Support Groups

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Whether you are facing a long- or short-term medical journey, you don't have to do it alone. The support groups found at Cook Children's offer comfort, understanding, strength and coping skills to help both the patient and family members manage the challenges of care and the stress of your child's diagnosis, condition and treatment. Inside the safety of these support groups, members often find laughter, healing and when needed, a shoulder to lean on.

Adolescent and Young Adult Program (cancer)

While we know you are not a child, our AYA child life specialist is here to meet your specific needs as an adolescent or young adult. Our child life specialist provides developmentally appropriate education about your diagnosis, treatments and procedure support. Beyond the medical, they also assess, intervene and advocate for your psychosocial needs. Lastly, we understand the importance of connection. Our child life specialist provides AYAs with opportunities for social experiences with peers facing cancer treatment.

For More information contact our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

Endocrinology support groups

Support and events for patients and family members.

Please contact 682-885-7960 for additional information on our events and support group programs.

Epilepsy Family Support Group

Epilepsy Family Support Group presents general topics for discussion with activities for patients and siblings. Following each monthly general presentation, families will break-out into smaller diagnosis-specific groups to discuss personal experiences, share their stories, and build an appropriate support network. We encourage and welcome caregivers of patients who want to learn more about their child's neural condition while navigating the overwhelming maze of difficult decisions. Together, we will explore options and create better outcomes.

Our support groups help families:

Build a network of supportive relationships.
Develop new skills to help you deal with daily challenges.
Meet others with similar experiences.
Receive hope and encouragement.

What to know

The Epilepsy Family Support Group is designed for patients, their parents or caregivers, as well as siblings of all ages to attend.

Cook Children's hosts family support activities during the year. Support group meetings at the medical center include dinner, and sitters are available for children under the age of 6. Families will also have an opportunity to visit with one another and share resources with each other.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please call: 682-885-7763 or 682-885-7887.

Neurosciences resources

GI Support Group

Designed to offer support to all patients and families of patients with any gastrointestinal diagnosis except for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (there's a separate group for those families).

For more information, please contact our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

Hematology and Oncology support

Designed for parents to find support and coping skills when dealing with a child's blood or cancer disorder.

This group meets every Thursday at 11:00 a.m.

For more information, please contact Mandy Ebner at 682-885-3587.

L.A.U.N.C.H. Headache and Migraine Support Group

Headache and migraine support for teens

For more information, please contact our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

Life After Cancer program

Groups meet monthly and our events include education programs, opportunities to learn more about resources available for survivors and to network with other survivors through social activities like family picnics, parties and sporting events.

Call Joyce Bender at 682-885-2164 for more information on the Life After Cancer program.

Listen Up! (hearing loss)

The group offers support and information for patients, parents and siblings with any type of hearing loss.

For more information, contact Kristi Reed, kristi.reed@cookchildrens.org or 682-303-1252, or our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

Mended Little Hearts

Support for parents of children with congenital heart defects. This parent-led group provides a way for parents to talk one-on-one with each other, sharing their experiences, concerns and questions.

Meetings:

Pavilion classroom 5 (Cook Children's Medical Center, below Starbucks)
Group meets the second Monday of every month at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, please contact us at 682-885-4720, or our Parents as Partners team at parents@cookchildrens.org.

Neuro Family Connect

Neuro Family Connect group offers a more social atmosphere for Neuro families to connect.

For more information, please contact Amy.Davis@cookchildrens.org or our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

NICU Helping Hands

This group offers support and events for families and caregivers of children that are or have been in the NICU.

For more information, please contact us at 682-885-4720, or our Parents as Partners team at parents@cookchildrens.org.

Orthopedics

Complex surgery support group

Meet other families and learn more about complex orthopedic surgeries.

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SOS: Spotlight on Scoliosis

This group offers support and events for patients and family members.

Please contact or our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123, for additional information on our events and support group programs.

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Sib2Sib program

Cook Children's Sib2Sib™ program provides services to siblings of children living with a chronic illness or life-changing disability, who are or have been patients at Cook Children's Medical Center.

Activities, events and meetings include:

Camp Courage and Camp Courage Teen
These are fun-filled adventures away from the medical center. They provide opportunities for growth and building relationships with other siblings.
Teen and young adult field trips
Fun outings give teens and young adults a healthy break.
Sibshops
The history of Sibshops spans more than 25 years. Founded by Don Meyer, a pioneer in the sibling movement, the Sibshop model is dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people with special needs. The Sibshop at Cook Children’s is designed to serve siblings of patients living with a chronic illness or a life changing injury. There are currently over 320 Sibshops worldwide, including one right here at Cook Children's in Fort Worth, Texas. To learn more about the history of Sibshops and what they offer check out siblingsupport.org.
Your child can join the Cook Children's Sibshop for opportunities to meet other siblings, discuss common concerns unique to siblings of children with a chronic illness or life-changing disability, play games, enjoy arts and crafts, and have fun. It's a chance for us to celebrate siblings for who they are and all they do.

To learn more about the program or to register for the mailing list, call 682-885-5872, speak to your child's Child Life specialist or you can email sibprogram@cookchildrens.org.

Trauma Support Group

Cook Children’s hosts a monthly support group for children who are 6-years-old and older, along with their caregivers and siblings, to help address some of the lasting effects that a child might be experiencing in their home or personal life after their accident or traumatic event. The goal of the support group is to allow children and their families an opportunity to process their experiences and meet other kids who have had similar experiences, while having fun together. This group also provides educational opportunities and guest speakers for parents and caregivers, covering a variety of topics surrounding trauma.

If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please email TraumaSupport@cookchildrens.org or call 682-885-7255. You can also learn more here.