New Research Highlights National Need for Recreational Activities to Support Children Facing Life-Threatening Illnesses
COLUMBUS, Ohio (PRWEB) March 19, 2019 -- A Kid Again, a national non-profit organization that provides year-round recreational adventures to children and families dealing with life-threatening illnesses, announced today the results of a partnership project with Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. The new research study offers a detailed snapshot of the number of children facing life-threatening illnesses across the U.S.
In collaboration with Cynthia Gerhardt, PhD, director of the Center for Biobehavioral Health at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, an analysis of a national database indicated that well over 440,000 children with life-threatening illnesses are being cared for at 50 of the top children’s hospitals in the United States, including more than 180,000 children and their families in the Midwest.
“We are fortunate to have an incredible network of children’s hospitals across the United States, including our own outstanding Nationwide Children’s Hospital, but for many of these children and their families, support far beyond medical care is critical to emotional and health outcomes,” said Oyauma Garrison, national president and CEO of A Kid Again. “Recent surveys show the families we work with report an increased level of hope and joy, which we know can aid in the fight against a life-threatening illness. We are committed to bringing this hope to even more families across the country.”
Dr. Gerhardt’s research affirms the value of programming and services provided by A Kid Again. The organization provides consistent community-based recreational activities through child-focused adventures such as an afternoon spent at an amusement park, baseball game or local zoo. The programs support the whole family – strengthening the child’s primary support network and the family’s confidence during the most difficult period of their lives.
Families served by A Kid Again face unique challenges and rarely know the normalcy of growing up. Many families are separated due to remote medical care, as the children are hospitalized, and those together continue the difficult daily ritual of treatments, doctor’s appointments and home health visits.
Of equal challenge is that many of these families are likely facing financial strain due to extraordinary healthcare costs. In fact, claims filed for healthcare costs range from $400,000 - $600,000 per year. Many of the families are on limited incomes, as they transitioned from being a two-income household to a one-income household, so one parent could make a full-time commitment to caregiving.
“There is such value in families being together with others who share many of the same challenges and issues they do,” said Garrison. “In fact, nine out of 10 families in our program report that A Kid Again events and the A Kid Again community have strengthened their family during these difficult times.” He said A Kid Again has identified that families with a child with a life-threatening illness may also be experiencing stress and emotional struggles, and so the organization’s programming is built along the continuum of care for the whole family.
“Every year, more than 27,000 children in the U.S. are diagnosed with a life-threatening illness,” said Dr. Gerhardt. “Nationwide Children’s Hospital, along with many other outstanding children’s hospitals in the Midwest, knows the value that A Kid Again provides to families in need, and we look forward to seeing the organization expand into even more markets.”
Under Garrison’s leadership, A Kid Again has grown from a single chapter to four chapters located in Indiana, central, northeast and southwest Ohio, where it partners with other leading children’s hospitals. A Kid Again plans to expand to other key markets nationally over the next several years.
###
ABOUT A KID AGAIN
A Kid Again has served more than 55,000 families across Ohio since 1995. The organization’s mission is to foster hope, happiness and healing for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. A Kid Again works to create a communal and interactive environment for families to experience Adventures together to provide a timeout from illness. Staff members and volunteers strive to go beyond activities, providing comprehensive, practical support to help families cope with the extended effects of life-threatening illnesses. For more information about A Kid Again, please visit http://www.AKidAgain.org.
CONTACT: Logan Trautman, on behalf of A Kid Again, (614) 532-5279, logan(at)inspireprgroup.com
Diane Hurd, Inspire PR Group, +1 6145325279, [email protected]
Share this article