For Patients and Families

Social resources and support

At Boston Children's Hospital, we know that taking care of your health goes beyond treating diseases and injuries. Mental, social and physical health are all connected, so we provide programs that care for all aspects of your well-being. Sometimes, the best medicine is talking to someone who understands.

• Teen Advisory Committee (TAC)
  TAC is a team made up of teens and young adults between 14 and 21 years of age, who are patients (or former patients) of Boston Children's Hospital. The group meets once a month so teens can voice their thoughts and concerns, develop and practice self advocacy skills and work towards making the hospital a better place for all teens and young adults. Some of their projects include the development of two carts filled with "teen only" activities that are delivered to the bedsides of teen patients, and hosting three annual parties for teen patients and their families.
   
• Center for Families (CFF)
  The CFF, located on Farely 1, can help you find the information and resources to make your stay at Children's a more positive experience. They offer information on all hospital services, computers for patient and family use and reading and video lending libraries. The CFF also offers regular workshops and seminars to help you better understand your child's medical condition and take part in their care.
   
• Child Life Specialists
  A lengthy stay in the hospital can make you feel like your life has gone completely off course. Our Child Life Specialists are available to help ensure that your time at Children's doesn’t interfere with your emotional, social and cognitive growth. They can help ease the fear and anxiety of a hospital stay and help you adjust when it’s time to return home and go back to school. A lengthy stay in the hospital can make you feel like your life has gone completely off course. Our Child Life Specialists are available to help ensure that your time at Children's doesn’t interfere with your emotional, social and cognitive growth. They can help ease the fear and anxiety of a hospital stay and help you adjust when it’s time to return home and go back to school.