Current Environment:

Overview

The Advocating Success for Kids Program (ASK) at Boston Children's Hospital works with children under the age of 14 who have learning, developmental, emotional, or behavioral problems at school or at home.

Our multidisciplinary team offers evaluations of developmental, learning, and/or behavioral difficulties, referral for services, and advocacy. We serve the Children's Hospital Primary Care Center and Primary Care at Martha Eliot.

The ASK Program at Boston Children's Hospital was created in 2000 to provide children with specialty care services. Children in the ASK Program typically have a diagnosis of autismlearning disabilitiesADHD, language delays, and/or intellectual disabilities. We work to improve their overall health, their ability to function in school, and their chance for a brighter future.

Our team assesses and screens children who are referred by their primary care providers for developmental issues. We meet parents and their child, discuss concerns, provide a treatment and follow-up plan, and refer them to any additional resources.

ASK serves over 500 children in the Boston area each year. Our multidisciplinary team of experts in developmental medicine, neurodevelopmental disabilities, social work, education, and psychology work together to:

  • develop an understanding of your child and propose interventions that reduce barriers to success.
  • coordinate treatment plans that involve your child's clinic, school, family, and community resources.
  • help educate parents about child development, and working with school systems.
  •  empower families to become better advocates for their child’s needs.
  • share specialty knowledge to schools to better serve children with unique learning, emotional, or developmental needs.

We would like to thank the following funding contributors for their continued support and partnership with the ASK Program:

  • Digital Federal Credit Union
  • Community Care Alliance
  • Office of Child Advocacy at Boston Children's Hospital
  • Boston Children's Hospital Primary Care Center

Meet Our Team

FAQ's

Who makes up the ASK team?
How can my child participate in ASK?
What happens at my child’s first ASK appointment?
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Why is it important for me to get help for my child?

Project LAUNCH

Project LAUNCH is the preschool arm of the ASK program. Project LAUNCH promotes the social-emotional wellness of young children ages 0 to 6 through the use of individual/family play therapy or parental support.

Families with concerns of early childhood behavior can find flexible support to help navigate educational and mental health services for their young children. Through an initial assessment and identification of risk factors, the Project LAUNCH clinician, alongside the child’s family, establishes goals to improve parental skills and overall family wellness.

A family centered approach is used to work within the social, racial, and cultural identity of each family, to ensure that goals are set to be equitable, attainable, and possible. ASK team clinicians are available for assessment of significant developmental questions, if necessary.

Patient resources

  • ABCD - Head Start (3 to 5 years old) provides low-income, pre-school children with experiences that help them relate with their middle-income schoolmates.
  • Boston After School & Beyond is a public-private partnership that seeks to ensure that every child in Boston has the opportunity to develop to their full potential. Boston Beyond's role is to expand learning and skill development opportunities for students.
  • BOSTONNavigator: Search thousands of programs that run before and after school, on weekends, and during the summer to find the program that is right for you.
  • Boston Public Schools Family Resource Centers provide parents with school registration information and answers for other school-related questions.
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston provides a safe, affordable place with caring adults and enriching programs for kids to go when they are not in school.
  • Federation for Children with Special Needs provides information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities, their professional partners, and their communities.
  • Massachusetts Department of Education provides information on the state's education system and resources.
  • Massachusetts Office on Disability is an advocacy agency that serves people with disabilities of all ages, including special education needs.
  • Parent Stress Line (1-800-632-8188) offers parents and caregivers of children in Massachusetts an empathetic and supportive person to talk with about any parenting concern, big or small.

Make a gift

Many people ask what they can do to help the Advocating Success for Kids (ASK) Program. One important action you can take today is make a gift. Your donation helps children with developmental, learning, and/or behavioral difficulties get the help they need from our multidisciplinary team. Every gift, no matter the size, plays a vital role in raising healthy children. When you make a gift, you will receive a gift acknowledgement for tax purposes. Your gift is tax deductible to the extent provided by law. To make your gift online, visit this webpage.

For more information about giving, please contact:

Boston Children's Hospital Trust
1 Autumn Street, #731
Boston, MA 02215-5301
617-355-6890

Contact us

ASK Program
300 Longwood Ave.
Boston, MA 02115

617-355-4690