The CC Family Friend Program
The CC Family Friend Center supports individuals who would like to participate in clinical trials here at the NIH, but are having difficulty because they have no child care resources.
Program Eligibility
The program, open to children 3-7 years old, runs weekdays 8 am-5 pm. Children who participate are in the care of CC. recreation therapy staff. To use the services you must be enrolled in an NIH clinical trial and be scheduled to receive treatment on the same day that child care is granted. Services will be provided during the hours of treatment only, and will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Preference will be given to toilet-trained children, and a maximum of 10 children can participate in the program at any one time. You will be required to provide an immunization history for your child at the time of registration. For safety reasons, children will not be permitted with:
- a recent history of oral polio
- a recent chickenpox vaccine
- a rash of any kind
Registration
Patients are encouraged to first exhaust all outside resources for childcare. Advanced notice is requested, but in the case of an emergency situation, the program will accept children that have not been previously scheduled, space permitting. Once a need for the service is established, your principal investigator, research nurse, or other designee will refer you to the Social Work Department. An assessment will then be conducted and the case will be referred to the Director of Volunteer Services. If appropriate, and space permitting, your child will then be approved to participate in the program.
Meals
You will be responsible for providing breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner. Bagged meals are encouraged, and you will have access to both a refrigerator and microwave. The staff will also provide the children with nutritious snacks and juices throughout the day. Please notify staff of any food allergies that your child may have at the time of drop-off.
Staffing
The program is staffed by CC volunteers who have had extensive background checks and department child-care training and is supported by CC recreation therapists. The Director of Volunteer Services supervises all vounteers.
Safety Concerns
To facilitate your child's safety, picture identification is required for signing the child in and out. During registration, you will be asked to provide emergency information needed to contact you, such as your protocol number, and unit, etc.
An emergency contact must be listed. The child will only be released to this emergency contact if you are unable to pick them up. No child will be released without picture identification from either the patient or the emergency contact.
Program Regulations
Parents must notify staff of possible infectious conditions that the child has been exposed to, such as fever, sore throat, skin rashes, etc. Children must behave according to the rules established by the program. These rules are posted on site and can also be obtained at the time of registration.
Parent's whose children have consistent discipline problems will be contacted to help resolve the issues. In the event that a resolution cannot be reached, the child may be denied future use of the facility.
In case of emergency, proper steps will be taken to assure your child's safety. In such a case, NIH will not be responsible for general medical care. Children will be taken to Suburban Hospital.
For More Information
Contact your social worker at 301-496-2381, or talk to your principal investigator, research nurse, or other CC staff member.
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Questions about the CC Family Friend Program ? Contact the Social Work Department, 301-496-2381. Questions about the Clinical Center? Contact Us, 301-496-2563. National Institutes of Health, NIH Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20892. 8/05
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