and scripting voice messages. Physical and Occupational therapy: keeping areas clean and being an assistant to a therapist. Musicians on call: professional musicians who can devote some time to play for patients. Humor cart: women from a certain organization who dress up in funny hats and travel around to patients rooms with silly toys and magic tricks. Paw partners: volunteers who come in with animals. Reach out and Read: reading aloud to patients and making the stories come alive. WaWa Hospitality Cart: Volunteers who travel around to different rooms with hot and cold WaWa beverages for families and patients. Summer Teen Program: must be 16 and completed 9th grade. It runs for 6 weeks in summer and students are required to be there for all of them. Activities vary based on teen.
- #21 Going into a situation where you’re ready to serve can be overwhelming to the families who need help. It’s important that we are actually helping them verses adding to their already stressed out days.
- #22 Mom’s need space to be allowed to be who they are in the moment. A lot of people look to Mom to be the strong one, but Mom has a lot on her plate. She needs space to be bossy because she’s her baby’s advocate. She needs space to make decisions without being corrected. She needs space for faults when she makes them because she’s tired and is fighting so hard for her family. She needs time with her child to have fun and laugh. She needs to create memories even though they’re in a place that’s not associated with fun. She needs time with her other children to remind them that they are loved and to be able to see life outside the hospital. She needs time for herself. Whether this means she goes off alone or goes out with her husband or a friend. She needs time away from the hospital to breathe and recharge. Mom needs proactive help. A lot of people say, “if you need anything give me a call” but that’s not helpful. She needs someone who says “I’m coming over to clean the house which day this week works best for you” or someone who comes to the house carrying a weeks worth of groceries without being asked. Those are the people that help the most. And also, meals. Meals are important part of family life and also something that usually is placed on Mom’s plate. Making meals for the family is always huge and even bringing in meals to the hospital for Mom and Dad is a great change from hospital food.
- #24 Dad’s typically are wired in a way that they feel that they are the protector. In a place like the hospital, they have no control of what’s going on. And when it comes to their hurting child. They really can’t do anything and that’s a helpless situation. Child Life Specialist, Kara Landrum says that Dads need a job to do. Something that a nurse might usually do, let the Dad do. Like running down to the playroom and finding a DVD for their child or getting something from the cafeteria that the child’s craving. It’s important to keep them busy. Dads also need distractions. Going out with a friend one night and having a night out from the hospital or anything like that can help Dads to get out of those four walls and do something for themselves. Dads need constant communication and assurance about what’s going on with their child and what’s going to happen. Kara Landrum also mentioned that it is more common that people talk just to the mother, but Dad is just as important in this process and needs to be in the loop constantly as well.
- #25 Siblings are a huge piece of the family that don’t always get what they need during the medical trials a sibling is going through. Laura Ocker, mother of 4, says when her oldest son was in the hospital battling cancer she had no idea that her kids at home were struggling as much as they were and had she known then what she knew now, she would have asked for more help with them. Siblings need someone to talk to about what’s going on. Whether this person is a trusted adult or a professional counselor. It is important that it is clear that they know what is going on and have the right messages. Siblings also need attention during this time to be able to feel important. Even though some siblings may understand what’s going on, others will not and view the situation as the sick sibling getting all of the attention and not realizing exactly why this is going on. It’s important siblings feel important and get the attention they need. It’s also important for siblings have a safe place to go that they can talk about how they’re feeling or get away from talk about the sick sibling. This can be a trusted adult’s house, friend, grandparent, aunt, etc. They need communication from Mom and Dad and from their sibling so that they feel involved. It’s important and crucial for a family to stay connected by communication. And what seems to be neglected most, is siblings need one on one time with Mom and Dad. This may not happen at the same time, but it’s important they have special time with them individually at least.
- #29 This is the promotional movie for Maggie’s Ministry that I showed to families at Hope Community Church that talks about Maggie’s Ministry and how to help families in need.
- #30 I made packets of information that had details about each family along with prayer cards (next slide) with different prayer requests specific to what the family was asking for. This allowed the families who were serving to know more about the family and help their children see that there are children just like them who they can help.
- #31 Prayer cards and how families can help.
- #32 Because of this project, Hope Community Church has reinstated Maggie’s Ministry into the church and has decided to take on more sick families and rally around them in any ways their families need. Also, the Children’s Ministry will collect toys for Bingo Night, and the Middle and High School Ministries will be making and collecting CDs for the teens at CHOP.
- #33 My project seems a little more complicated then the average project. I can’t sum up my project in one word or phrase. I have to explain a little bit more in detail what I mean when I tell people what my project is about and I have never seen myself become so passionate about a school project before and certainly never so excited to give a presentation before. My personal relevance to this project is the fact that it sums up the two biggest pieces of my life and my greatest passions.
- #34 The first one is Children and Family Ministry. Every Sunday I spend my day devoted to working with children at church. My greatest ambition is to become a Children and Family Ministry Director and plant children’s programs in different churches and tie it all together so that families can celebrate and practice their faith as a family and serve together. Which is why having families serve together and serve other families is important to me. It allows me to work with my favorite groups of people and help them learn to serve as a family. This also is what I will be going to school for in the fall.
- #35 The second part of this is the part that many people don’t know about me. I have a pain disorder called reflex nuerovascular dystrophy. It’s why you’ll see me walking in the hallways often, not show up to class often, or any other thing you may have heard. My pain feels like sharp needles attacking every part of my body the inside and the outside of it. I go to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia every week and for a month I lived there. There is no cure necessarily for RND but there is something they would like to try. They try to retrain your brain so that the nerves that are functioning inside my body will learn to function correctly. In order to retrain the brain they spend nine hours a day inflicting pain on you. They basically are trying to outdo the pain you already feel. So they burn your skin, poke you with sharp items, and lots of other painful tactics to try to “help it.”
- #36 I still am in pain today, but I have become immensely passionate about hospital families because I am a patient and my family was a hospital family. I know what it’s like to live there and I know how much they need the support and help.
- #37 For my class activity, everyone is going to be handed an empty CD. Everyone will make a list of songs that they would recommend to teenagers or if any adults are in the room to parents of songs they feel are songs of hope. OR they can make CD mixes of the most popular and appropriate songs to keep their minds off of the busy day.