WE ADVOCATE FOR

THE FAMILIES WHO HAVE

CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Advocacy Group Members: Dadri Thomas, Junghae Song, Kasey Reyes,

Mandisa Guishard-Meade, Sophia Hagley and Vesna Adamova

WHY WE CHOSE THIS TOPIC?

The lack of information

The lack of awareness

The lack of support program

Limited knowledge

BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT THE TOPIC

What is Chronic Disease?

A long – lasting condition

Affects the population worldwide

70% of all death in North America

(1.7 million each year)

http://cmcd.sph.umich.edu www.ellenrixford.com

RESEARCH PLAN

What are the things that we want to know about the topic?

Funding and Financial Problems for the Families with Children who have Chronic Illnesses

Other difficulties the Families going through

Where and how are we going to find information to answer the questions and support our advocacy position?

Survey

Interview and ECE

Interview a parent who have a child with Chronic Illness

Interview a friend

Online resources

WHAT DID WE LEARN FROM THE SURVEY

96.51% of 85 people agreed that the support and funding

services are very important for the Families who have

Children with Chronic Illness

76.92% of 78 people believe there are not enough

support and funding services available for the Families

who have Children with Chronic Illness

76.24% of 84 people said they have a connection to a

family of a child with a chronic illness or they know

someone who does.

Do you know?

What percent of children in North America have a

chronic illness?

0-10%

10-20%

20-40%

50%

Name 3 organizations that provides services for the

families who have children with chronic illness.

INTERVIEW A FRIEND

- ASTHMA

When and how did you know?

SuJi had coughing for 3 and 4 weeks

How is your feeling?

Depressed and bad

How do you manage your situation?

Providing activities that SuJi wants to learn

STAKEHOLDERS

Sick Kids Hospital

Ronald McDonald House

CCASA (Community Care Access Centre)

Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada Reference: www.starlightcanada.org/

“BRINGING SMILES TO THE FACES OF

CHILDREN WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS, AND RELIEF

INTO THE HEARTS OF THEIR WORRIED

FAMILIES” (STARLIGHT MATTERS)

STARLIGHT PROGRAMS

OUT-OF-HOSPITAL PROGRAMS

Starlight Escapes (parties, picnics, sport events)

Starlight Day Brighteners (concert, museum)

Starlight Wishes (unique once-in-a-lifetime experience) Reference: Starlight Out-of-Hospital Programs

IN-HOSPITAL PROGRAMS

Starlight Fun Kits (books, toys, games, puzzles, crafts)

Starlight Fun Centre (mobile entertainment)

Starlight Fun Rooms (to relax and interact)

Starlight Tablet Program (using technology) Reference: Starlight In-Hospital Programs

WHO CAN QUALIFY FOR THE STARLIGHT

PROGRAMS; HOW MUCH THEY COST?

Families who have Children with a serious, chronic or

life threatening illness from newborn through to age

The first step is to become a Starlight Family

Starlight supports the whole family

Programs are free

ACTION PLAN

Facebook Page

Petition

Letter Toronto Star

Bake Sale

Volunteering

Donation to make her wish come true

FACEBOOK

769 members

Knowledgeable information

Videos inspiring from the experiences of the

Families who have Children with Chronic Illness

Inspirational quotes

Pictures of the Events (such as Bake Sale

Fundraiser and Starlight Gala Event)

INFORMATION, VIDEOS, PICTURES, QUOTES AND

MORE

LETTER TO TORONTO STAR

“We are writing to you on behalf of those Children and

their Families affected by Chronic Illnesses. We are Early

Childhood Education Students from Centennial College

who are learning to be successful advocates for important

issues and spread awareness throughout our community.

We chose to advocate for Families who have Children with

Chronic Illness because we found that families are

struggling and going through hard time to find appropriate

resources and funding…” (Centennial College Advocacy

Group ).

BAKE SALE (ON MARCH 25TH, 2014)

BAKE SALE (DOUGHNUTS, CUPCAKES, COOKIES,

CANDY BAGS, POPCORN AND MORE)

VOLUNTEERING AT STARLIGHT

STARLIGHT FUNDRAISING EVENT

STARLIGHT FUNDRAISING EVENT

(SILENT AUCTION)

PETITION

Petition to the Public Health Agency

Support the Families with Children who have Chronic

Illness with appropriate resources

Our goal is to get 100 signatures

Once we have 100 supporters, the petition will get sent

directly to the head office of Public Health Agency of

Canada

Now we have 60 supporters

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT TO STAND UP FOR

THE CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES

PETITION

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT

PLEASE SIGN UP OUR PETITION TO THE PUBLIC

HEALTH AGENCY

WE ALL TOGETHER CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN

LIVES OF CHILDREN WHO HAVE CHRONIC

ILLNESSES AND THEIR FAMILIES

THANK YOU