Child Life specialists provide inpatients and outpatients, as well as their families, with therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities. The program is designed to minimize the stress associated with the healthcare experience. Developmentally appropriate interventions include therapeutic play, preoperative education, and preparation for medical procedures. Circle of Friends is a nonprofit organization that raises funds and accepts donations for projects benefiting children with cancer and blood disorders. Family Services provided by Cook Children's Medical Center include pastoral care, social services, parent support groups, and translation services.
Social workers work closely with families to offer psychosocial support and family counseling.
Social workers also help families apply to appropriate assistance agencies for financial support. Pastoral care is available through the family services department and is an integral part of a patient's treatment plan to provide the compassionate care that families need. A special Remembrance Ceremony is conducted each year to honor the memory of patients who have not survived their fight against cancer. Families and staff join together in November to pay homage to those that brought them together. The Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable home away from home for those families traveling from out of town.