Ronald Mcdonald House Of Chapel Hill Inc

TO PROVIDE A HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME FOR FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL OR INJURED CHILDREN.

SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN 1988, THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHAPEL HILL HAS SERVED MORE THAN 42,500 FAMILIES FROM NORTH CAROLINA AND BEYOND. THE HOUSE OPERATES 53 ROOMS. THESE ROOMS INCLUDE HOTEL-STYLE ROOMS FOR FAMILIES STAYING 11 DAYS OR LESS, AS WELL AS LONG-TERM ROOMS FOR FAMILIES WHOSE STAYS EXTEND INTO MONTHS. THERE ARE ALSO 7 WELL-EQUIPPED, 2-ROOM APARTMENTS FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE A PLAN OF TREATMENT THAT REQUIRES PARTIAL ISOLATION AS THEY RECOVER FROM ORGAN TRANSPLANTS, BONE MARROW TRANSPLANTS AND OTHER CHALLENGING CONDITIONS. THE PRIMARY COMMUNITY NEED ADDRESSED BY RMH HAS GROWN TREMENDOUSLY OVER THE LAST YEAR. COVID-19 CHANGED EVERYTHING ABOUT OUR DAILY OPERATIONS AND THE NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES AND PARTNER HOSPITAL. THROUGHOUT 2021, RMH OF CHAPEL HILL MAINTAINED UNWAVERING FOCUS ON OUR MISSION; OPERATING WITH COMPASSION, AGILITY AND TREMENDOUS CARE TO MAKE CERTAIN THAT WE COULD REMAIN A RESOURCE FOR THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. FOLLOWING UNC HEALTH'S MODEL AND GUIDELINES FROM RMHC GLOBAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES, OUR TEAM PIVOTED ALL SERVICES AND PROGRAMS TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR GUESTS AND STAFF AND TO MEET THE INCREASED NEEDS OF FAMILIES WITH SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN. FAMILIES FROM LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES RELY HEAVILY ON OUR SERVICES TO HAVE ACCESS TO LIFESAVING TREATMENT FOR THEIR CHILDREN. DURING THE PANDEMIC, MANY OF OUR FAMILIES INCURRED JOB LOSS, FOOD INSECURITY, AND MORE, ALL IN ADDITION TO CARING FOR A SICK CHILD. WE WORKED TO MEET THEIR NEEDS THROUGH FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS, REDUCED HOTEL RATES, SERVING AS MEDICAID LIAISONS, PROVIDING GIFT CARDS, AND MORE. SERVICES TYPICALLY OFFERED IN-HOUSE BY STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS EVOLVED GREATLY TO SERVE OUR FAMILIES IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES AS WELL. 2021 WAS AN UNPREDICTABLE YEAR, WITH A PERIOD IN THE SUMMER WHERE WE RETURNED TO MORE NORMAL PROTOCOLS, ONLY TO RESUME RESTRICTIONS WITH THE RISE OF THE DELTA VARIANT AND LATER THE MORE CONTAGIOUS OMICRON.IN 2021, THE LONGEST FAMILY STAY WAS 150 NIGHTS, WHILE THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 14 NIGHTS. THE HOUSE CONTINUES TO SEE LONGER GUEST STAYS AS HEALTHCARE MOVES TOWARDS A DELIVERY MODEL MORE FREQUENTLY DRIVEN BY OUTPATIENT SERVICES. IN 2019, THE HOUSE SERVED 1,106 UNIQUE FAMILIES WHICH REPRESENTED AN 11% INCREASE FROM 2018. 2020 AND 2021 WERE FAR FROM NORMAL. THE HOUSE CONTINUED TO OPERATE WITH COVID PROTOCOLS IN PLACE, IMPACTING OUR OCCUPANCY CAPACITY. WE SERVED 344 FAMILIES IN 2020 AND 284 IN 2021. IN 2019, THE HOUSE PROVIDED 13,351 NIGHTS OF LODGING, AND IN 2020, 4,221. OUR 2021 NUMBERS INCREASED SLIGHTLY TO 4,844. DURING A NORMAL YEAR, FAMILIES RETURN TO THE HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES PER YEAR. IN 2021, UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL POSTPONED ELECTIVE SURGERIES FOR A PERIOD AND PLACED