Family-to-Family Support Groups

The Family Faculty
Founded in 1994, the Family Faculty program prepares adult family members to teach physicians and staff about the experience of health and illness. Through personal narrative, family members illustrate how healthcare professionals can fulfill the mission, values and philosophy of the hospital. Parents, grandparents speak with new employees, medical students, attending physicians, interdisciplinary groups — all kinds of healthcare professionals — about what they most want and need from caregivers to collaborate and communicate effectively.

With more than 10 years experience, the Family Faculty members have done hundreds of presentations. The program has received national recognition and stands out as a unique way of enlisting families in the educational mission of the institution. The Family Faculty recruits yearly for new members and requires members to participate in program training. For more information please call Laura Bedrossian at 215-590-5501.

The Family Consultant Program
Developed in 1995, the Family Consultant Program hires both full-time and part-time staff who are parents and whose child(ren) are served at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Uniquely prepared to support families and consult with staff about strategies for communication and care, the hospital's Family Consultants meet with families, create programming for families and bring a family member's voice to committees. In much the same way that a family draws strengths from one another in a support group, families can turn to the hospital's Family Consultant as "someone who has been there. For more information please call the department of Social Work and Family Services at 215-590-2072.

The Family Advisory Council
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia began its Family Advisory Council in 1996, to work with senior administrative staff and physician leadership at the strategic planning level. Members of the Family Advisory Council have the unique perspective of being family members of children who are, or have been served, at Children's Hospital. Two of the roles that are performed include developing and participating in a Council work plan that complements the Hospital's strategic plans and being a family member of task forces, project teams and committees that seek to demonstrate active family centered care. Council members are also invited speakers to a wide variety of audiences that seek "family voices" on important topics. Family members meet with physicians and staff monthly from September through May. Recruitment for the Family Advisory Council occurs yearly. For more information please call Amy Martiner at 215-590-7012.