Learning your child has inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) can be a scary and challenging time. CHOP’s Center for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease provides a Peers Offering Practical Support (POPS) Program to parents and guardians who have children diagnosed with IBD.  

The POPS Program provides practical, nonclinical support to help families cope with their child’s diagnosis of IBD, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis or very early onset IBD (VEO-IBD).  

In the POPS Program, families may discuss:  

• A pediatric IBD diagnosis and what it means for your child’s life — today, and in the future
• General support, including explaining what IBD is to younger children, and encouraging adolescents and teens to make healthy choices based on their specific medical condition and needs
• Tips to help your child tackle life with IBD: in school, their social life, with sports and in college  

You may connect by phone, text, email or in person with a POPS team member, depending on your preferences.  

An experienced social worker will partner with you through POPS to provide a better understanding of the program’s advantages and how you can use it to help your child, adolescent or teen.  

Learn more or sign up by email at chopibdgroup@chop.edu or call 215-590-7423.