Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of The Philadelphia Region

RMH SUPPORTS FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN BY CREATING A COMMUNITY OF COMFORT AND HOPE.

HOUSE PROGRAM - TWO RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES, TOGETHER SERVING UP TO 147 FAMILIES EACH NIGHT, OFFER HOLISTIC SUPPORT AND LODGING TO FAMILIES TRAVELING 25 MILES OR FURTHER TO PHILADELPHIA TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN. FOUNDED AS THE FIRST RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE IN THE WORLD, RMHC-PHI IS THE MODEL FOR MORE THAN 375 HOUSES IN 65 COUNTRIES AND REGIONS AROUND THE GLOBE AND HAS SUPPORTED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN MORE THAN 45 YEARS OF OPERATION. SINCE OPENING, THE FLAGSHIP HOUSE - LOCATED AT 3925 CHESTNUT STREET GREW TO 72,000 SQUARE FEET TO ACCOMMODATE A TOTAL OF 45 FAMILIES EACH NIGHT IN 1995; IN 2008, RMHC-PHI OPENED A SECOND 27,000-SQUARE-FOOT, THREE-STORY HOME WITH 20 BEDROOMS LOCATED AT 100 E. ERIE AVENUE TO MEET THE EXPANDING NEED FOR SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. RMHC-PHI HAS RECENTLY EXPANDED THE CHESTNUT STREET LOCATION FROM 45 BEDROOMS TO 127 BEDROOMS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES. CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FACILITY BEGAN IN THE SUMMER OF 2017 AND CONCLUDED IN EARLY 2020. THE HOUSES OFFER FAMILIES A COMFORTABLE AND SECURE ROOM, DAILY HOME-COOKED MEALS, A 24-HOUR FOOD PANTRY, COMPLIMENTARY TRANSPORTATION AROUND THE CITY, FREE PARKING, AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES - ALL JUST MINUTES FROM THE HOSPITAL. THE HOUSES ALSO OFFER TV LOUNGES, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY SPACES, EXERCISE ROOMS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, LOANER LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND WIFI, AND SOCIAL WORKER ASSISTANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOUSES OFFER THE SUPPORT OF OTHER FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD. WHILE IT COSTS RMHC-PHI MORE THAN $149 PER NIGHT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO PAY $15 PER NIGHT. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE FAMILIES ARE SO FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED BY THEIR CHILD'S ILLNESS (AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT COSTS, JOB LOSS OR LEAVE, TRAVELING, AND PAYING EXPENSES AT HOME) THAT THEIR FEE IS WAIVED OR REDUCED; NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY. FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM 25 MILES AWAY OR FURTHER FOR MEDICAL CARE AT PHILADELPHIA HOSPITALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO STAY AT THE HOUSES, AND CHILDREN MUST BE UNDER THE AGE OF 21 AND IN ACTIVE TREATMENT. IN 2020, RMHC-PHI'S TWO HOUSES COMBINED HAD 1,071 FAMILY STAYS WITH FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM 48 STATES, 25 COUNTRIES AND 1 U.S. TERRITORIES; 34% OF FAMILIES TRAVELED FROM WITHIN PENNSYLVANIA. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 23 DAYS, WITH THE LONGEST LENGTH OF STAY FOR ONE FAMILY TOTALING 315 CONSECUTIVE DAYS DURING 2021. WHILE RMHC-PHI SERVES FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE BEING TREATED FOR AN ARRAY OF ILLNESSES, THE TOP DEPARTMENTS IN 2021 WERE ORTHOPEDICS, ONCOLOGY, NEONATOLOGY AND GASTROENTEROLOGY. EACH YEAR, RMHC-PHI'S HOSPITAL PARTNERS INCLUDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA (CHOP), ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, SHRINERS HOSPITAL, WILLS EYE HOSPITAL, THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND OTHERS. ALL PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS INTENDING TO STAY AT THE HOUSE AND THEIR CHILDREN WERE TESTED FOR COVID-19 BEFORE CHECK-IN TO REDUCE ANY POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO CURRENT GUESTS OR STAFF. ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS AND SOCIAL SERVICES STAFF ARE ONSITE AT BOTH FACILITIES TO MAKE SURE THE BASIC NEEDS OF OUR GUEST FAMILIES ARE MET DAILY. ALL GUEST FAMILIES AND STAFF RECEIVE A WELLNESS AND TEMPERATURE CHECK DAILY, MAINTAIN PHYSICAL DISTANCING, AND WEAR FACIAL COVERINGS TO LIMIT PARTICLE TRANSMISSION. WE FOLLOW STRICT INFECTIOUS DISEASE PROTOCOLS TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITY AND ARE IN REGULAR CONTACT WITH OUR HOSPITAL PARTNERS AND LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. VOLUNTEERS ARE TRULY THE HEART OF THE HOUSES AND RMHC-PHI RELIES ON THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF MORE THAN 235 VOLUNTEERS TO CREATE A HOME FOR THE FAMILIES IT SERVES. VOLUNTEERS STAFF THE FRONT DESK, DRIVE THE SHUTTLE VANS AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN A VARIETY OF OTHER CAPACITIES. DUE TO COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS THE TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS CONTRIBUTED WERE DRASTICALLY REDUCED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 23,000 ANNUALLY TO 9,154 REPRESENTING THE EQUIVALENT OF 4.4 FULL-TIME STAFF POSITIONS.

