Alliance For Kids is a registered 501©(3) nonprofit organization. The Mission of Alliance For Kids, Inc. is to provide innovative programs and resources to enhance Child Life services for hospitalized pediatric patients and their families. We started in 2011 when Jane Miller and her team of Child Life Specialists saw that parents of hospitalized children needed more resources. They created a resource database on common childhood diseases and illnesses that would be a resource for families before, during and after their hospital experience. From there, we had our first major donation of different types of stuffed animals which we presented to a group of hospitalized children to determine their favorite. It was an unanimous vote, the children loved the monkey. This is where our programs began.
Our award winning programs tackle issues as small as providing activities for a child, to large issues of reducing 5 day readmission rates. Child Life Specialists work together with our Life Pain Specialists to educate hospitalized children and young adults in youth friendly terms on what they will be experiencing while using our programs. They also help distract them while they are undergoing procedures and teach them how to manage pain.
Many of our programs are Superhero themed because we believe that hospitalized kids truly are Superheroes.
A Letter from the CEO and Founding Chair
Alliance For Kids celebrates its 8th year as a charity helping hospitalized kids. We celebrate 2019 by looking back at how it all began. I'm happy to say our goal is the same. We help to fill the gap of the psychological and social needs of pediatric patients. Each year we create more innovative ways to help.
We have provided countless Monkey For Me® monkeys, thousands of Bravery Bands™. Super Serum® changed the concept of the scary IV medication into a Super Power. We have created a library of animation videos to help children cope. We provide families with hundreds of resources to make having a hospitalized child easier. We continue to provide of fellowships for Child Life Specialists services.
Once again it's time to do more.
Our country faces an epidemic unlike it has ever seen. The opioid crisis is killing over 60 people a day. It all starts with that first prescription. The numbers are so vast, this epidemic will soon touch every one of us, and I am no exception. After spending lots of time with my nephew in the hospital, I decided to change careers from ESE Education to becoming a Child Life Specialist. Christopher suffered from severe ulcerative colitis from age 13 until his death. My beloved nephew, eagle scout, future navy seal and hospital volunteer, Christopher, was sent home with 90 opioids after surgery for the removal of most of his colon. He managed his chronic pain the best he could. It was the pain medication which took his life at age 32. Christopher is the reason I became a Child Life Specialist.
Alliance For Kids has partnered with CWC, Christopher Wolf Crusade for Christopher and the 60 people who lost their life today.
Alliance For Kid's goal is to prevent substance misuse by creating a new hospital team member; A specialist who will be at the front lines when a young adult receives that first prescription. Our goal is to give education and support to end the threat against substance misuse before it starts. Our Life Pain Specialists will provide advanced pain management education and help fill the gap with Mental Health First Aid® support. We will provide resources to help with a not only a patient's physical and mental health, but also provide Whole Health support: Physical, Mental and Spiritual. They will be working directly with the patients and the doctors in order to educate, and come up with alternatives methods for pain management.
Join our crusade and help prevent this epidemic from reaching someone you know. Please go to cwc.ngo to learn more.
Happy Child Healthy Life,
Jane Miller
CEO, Founding Chairman
Be truthful, be gentle and be fearless - Gandhi