Alongside Network

ALONGSIDE NETWORK IS WORKING TO SHIFT THE SYSTEM OF CARE FOR FAMILIES WHO HAVE A CHILD WITH A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS OR INJURY, SUCH THAT CARE FOR MENTAL HEALTH IS INTEGRATED THROUGHOUT THEIR HOSPITAL AND RECOVERY EXPERIENCE. USING OUR WHOLE CHILD, WHOLE FAMILY FRAMEWORK, WE WORK WITH HOSPITAL SYSTEMS TO RAISE AWARENESS AND DETERMINE A TRAJECTORY OF CARE. WE ALSO WORK DIRECTLY WITH FAMILIES TO VALIDATE, CONNECT, AND SUPPORT THEM AS THEY ADJUST TO LIFE FOLLOWING A CHILD'S LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS OR INJURY.

CENTRAL TO ALONGSIDE NETWORK'S OFFERING AT THIS STAGE ARE WELLBEING GROUPS. WELLBEING GROUPS ARE FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED A LIFE-THREATENING ILLNESS OR INJURY. THEY FOCUS ON VALIDATING EXPERIENCES, CONNECTING WITH OTHER FAMILIES WHO HAVE HAD SIMILAR EXPERIENCES, AND GAINING COPING SKILLS. GROUPS ARE CO-FACILITATED BY A CLINICAL FACILITATOR AND A LIVED-EXPERIENCE FACILITATOR. ALONGSIDE NETWORK HAS NOW SET UP THE FUNDAMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO SUPPORT HUNDREDS OF FAMILIES. WE HAVE NOW TRAINED SIX CLINICAL FACILITATORS, FOUR OF WHOM ARE BIPOC, WHO HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO LEAD ALONGSIDE WELLBEING GROUPS IN THE FUTURE. THIS POOL OF FACILITATORS MEANS THAT WE ARE NOW ABLE TO OFFER ALONGSIDE WELLBEING GROUPS TO MORE FAMILIES AND ARE ABLE TO CATER THE TIMES OF THESE GROUPS TO THE FAMILIES' NEEDS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE WORKED WITH FAMILIES WHO HAVE FOUND US VIA WORD OF MOUTH AND/OR ONLINE. IN WORKING WITH THESE FAMILIES, WE HAVE ASSESSED OUR OFFERING, GOTTEN THEIR FEEDBACK, AND AMENDED THE WELLBEING GROUPS BASED ON PARENT/CAREGIVER FEEDBACK. WE HAVE ALSO BUILT THE INTERNAL INFRASTRUCTURE TO BE ABLE TO EXPAND THESE GROUPS OUT TO A LARGER COHORT OF FAMILIES. WE BUILT ADDITIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE, INCLUDING INCREASING VISIBILITY AND CREDIBILITY VIA MEDIA, HIRING OUR FIRST FULL-TIME STAFF, SETTING UP PAYROLL, AND BUILDING OUT THE PROCESSES AND MATERIALS NEEDED TO NOW BE ABLE TO GROW THE ORGANIZATION.