Family Partners: The Foundation of Family-Centered Care 

At Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), we believe the best care happens when families and providers work together. Our Family Partners Program (FPP) invites caregivers to volunteer and play an active role in shaping care experiences for all patients. Their insights help us continuously improve and stay true to our commitment to family-centered care.  

FPP creates a vital connection between our multidisciplinary teams and the families who know our patients best. Together we’re building a stronger, more responsive healthcare environment. 

What is the Family Partners Program? 

The Family Partners Program (FPP) brings caregivers into the heart of CHOP’s care improvement efforts. Parents and caregivers of children who have been treated at CHOP or are currently being treated are eligible to apply to volunteer as a family partner. As a family partner, they can share their experiences, offer feedback, and help shape the way CHOP cares for our patients and families. 

FPP is part of CHOP’s long-standing commitment to enhancing the patient and family experience. It is a part of the Patient Experience Team. The program is led by CHOP’s team of Family Consultants, who are caregivers themselves of children with complex medical needs. As CHOP staff members, our Family Consultants draw on their lived experiences receiving care here to ensure that all families have a meaningful voice in CHOP’s future.  

But we can’t do it alone! 

We’re committed to building a group of family partners that promotes inclusion and belonging while elevating the family voice. Our goal is to reflect the richness of the CHOP community and ensure every voice is heard. 

How do family partners make an impact? 

Elevating the family voice 

We understand the importance of amplifying the family voice in pediatric healthcare. By joining FPP, caregivers use their voices and perspectives to help shape programs and practices within the enterprise. 

Making a difference 

Your experiences matter, and they have the power to make a lasting impact. By participating in FPP, caregivers become active contributors to positive change, influencing the way we deliver care and support to all families, whether they are facing complex medical challenges or seeking routine preventative care. 

Ways to get involved 

Family partners have the unique opportunity to collaborate and share feedback and insights with our medical professionals, administrators and support staff. By working together, we strengthen the holistic and family-centered care approach at the heart of all we do at CHOP. 

Join the Family Advisory Council (FAC) 

The Family Advisory Council allows patient-families to share their unique perspectives with CHOP leaders by providing input on hospital programs, projects and more. 

Members of FAC are also members of FPP. FAC includes families and caregivers from diverse backgrounds whose children receive care across the CHOP enterprise. 

Family partners also participate in department- or diagnosis-specific Family Advisory Councils. 

Become a Family Partners speaker 

Family Partners speakers are caregivers whose children receive care at CHOP. Speakers share their powerful, firsthand experiences with CHOP teams across the Hospital to help staff understand how their work impacts families. They often make a deep impression on staff members, ultimately connecting them to the heart of our mission: the patients. 

Participate in focus groups and surveys 

Family partners can participate in one-time focus groups to give feedback or suggest solutions for a specific project. 

Become a LEND family mentor 

In this role, family partners are paired with a clinical professional enrolled in the LEND Fellowship Program. The family partner provides a glimpse into the daily life of a child with neurodevelopmental disorders and chronic illness. 

Key qualities of a family partner 

When recruiting family partners, we look for families whose children have received care at one or more CHOP locations. 

Additionally, family partners must also be able to do the following: 

• Share stories and insights in an unbiased and objective way
• Listen to and understand different perspectives
• Work collaboratively
• Respect inclusion and promote belonging
• Display a positive attitude
• Exhibit enthusiasm for our vision and mission
• Maintain confidentiality 

Getting started  

Thank you for your interest in sharing our commitment to family-centered care at CHOP. Together we can enhance the family voice, ensuring the diverse needs and perspectives of our patients and families influence family-centered care and shape the future of pediatric healthcare.  

We invite interested caregivers who are passionate about improving the healthcare experience for children and families to apply here. 

If there is a match, the next steps include: 

• Interview: Candidates will meet with the family consultant team to briefly discuss their family's journey with CHOP, ask any questions about the program, and ensure this is a good fit for everyone.
• Orientation: Once accepted, caregivers undergo a comprehensive orientation to familiarize themselves with the program’s history, policies, and opportunities to participate.
• Opportunities: Family partners partake in projects to share their experiences, insights and suggestions in a collaborative and supportive environment. Examples include FAC meetings, surveys, focus groups and more.
• Review: CHOP leadership and staff carefully assess feedback from family partners to help drive positive change across the enterprise.  

Contact us 

For help with the application process, please email FamilyCenteredCare@chop.edu with any questions.