We are here to help you navigate your child's medical crisis.
On this page you will find details about the Navigation Planning and Bereavement Programs we offer, as well as a list of resources that may support you on your journey.
Family Support creates a caring, supportive environment through weekly support groups. Our different support groups offer reflection, conversation, and creativity. Groups are offered weekly and are open to caregivers staying at the House. Please visit the Family Support office or reach out to family@rmh-newyork.org for our current list of offerings.
Navigation Planning
We understand the many challenges that come with your child's medical crisis. We are meeting you in one of the most stressful times in your life. When you arrive in the city, you may quickly find yourself lost in a whirlwind of appointments and new information — all while trying to process the fear and sadness that come with the diagnosis. There are many things you are forced to adjust to very quickly; it's enough to give anyone whiplash. Our navigation program warmly welcomes our families from all over the world. Our goal is to help individuals acclimate to the Ronald McDonald House New York, our partnering hospitals, and New York City. The navigation program provides pre-arrival support and House orientation upon arrival to ensure all families are aware of our services. The family support team aims to reach out to all families within 48 hours of their arrival to provide updated information and to answer any questions our families might have. During your stay, our Family Support Team is here to provide emotional support, resource referral and weekly programming. We seek to collaborate with our hospital partners in order to bridge potential gaps in service. Our goal is to help RMH-NY families acclimate. Our services help you focus on what’s most important: your child’s health.
Bereavement Program
We can't lessen the pain of loss, but we are here to offer support. The Bereavement Program at RMH-NY provides support and guidance to bereaved parents and family members following loss. Our program provides emotional support, referral information and grief resources. We work with families to assist with communicating with hospitals, funeral homes and burial services. We provide information for our families about what funeral services may look like at this time to help prepare and support. Bereavement Packages and Comfort Shawls When we know of a family at the House that has experienced a recent loss, in addition to outreach calls and offering emotional support, we offer bereavement packages. These packages contain a comfort shawl, meant to be an offering of comfort in the face of loss. These shawls are hand knitted by members of the RMH-NY community. Reflection Garden If you need a place to reflect, we encourage you to check out our Reflection Garden on the 7th floor. This is not just a place for individuals grieving a loss, but for anyone in need of a peaceful place to reflect.
Virtual Resource Library
With the breadth of information available, sometimes finding exactly what your family needs can be daunting. This resource library holds external resources and tools for families. Although they are not directly affiliated with the House, many families have found these to be essential resources.
Share Your Story
We want to hear from you! Whether you have stayed with us once for a night or have had many stays over the years, we want to hear from you! We love sharing stories from families in our community because each one is unique and tells the story of RMH-NY. You can talk about your child, what brought you to our House, your favorite things about staying here or anything else that comes to mind. If you are interested, please reach out to family@rmh-newyork.org with your name and contact information. Thank you for your time and willingness to share.
family@rmh-newyork.org