PROGRAMS & SERVICES
Pre-Teen, 'Tween & Teen Support Groups – These groups have been growing in popularity over the last 4 years and are attended by 15-30 kids each month. The groups are currently held in a hotel in the San Fernando Valley and are facilitated by successful young adults who all have either Crohn's Disease or Ulcerative Colitis.
Parent of IBD Kids Support Groups – Parents of IBD Kids Support Group is a group that meets monthly. Parents of all age IBD children are welcome. Some parents have a child and/or children with a recent diagnosis, and some are "veterans." Parents gain education and share stories, coping skills and strategies for rasising children with the unique challenges that IBD brings. These groups are in their 4th year since inception and are attended by 35-50 parents each month. The group is facilitated by Marci Reiss, LCSW.
Adult Support Groups – These groups are designed for those with IBD in their 30's and 40's. Meeting monthly, these groups focus on issues that affect adults – balancing family, work, and social activities with the disease. Newcomers are welcome.
IBD Campus Connection – This program is a conference call style support group for college and graduate students with IBD. The monthly calls are a forum for students across the United States to share and discuss challenges such as nutrition, dating & relationships, academic challenges, family issues, disease disclosure, and transitional care. Each monthly call is based around a specific theme and may feature a guest speaker. For college and graduate students (ages 18-24).
Nutritional Counseling Program – In an ongoing effort to expand our patient support services, the IBD Support Foundation recognizes the need for patients to have access to sound nutritional counseling. As proper and patient-specific nutrition goes hand-and-hand with IBD management, nutrition information and support remains a constant aspect of IBD patients' lives.
We recognize that many patients, including patients who have leading IBD experts overseeing their medical care, may not have access to extensive nutrition counseling as a part of their overall treatment plan.
IBDSF has contracted with registered dieticians that specialize in the proper nutrition management of patients with IBD.
IBD Kid Konnection – IBD Kid Konnection is a program whereby similar age, culture and background children are paired up to minimize the isolation that comes with dealing with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis. Depending on their geographic region, kids are paired up in person, on the phone or via email. Cyberpals have been created between kids in Los Angeles and New York and many kids have managed to be connected to other kids with IBD in their own private or public school!
Hospital Visitation Program – Many kids with IBD feel lonely in the hospital and nothing cheers them up quite like having a visit from a friend who also has IBD – who knows the difficulties of spending time in the hospital – from needles and tests to lousy food!
Peer Mentoring – Many people with IBD experience emotional struggles at some point – whether it is social pressure because they have the "moon-face" or acne side effects of steroids, or school pressure because they've been too ill be in school consistently and they are falling behind in their grades. Our peer mentoring program provides peer support, advice and encouragement to help people with IBD navigate through the challenging times.
Individual, Couple and Family Counselling – Counseling is provided on all areas of management of chronic illness and its impact on the patient and their family.
Medical Referrals – Referral and Liaison with leading IBD experts internationally.
Crisis Management Team – Patient and Family Advocacy, and Crisis Counseling.
Community Education & Events – Educational conferences and lectures by leading IBD physicians. Medical updates on new treatment options in IBD and other medical issues related to IBD including: Do I need a flu shot? What about the pneumoccocal vaccine? Find out what leading IBD experts are saying.
To obtain more information about our Programs and Services or for donation information, please contact us here.
