Advocating Success for Kids (ASK) Program

About us

The ASK Program at Boston Children's Hospital was created in 2000 to provide children with specialty care services who are most at risk due to medical, mental health, emotional and/or learning issues. We work to improve their overall health, their ability to function in school and their chance for a brighter future.

Our multi-disciplinary team of experts in developmental medicine, social work, education and psychology work together to:

• develop an understanding of the child in their environment and propose interventions that reduce barriers to success at multiple levels
   
• coordinate plans that involve the child's clinic, school, family and community resources (examples include referring children to a specialist, arranging tutoring and linking children to after-school programs like the Boys' and Girls' Clubs)
   
• make personalized recommendations
   
• educate parents about child development and negotiating school systems while empowering families to become better advocates for their children
   
• disseminate specialty knowledge to teachers and community practitioners to better serve children with unique learning, emotional or developmental needs

Our team assesses and screens children referred to us by their primary care providers or schools for developmental issues. We meet parents and their child, discuss the child's problems, come up with a treatment and follow-up plan, and refer them to any additional resources.