Family Care Fund
The day-to-day needs of family life don’t stop during a child’s medical crisis. Caregivers who want to remain close to their hospitalized child often face difficult decisions about missing work, arranging transportation, and maintaining households—all while focusing on their child’s health.
The costs of transportation, lodging, and meals can quickly overwhelm families with limited financial resources. Families living just a few miles away from the hospital can face tremendous obstacles in their child’s care, whether through lack of reliable
public transportation, concern for their child’s safety at home, or past experiences of being excluded from equitable healthcare.
These challenges are also stressful for families traveling from rural areas, where distance creates additional barriers to accessing specialized pediatric care. Without support, some families face heart-wrenching choices between being present for critical medical moments or meeting their home obligations.
Our Approach
At St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we believe no family should have to choose between being present for their child’s care and meeting their basic needs. When caregivers are physically close to their hospitalized children and get to know hospital staff, they can better participate in care decisions and recovery plans.
The Family Care Fund helps ease the burden on families so they can focus on what matters most—their child’s health and recovery. Our comprehensive approach includes transportation assistance to help reach appointments or treatments, lodging and accommodation assistance for extended hospital stays, prescription medication support, and support with funeral expenses during a family’s most
difficult time.
The Path Forward
The need for the Family Care Fund continues to grow. We’re seeing more families facing financial strain, housing challenges, and food insecurity. Your gift to the Family Care Fund helps us offer relief from the day-to-day stressors our families face so they can be present for their child in need.