We have support to carry you through...
We know a child's cancer diagnosis comes with a unique set of twists and turns. Our programs and services can help keep you afloat as your child's treatment progresses.
Financial Assistance
Our Lifeline Emergency Funds are available for Connecticut families or families treated at one of our partner hospitals*. This program can alleviate non-medical expenses related to your family's living or travel costs. Circle of Care pays creditors directly, requiring a bill we can pay on your behalf. Your hospital social worker must sign off on all requests for financial assistance.
In addition to bill pay, we can also assist your family with gift cards to supplement your gas and grocery costs. To discuss with our team how we can help your family, please email programs@thecircleofcare.org
*Partner hospital include: Baystate Children's Hospital, Connecticut Children's Medical Cancer, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, and Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
Resource Guide for You
Our Purple Pages is a resource guide created for you by those in your shoes. It ensures you have access to all the relevant information you may need throughout your child's treatment and after - without the clutter and overwhelm of doing your own internet search. Inside, you will find other resources outside of Circle of Care that can support your family emotionally throughout this time.
This guide is updated twice yearly with resources gathered from families in our Circle and reviewed by our team to eliminate any guesswork for you. All resources should be active and up to date. If you find a problem with any of the resources in our guide or would like to suggest an addition, please let us know here.
Dream Room Makeovers (Available six months after your child's diagnosis)
Our Art From the Heart℠ dream room makeover program can transform your child's bedroom or playroom into a personal oasis—a place to escape from the daily reality of doctor appointments and treatment schedules. Our trained volunteer teams work directly with your child and family to create a "dream" vision for their room.
This program is intended for patients ages 4+ in Connecticut or Westchester County, NY. Our volunteer teams transform rooms through paint, decor, and imagination - they do not provide structural remodeling. If you want a room makeover for your child, click here.
Peer Connection for Adolescents & Young Adults
Our AYA Program provides peer connection opportunities for patients ages 15-26 to meet and engage with each other while participating in an activity or outing with the Circle of Care team. We've hosted trips to Foxwoods, Beach Bash parties, holiday light tours, and more... These trips are prompted by interest from our AYA community... if you would like to join our Circle and express interest in an outing, click here.
Hospital Volunteers at Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
We partner with Yale New Haven Children's Hospital to ensure that all pediatric hematology/oncology unit volunteers understand the needs of the families they interact with. We train and certify these volunteers to provide appropriate support and much-needed family diversions.
Events for Your Family
We hold several family gathering opportunities throughout the year to connect you with other families, provide distraction and entertainment for your children, and offer you resources.
- Thanksgiving: Our annual Thanksgathering event is held in Wilton and Hartford, CT. We host 25 families in each location each year to gather with each other, participate in holiday-themed activities, and receive a care bag containing all the necessities for a Thanksgiving dinner. This event takes place just before Thanksgiving in November.
- Family Fun Day: Our annual Family Fun Day is hosted at Urban Air Adventure Park in September in honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Families can play together—or kids can play while parents mingle—in various indoor attractions like bumper cars, foam pits, and even an indoor rope obstacle course!
- Survivor Tent - Our Annual 5K: We invite the families in our Circle from all points in time to join us at our CARE to Run 5K in Wilton, CT, each spring. Families can choose to run or walk in the 5K at a discounted rate or join us at our tent for families to hang out together and receive a goodie bag.
For more information on each of these events, please email programs@thecircleofcare.org
Sprinkling Joy Throughout the Year
We know holidays can be different when you have a child undergoing cancer treatment. On the following holidays, we send something special to let you know your family is in our thoughts and to provide a little extra cheer for you.
- Birthdays: Our Birthday Box is received by all children in our Circle who we have supported in the past year during their birthday month.
- Mother's Day and Father's Day: Moms and dads of children with cancer are true superheroes! Each year, for these holidays, we send a card or a small gift directly to the families in our Circle or to our partner hospitals to distribute.
- Winter Holidays: Binky's Porch Elves are hard at work during the winter holidays, sourcing and putting together custom gift packages for each child in our Circle we have supported in the past year. These packages are mailed or hand-delivered to each family during December.