RESTRICTIONS ON VISITORS ALLOWED IN THE HOSPITAL, IMPACTING OUR OCCUPANCY AS WELL. WITH POSITIVITY RATES REMAINING LOW IN NORTH CAROLINA, WE EXPECT OUR OCCUPANCY TO RESUME NORMAL RATES. THE HOUSE OPERATES YEAR-ROUND, PROVIDING LODGING AND SERVICES TO FAMILIES 7 DAYS PER WEEK, 365 DAYS PER YEAR, EVEN DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. GUESTS HAVE ACCESS TO A CLEAN, COMFORTABLE ROOM AS WELL AS MANY OTHER FREE SERVICES AND AMENITIES TO HELP MINIMIZE THEIR EMOTIONAL AND FINANCIAL STRESS WHILE CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN. TYPICALLY, ABOUT HALF OF THE PATIENTS SERVED CAN STAY WITH THEIR FAMILIES AT THE HOUSE, RETURNING TO THE HOSPITAL AND OUTPATIENT SETTING DURING THE DAY TO RECEIVE CARE.RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHAPEL HILL EXISTS TO REDUCE THE FINANCIAL BURDEN FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING WHAT IS OFTEN A VERY COSTLY AND CHALLENGING TIME. OUR HOSPITAL PARTNER, THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, TREATS PATIENTS REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL RESOURCES. MANY GUESTS ARE FROM LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. WHILE GUESTS MAY CHOOSE TO MAKE A GIFT TO SUPPORT OTHER FUTURE FAMILIES, CURRENT GUEST FAMILIES DO NOT CONTRIBUTE TO THE COST OF THEIR STAY. OVER 60% OF THE FAMILIES SERVED CANNOT AFFORD TO COVER ANY OF THE COSTS OF THEIR STAY. THE ESTIMATED COST TO HOST A FAMILY IS $85 PER NIGHT. IN 2021, THE HOUSE SERVED 195 FAMILIES WHO RECEIVED MEDICAID BENEFITS FROM THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, OR 69%. THE HOUSE SUPPORTS FAMILIES FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, BELIEFS, AND ETHNICITIES. IN 2021, 11% OF OUR FAMILIES WERE ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY FAMILIES. 33% OF OUR GUEST FAMILIES WERE CAUCASIAN/WHITE, 21% BLACK OR AFRICAN DESCENT, 6% HISPANIC/LATINO, 2% NATIVE AMERICAN, 39% OTHER OR UNDEFINED.GUESTS ALSO FACE VARIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND FREQUENTLY CHILDREN HAVE MULTIPLE DIAGNOSES. THE HOUSE MOST FREQUENTLY SERVES FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN THE AREAS OF NEWBORN CRITICAL CARE, PEDIATRIC INTENSIVE CARE AND HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY. IN 2021, 7 TRANSPLANT PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES UTILIZED THE APARTMENTS FOR THEIR POST-TRANSPLANT PLAN OF CARE FOR A TOTAL OF 188 NIGHTS.AS A STATEWIDE ORGANIZATION, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF CHAPEL HILL IS UNIQUE AMONG THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROGRAMS IN NORTH CAROLINA AS WE SERVE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN FROM ALL 100 COUNTIES. AS THE CHAPEL HILL HOUSE ALIGNS WITH THE UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, THE STATE'S PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL, OUR IMPACT EXTENDS ACROSS THE STATE. ON AN AVERAGE YEAR, PATIENTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE GUESTS AT THE HOUSE WHILE RECEIVING SPECIALIZED MEDICAL TREATMENT AT UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL.ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES OF 2021 WAS CONTINUING TO RUN THE OPERATIONS OF THE HOUSE, MINUS THE ARMY OF VOLUNTEERS WHO TYPICALLY HELP TO SUPPORT OUR MISSION. AS VOLUNTEER MEAL GROUPS WERE NOT PERMITTED AT THE HOUSE DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE TURNED TO AREA RESTAURANTS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALLY PACKAGED AND CATERED MEALS. OUR NEED ALLOWED US TO SUPPORT RESTAURANTS AT A TIME WHEN THEY WERE INCREDIBLY HARD-HIT, WHILE STILL PROVIDING A HOT MEAL FOR OUR FAMILIES. OUR FRONT DESK WAS CONVERTED TO A HOTEL-STYLE CONCIERGE AREA, WHERE GUEST FAMILIES COULD HAVE GRAB-AND-GO SNACKS, COFFEE, AND DRINKS 24/7. ADDITIONALLY, EACH GUEST ROOM WAS EQUIPPED WITH A MINI FRIDGE SO THAT GUESTS COULD STORE FOOD ITEMS AND DRINKS IN THEIR ROOMS. IN MARCH 2021, WE BEGAN PROVIDING CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST SERVICE.IN A TYPICAL YEAR OVER 100 MEAL GROUPS WOULD COME TOGETHER TO SERVE NEARLY 500 MEALS TO FAMILIES. WORK GROUPS WOULD COME TO THE HOUSE TO SUPPORT THE FACILITY AND LOG THOUSANDS OF HOURS. THE HOUSE ADHERED TO STRICT GUIDELINES DURING COVID, PROHIBITING VOLUNTEERS AND OUTSIDE VISITORS FROM COMING INSIDE THE HOUSE FOR MUCH OF 2021. HOWEVER, OUR LOYAL VOLUNTEERS PERSEVERED AND FOUND WAYS TO SUPPORT THE HOUSE REMOTELY AND OUTSIDE, AND DESPITE EVERYTHING, 751 VOLUNTEERS STILL SUPPORTED US IN 2021, TO THE TUNE OF 8,714 HOURS.IN 2021, GUESTS REGISTERED FOR LAUNDRY TIMES AT OUR 2 ON-SITE LOCATIONS TO AVOID INTERACTING WITH OUT GUESTS IN A CONFINED SPACE. OUR BEAUTIFUL, 1-ACRE GARDEN THRIVED IN 2021, AND SERVED AS AN EXTREMELY KEY PLACE OF RESPITE AND SOLITUDE FOR OUR GUEST FAMILIES AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE OUTSIDE FELT EVEN MORE RESTORATIVE IN THIS DIFFICULT YEAR. IN 2021, WE PUT SIGNIFICANT EFFORT INTO ENHANCING OUR OUTDOOR SPACES. THE RMH TEAM ADDED TO PICNIC TABLES TO ALLOW FOR MORE COMFORTABLE AL FRESCO DINING. WE HOSTED 3 OUTDOOR CONCERTS AND AN ICE CREAM TRUCK. A GENEROUS CORPORATE GROUP PROVIDED NEW PATIO FURNITURE, STRING LIGHTS AND FANS AT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE. WE ALSO ADDED OVERSIZED OUTDOOR GAMES SUCH AS CONNECT FOUR AND EQUIPPED THE COURTYARD WITH CORNHOLE BOARDS AND BAGS. EVEN SANTA VISITED US OUTSIDE IN 2021 BY THE LIGHT OF THE LUMINARIES IN OUR GARDEN. AS ALWAYS, THE HOUSE PROVIDES FREE PARKING FOR FAMILIES, AND PARTNERED WITH UNC TO PROVIDE FREE SHUTTLE SERVICES TO THE HOSPITAL THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC.THE HOUSE IS IN ITS 11TH YEAR OF OPERATING A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FAMILY ROOM, LOCATED ON THE 7TH FLOOR OF THE UNC CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. ANY INPATIENT FAMILY OF PEDIATRIC PATIENTS (INCLUDING THOSE NOT STAYING AT THE HOUSE) ARE WELCOME TO VISIT THE FAMILY ROOM WHICH PROVIDES RESPITE AWAY FROM THE CLINICAL HOSPITAL ATMOSPHERE. THE ROOM FEATURES A COMFORTABLE LIVING ROOM AND A FULLY STOCKED EAT-IN KITCHEN. THE ROOM IS ALSO STOCKED WITH BOOKS AND TOYS. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES, WE SERVE 3 CATERED MEALS AND FRESH-BAKED COOKIES WEEKLY. THE FAMILY ROOM CLOSED IN 2020 FOR 9 MONTHS AND REOPENED IN JANUARY 2021 AS A MODIFIED SNACK STATION. WHILE FAMILIES WERE UNABLE TO COME INSIDE THE ROOM, THEY WERE ABLE TO STOP BY FOR A DRINK OR SNACK. WE SERVED 141 FAMILIES FOR 339 VISITS TO THE FAMILY ROOM IN 2021.ADDITIONALLY, WE CONTINUED TO SUPPLY SUPPORT TO THE UNC REX INFUSION CLINIC IN RALEIGH, KEEPING THEM STOCKED WITH SNACKS AND DRINKS FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING CARE THERE.