We understand that exceptional medical care is only one piece of your child’s healthcare picture. Whether you’re visiting Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for a single outpatient appointment or are planning for an extended stay, you and your family can take advantage of support services and resources designed to help you care for your family and yourself.

Support Services

Social work

The staff in the department of Social Work and Family Services are available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, to help families solve problems and cope with the challenges of caring for a sick child.

Language services

We offer spoken and sign language interpretation through in-person interpreters, video or phone interpreting services, 24 hours a day.

Case management

Case managers work closely with patients, families and other members of the medical team to coordinate each patient's discharge plan and to serve as the link between the Hospital and the patient’s insurance plan. 

Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy

The staff of the Child Life, Education and Creative Arts Therapy help patients and family members cope with their healthcare experiences using developmentally appropriate activities. They also provide education about and preparation for medical procedures and offer emotional support. 

Spiritual Care

Multifaith chaplaincy staff are sensitive to the varied expressions of faith and are dedicated to providing professional pastoral care to children and their families as they cope with their hospital experience, 24 hours a day. 

Family consultants

Family consultants are parents of children who have received medical care at CHOP. They are employed by CHOP’s Family Relations Department, and partner with staff to bring the family voice and perspective into every area of the hospital. 

Ethics consultation service

When you and your child's healthcare team must make difficult treatment decisions, the Ethics Consultation Service staff may be able to help. 

Support groups

CHOP hosts a wide range of family support groups. These groups welcome new families and are available to provide comfort and solace to parents and others who are coping with a child's illness, chronic medical condition or injury. 

Home care

The Home Care Service department provides in-home, family-centered care when hospitalization isn't necessary. 

Bereavement

We offer many forms of support to help families rebuild their lives after the death of a child. We host support groups, workshops and services for parents, caregivers and siblings who are grieving.

Welcome centers

Welcome centers provide helpful information as you arrive at Children's Hospital. They provide comfortable seating, computer access and information about resources for patients and families. Three such facilities are available on our Philadelphia Campus:

• The Asplundh Foundation Inpatient Welcome Center, located on the first floor of the Main Hospital
• ADA CARing for Kids Foundation Welcome Center, located on the first floor of the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care 

Resource centers

There are also several resource centers available to support patient families during their Main Hospital stay. 

Jill & Mark Fishman Center for Families

The Jill & Mark Fishman Center for Families, located on the first floor of the Main Hospital directly inside the front entrance, provides support to families with travel, housing and local resource needs. Center staff is available to help families manage their world outside of CHOP during their time with us. 

The Connelly Resource Center for Families 

The Connelly Resource Center, located on the eighth floor of the Main Hospital, is a quiet place to take a break, use the Internet, attend a coffee hour or select children's books and videos from the Family Library to take back to your child’s room. Opened in 1997, the Connelly Center was designed by families and professionals to provide support to parents, caretakers, siblings and other relatives of our patients.

Little Rock Foundation Resource Room

The Little Rock Foundation Resource Room, located on the 11th floor of the Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care on the Philadelphia Campus, offers a broad range of services to support parents and families of children with disabilities. 

Community Resources for Families Database

The Community Resources for Families database offers families and professionals the opportunity to see what resources are available in the region and, in some instances, nationally. Agencies listed are nonprofit and often provide services to people with disabilities and illnesses beyond what is included in the agency description. Search the Community Resources database »