CAMP PROGRAM - EVERY AUGUST, RONALD MCDONALD CAMP ENABLES CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF SUMMER CAMP. CREATED BY RMH CO-FOUNDER DR. AUDREY E. EVANS IN 1986, THIS ONE-WEEK CAMP WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST OF ITS KIND TO OFFER A CAMP EXPERIENCE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS. RONALD MCDONALD CAMP, LOCATED IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDES ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES FOUND AT A TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP, SUCH AS SWIMMING, SAILING, HIKING, SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, YOGA, AND ROPE COURSES, EXCEPT THAT, AT THIS CAMP, CAMPERS CAN PARTICIPATE NO MATTER WHAT LIMITATIONS THEY HAVE. FOR MANY CAMPERS, THE WEEK AT CAMP IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER TRIED THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED, AND THEY GO HOME NOT ONLY HAVING DISCOVERED A NEW TALENT OR LEARNED A NEW SKILL, BUT HAVING GAINED A SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE. FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE FELT ISOLATED FROM THEIR PEERS THROUGH THEIR ILLNESS, AND SIBLINGS WHO HAVE FELT LEFT OUT, CAMP IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A FAMILY OF CAMPERS WHO CAN RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND TO DEVELOP A WIDE-REACHING SUPPORT NETWORK THAT WILL LAST LONG AFTER THE WEEK OF CAMP IS OVER.CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 17 (INCLUDING CURRENT OR FORMER CANCER PATIENTS AND ONE SIBLING) ARE WELCOME AT CAMP AND ARE DIVIDED BY AGE INTO JUNIOR AND SENIOR CAMPS. MORE THAN 100 FULLY-TRAINED VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS (MANY OF WHOM ARE CANCER SURVIVORS AND PAST CAMPERS) AND A FULL TEAM OF OVER A DOZEN MEDICAL STAFF, INCLUDING PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGISTS, NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM CHOP, DEDICATE A WEEK OF THEIR SUMMER VACATION TO MAKE CAMP POSSIBLE. IN 2021, AFTER CONSULTING WITH HOSPITAL PARTNERS, , THE DECISION WAS MADE NOT TO HOLD RONALD MCDONALD CAMP USING AN IN-PERSON FORMAT DUE TO RESTRICTIONS SURROUNDING COVID-19 AND IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO MEDICALLY FRAGILE CAMPERS.IN 2021, 112 CAMPERS ATTENDED RONALD MCDONALD CAMP VIRTUALLY BY LOGGING INTO A PASSWORD PROTECT PLATFORM. EACH CAMPER RECEIVED A CAMPER ACTIVITY BAG PRIOR TO CAMP WHICH CONTAINED A CAMP T-SHIRT, SUPPLIES FOR ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, AND INSTRUCTIONS FOR ACCESSING ALL ONLINE CAMP PROGRAMMING. JUNIOR AND SENIOR CAMPER GROUPS PARTICIPATED DAILY IN AGE APPROPRIATE ONLINE ACTIVITIES AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOKS WITH PROFESSIONALS. IN THE EVENINGS, CAMPERS AND COUNSELORS LOGGED ON FOR ALL CAMP ACTIVITIES WITH SPECIAL GUESTS, GAMES, AND THE MUCH LOVED TALENT SHOW. WHILE THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT CAMPERS, SIBLINGS TRADITIONALLY CAN ATTEND FOR A NOMINAL FEE OF $150. IN 2021, THIS SIBLING FEE WAS WAIVED. FUNDING FOR THE WEEK IS PROVIDED SOLELY THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. RONALD MCDONALD CAMP IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA) AND IS A MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY CAMPING ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL (COCA). RONALD MCDONALD CAMP, WHEN HELD IN-PERSON, IS HELD AT THE CAMP TIMBER TOPS FACILITY IN GREELEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

