Family Support Services
Community Support for Patients and Caregivers
According to the American Academy for the Certification of Brain Injury Specialists, nearly 1.4 million children get an acquired brain injury in the United States each year. The treatment that follows depends on the kind of brain injury, but whatever the plan, it is a difficult road to travel. This journey includes the parents and caregivers of the injured child.
To help ease the stress that comes with recovery and discharge, the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU) offers a Community Support Group for patients with brain injury and their families. Children’s believes there is a need to address the concerns that come with recovery from a brain injury.
“Some of our patients found it tough to find people who understood what they were going through outside the hospital walls,” said the Rev. Carol Mallon, organizer of the group.
Children and families will meet from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. the first Saturday of every month, except July and December, at the Children’s CIRU family lounge. Two groups will meet during that time: one for former patients and another for parents and other caregivers. A topic will be selected for each group every month and will be presented by a Children’s staff member. Topics include:
- Education for the child with a brain injury
- Recreational activities
- Coping with the holidays
The Community Support Group hopes to ease the transition of patients from Children’s to their homes by offering a place for children and parents to get a helping hand. Contact the Rev. Mallon at carol.mallon@choa.org or 404-785-4452 for more information.
Children's Rehab Reunion
Graduates from the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Unit (CIRU) and the Children’s Day Rehabilitation Program enjoy a day of fun and socializing at the Children’s Rehab Reunion. An annual gathering each October for former patients to catch up with the Children’s staff and friends, the event features:
- Cookout
- Music
- Clowns
- Face painting
- Arts and crafts
- Hope and Will
At Blackburn Park in Atlanta, Ga., the Children’s Rehab Reunion brings smiles to the children’s faces and gives a chance to show how much they have accomplished during their recovery.