For Patients and Families

The Family's Role in Patient Safety - CTA
Lacey Martin on a Whale Watch

Family caregivers play a key role in helping children with central lines avoid infection.

Lacey's Story
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COVID-19 Information

Learn about COVID-19 and how we are taking all necessary precautions to protect our patients, their families and caregivers, and our staff.

Boston Children's Hospital COVID-19 Information

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute COVID-19 Information

Family Resources

A serious pediatric illness affects the entire family. From your very first visit, you’ll find that our team is committed to supporting the entire family with emotional, financial, spiritual and clinical support services provided by doctors, trained professionals and compassionate volunteers. Learn about the family friendly environment we have created to help the entire family during what can be a very stressful time.

Comfortable & Convenient Facilities

All of our care areas were designed to make your child as comfortable as possible. In addition to comfortable and kid-friendly treatment rooms, our campus offers family lounges, activity rooms, laundry facilities and special resource rooms filled with educational and fun activities. For inpatient stays, rooms include a bed for a parent, so children staying overnight never have to be alone. Learn more about our facilities.

Emotional & Spiritual Support

The emotional and spiritual challenges that arise from a serious illness can be extremely difficult to manage without the help of a trained professional. We offer several services to help with these challenges, including a psychosocial program for psychological support; spiritual consultation from a variety of perspectives, including interfaith, Islamic, Jewish, Protestant and Roman Catholic faiths; and ethics consulting for families facing difficult decisions and choices regarding care.

Patient & Family Support Services

patient in inpatient care

When care requires inpatient stays or frequent outpatient visits, life can feel like it is on hold for everyone. As part of our effort to deliver care for the entire family, we offer patient and family support services that limit the disruptions a cancer or blood disorder diagnosis can cause, and ease the patient’s transition back to life once treatment is complete. Learn about our patient and family support services.

Intellectual & Creative Nourishment

It’s not uncommon for children to miss school while being treated for a serious illness – especially when lengthy inpatient stays are required. We offer creative activities, music therapy, educational resources and other ways for kids to have fun and continue their intellectual growth through treatment. We also arrange for social activities such as pizza and movie nights where patients and families can come together and enjoy the company of others who are dealing with similar challenges.

Clinical Support Programs

Our clinical support services for survivorship, fertility preservation, palliative care, cancer risk assessment and psychosocial care address the more immediate patient needs that arise from a cancer and blood disorder diagnosis. With these services, we broaden the care beyond diagnosis and treatment to meet the patient and families’ medical, physical and emotional needs before, during, and after care.

MyChildren's Patient Portal

MyChildren's Patient Portal is a Web-based, easy-to-use, and secure way to access your child's information at your convenience.