CARE MOBILE PROGRAM - THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE (RMCM) PROGRAM PROVIDES ACCESS TO PEDIATRIC MEDICAL, DENTAL AND/OR HEALTH EDUCATION SERVICES FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE RMCM PROGRAM IS BREAKING DOWN THE BARRIERS TO HEALTH CARE, EXPANDING CRITICAL HEALTH CARE ACCESS AND EXTENDING THE CHARITY'S REACH TO COUNTLESS UNDERSERVED CHILDREN. THE RMCM PROGRAM SERVES CHILDREN THAT ARE AT GREAT RISK TO DEVELOP ACUTE CONDITIONS, DENTAL PROBLEMS, CHRONIC DISEASES AND EVEN SERIOUS LIFELONG ILLNESSES. THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH ST. CHRISTOPHER'S FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN, RMHC-PHI IS BRINGING CRITICAL DENTAL SERVICES TO UNDER-INSURED OR UN-INSURED CHILDREN RIGHT IN THEIR OWN NEIGHBORHOOD THROUGH ONSITE VISITS AT SCHOOLS, HEAD START PROGRAMS AND HOMELESS SHELTERS.DUE TO RESTRICTIONS SURROUNDING COVID-19, THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE REDUCED OPERATING DAYS FROM FIVE TO THREE DAYS DUE TO CITY OF PHILADELPHIA AND SITE LOCATION RESTRICTIONS. IN 2021, THE CARE MOBILE VISITED 25 LOCATIONS AND PROVIDED DENTAL EDUCATION AND CARE TO 1,317 CHILDREN.

FAMILY ROOMS PROGRAM - TWO AT CHOP AND ONE AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN EXTEND THE COMFORT AND SUPPORT OF THE HOUSES INTO THE HOSPITAL BY OFFERING A QUIET PLACE TO REST AND RECHARGE AWAY FROM THE BEDSIDE FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT. OUR FIRST FAMILY ROOM AT CHOP OPENED IN THE ONCOLOGY UNIT IN 2006. THIS FAMILY ROOM IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK INCLUDING HOLIDAYS; ANY PATIENT AND HIS/HER FAMILY IN ONE OF THE COMBINED TOTAL OF 50 PATIENT BEDS ON THE ONCOLOGY UNIT MAY USE THE FAMILY ROOM. IN MARCH OF 2017, RMHC-PHI OPENED A FAMILY ROOM AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN TO SERVE THE CRITICAL CARE TOWER. THIS FAMILY ROOM SERVES UP TO 65 BEDS A NIGHT. IN 2018, RMHC-PHI OPENED A SECOND FAMILY ROOM AT CHOP'S SEASHORE HOUSE.THE FAMILY ROOMS OFFER A RANGE OF COMPLIMENTARY AMENITIES AND PROGRAMMING IN A WARM, HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. A CENTRAL PILLAR OF THESE SERVICES IS THE MEAL PROGRAM WHICH, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS, PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH BREAKFAST AND DINNER AT SCHEDULED TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT THE FAMILY-STYLE DINING TABLES LOCATED IN THE ROOMS. SNACKS, COFFEE AND TEA ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES THROUGH THE PROGRAM. OTHER AMENITIES INCLUDE COMFORTABLE SEATING, KITCHEN FACILITIES, TELEVISIONS, DVD PLAYERS (WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF MOVIES), BOOKS AND MAGAZINES. THE ONCOLOGY FAMILY ROOM ALSO OFFERS LAUNDRY FACILITIES AND A GUEST BATHROOM. PROGRAMMING IN FAMILY ROOMS INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY HAIRCUTS, YOGA INSTRUCTION, STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, ART THERAPY, CRAFTS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.THE FAMILY ROOMS SERVE FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM BOTH NEAR AND FAR. FAMILIES COMING FROM 25 MILES AWAY OR FARTHER AND STAYING AT PHILADELPHIA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE IN THE EVENING ARE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK IN THE ROOMS DURING THE DAY, AND FAMILIES RESIDING CLOSER THAN 25 MILES WHO DO NOT WISH TO LEAVE THEIR CHILD'S SIDE DUE TO AGE OR SEVERITY OF ILLNESS CAN UTILIZE THE ROOMS AS MUCH AS NEEDED. DUE TO COVID-19 REGULATIONS IN PLACE AT THE HOSPITALS IN WHICH FAMILY ROOMS ARE LOCATED, RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS WERE CLOSED TO GUESTS IN 2021.