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Children's Hospital Boston is also home to the Center for Families which is a resource center for families and coordinates a number of different programs. One program in particular that is used frequently by AFCC patients is the Family to Family Program.
Often the best support comes from parents who have been there before. Our Family to Family network matches families now coming through the AFCC with trained volunteers who have a child with a particular health concern, for information and emotional support.
To get connected with a support family, discuss your interest with the AFCC social worker or nursing staff who will provide you with a release of information form to complete to initiate the match. This release insures your privacy and gives the Family to Family Program permission to provide basic information to the support volunteers to prepare them for speaking with you.
Once that step is complete you will receive a call from the Family to Family Program Coordinators, Paula Langone or Monique Mello, who work in the Center for Families and will set you up with your match. Matches usually connect by phone for one to three conversations to provide you the opportunity to ask questions, gather information and support. It is important to remember in speaking with another family, that not every patient and/or family story is the same, but that family's experiences may have similar themes, emotions, and potential strategies for coping that can be helpful to you.
Meet a family who benefitted from the Family to Family Program and now helps others coming into the Advanced Fetal Care Center.
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