Child Life | Image Recovery | International Relations | Lodging | Pediatric Social Work | Support Groups | Other Important Support Services | Travel Guide

Support Services 

The Johns Hopkins Children's Center:

Pediatric Child Life

Outpatient:
Kim Robison, Child Life Specialist
410-614-6158

Inpatient:
Elizabeth Fairall, Child Life Specialist
410-955-6276

Our child life specialists are highly skilled professionals trained and educated in child and adolescent development, education or psychology.  A key component of their job is to communicate to the children, "Yes, this is a very stressful thing happening to you, but there is still structure to your life.  You can still play, you can still have friends, and you can still do your schoolwork."

Image Recovery  410-502-5623

Marianne Kelly, director

Sometimes cancer treatments can change patients' appearances and make them feel uncomfortable or just not themselves.  Changes such as hair loss or scars are the most common.  The Image Recovery Center, located onsite at the Kimmel Cancer Center, sells a host of items, from trendy scarves, hats and stylish wigs, to skin creams, nail polishes, makeup, and other products safe for cancer patients to use.   Trained experts guide and instruct patients on how to use and apply the products.

International Relations 410-955-8032

www.jhintl.net

We speak your language.  Johns Hopkins International Patient Services has regional divisions with professional interpreters, natives of every region of the world, trained to interpret in the medical setting.  Interpreters in more than 30 languages are available around the clock to assist you and your family before traveling to Baltimore, during medical appointments, and to make any arrangements related to your visit.

Lodging

There are a number of places at and near Johns Hopkins that families traveling from out of town can stay:

The Children's House 410-614-2560
The Children's House at Johns Hopkins is located across from the Hospital's Wolfe Street entrance (1915 McElderry Street). The four-level, 18-unit, brick building provides an inexpensive home-away-from-home for patients and their families. Major support comes from the Grant-A-Wish Foundation and the Children's House endowment. It is available to families through referral by social workers and nurses.

Ronald McDonald House 410-528-1010
The Ronald McDonald House, located at 635 West Lexington Street, is available to families through referral by social workers.

The nearby Baltimore Inner Harbor area also offers a variety of hotels that provide discounted rates to Johns Hopkins patients and their families.

Pediatric Social Work
  
Susan Scarvalone, MSW, LCSW-C  
410-955-8124

Lisa Reed, MSW, LCSW-C
410-955-8125

The pediatric oncology social worker is a vital resource for patients and families, providing social and emotional support to all members of the family, educating patients and families about resources available to them, and the impact of cancer on family life, and offering hope, even in the most difficult situations. Every patient (and family) is provided his or her own social worker to assist with the psychological, social, and practical needs patients and families experience throughout treatment and recovery.  From help with obtaining lodging to finding the answers to questions about treatment, the social worker is a constant and dedicated advocate.

Services provided by our pediatric social workers include:

• Liaison with medical staff:  Often the combination of the stress of diagnosis and the technical aspects of tests and treatment can leave patients and family in a state of confusion.  Social workers can serve as a liaison between clinicians and families to get answers to treatment-related questions, and to translate medical jargon into language patients and families can understand.
• Obtaining financial resources:  Social workers will help families apply for appropriate Social Security benefits, intercede on the patient's behalf in insurance issues, and put families in touch with organizations that provide financial support for cancer patients.
• Advocacy work with schools and employers:  Social workers can help prepare fellow students, teachers, school nurses and counselors for a patient's return to school.  Information and education about the child's specific needs and change in appearance helps to promote a smooth and comfortable return to school.

Social workers can make similar inroads with employers, helping to explain why a parent of a young cancer patient may need time away from the job and in providing the documentation necessary to obtain time off through the Family Medical Leave Act.

• Supportive activities for patients and families: Whether it be a weekend at the beach or making a patient's dream come true, our social workers can help patients and families find ways to escape, if only temporarily, the stresses associated with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.  Pediatric social workers have contacts at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Believe in Tomorrow, Casey Cares and other organizations that facilitate fun-filled getaways for families and grant the wishes of children with cancer.
• Applications for camps:  There are a variety of summer camps throughout the state and nation for pediatric cancer patients of all ages, as well as entire families.  Our social workers can help identify the camp most suited to each patient or family's interests and needs, and facilitate registration.

Support Groups

Pediatric Adolescent Support Group
This support group is for patients who are 12-21 years old.  The group meets the third Thursday of each month and provides peer support and activities. For more information, contact the social worker at 410-955-8754.

Pediatric Oncology Parent Support Group
This group is for parents of pediatric oncology patients. Evening meetings are held monthly or as needed. For more information, contact the social worker at 410-955-8125.

Candlelighters
This evening support group meets on the third Thursday of each month. All parents of children with cancer, including the newly diagnosed, the off-treatment, and the deceased, are invited. For more information contact the social worker at 410-955-8124.

Bereavement Group
This group is for parents who have lost a child to cancer and meets the second Wednesday of each month.  For information, contact the social worker at (410) 955-8125.

Other Important Support Services

Chapel
An interfaith chapel for private prayer and meditation is located in the first floor Zoo Lobby of the Children's Center.  It is open 24 hours a day.

Catholic Mass: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. in the Meditation Chapel; Saturday, 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon in the Marburg Conference Room.

Clergy Services     410-955-5842
An ordained minister, trained as a counselor for patients and their families, is available at all times.  A chaplain is an integral part of the health care team and directs a staff of clergy representing the major faiths.  Your child's nurse can contact a chaplain for you in the evening or weekends in an emergency situation.  Your own clergyman is always welcome at the hospital.

Guest Services     410-614-5100
For assistance with directions, local hotels and attractions, and special requests.

Maryland Public Transit     410-539-5000
For information on buses, subway, and light rail transportation.

Travel Guide, a full-service travel agency, is available to help patients and their families with air, hotel, and/or ground accommodations. The agency is located near the main Wolfe Street entrance. It is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.