Providing relief and support to help children with devastating medically complex, neurological conditions and their families in the St. Louis area and beyond.

Here’s what we’ve been up to…

Impact
Meet Natasha, Edward and Julius!
Last month we introduced you to charming Julius and his loving parents, Natasha and Edward. Julius has attended our virtual music therapy sessions, and Natasha shared about the impact of attending our parent connection events, most recently Topgolf. Read what Natasha had to say here.

Bookmarked 
Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services and Supports by Kelley Coleman
Have you ever wished you had a guide to refer to when tackling the difficulties of caring for a child with medical complexities? Absorbing the massive quantity of information that caregivers and parents receive can be overwhelming, which prompted Kelley Coleman to create a roadmap that she wished she had. Insurance, School/IEPs, Disability Rights, Future Care, Financial Planning and Government Benefits are just a few of the topics covered in Coleman’s thoughtful guide book. Check it out here.

Community Support
Give STL Day
On June’s birthday, April 29th, we launched our Give STL Day campaign to raise funds to support JJMF’s programs and services, enabling us to provide more relief and assistance for more families. Give STL Day is an annual day of philanthropic giving sponsored by the St. Louis Community Foundation that connects donors with non-profits. JJMF’s Give STL Day corporate partner for this year’s campaign, Helitech, is matching the first $5,000 in donations dollar for dollar. Read more about the campaign and how you can help make a difference!

Caregiver Needs Assessment Survey
We’re proud to partner with the Child Neurology Foundation to conduct a survey to understand caregivers’ experiences on their journey in child neurology. Results will be shared with advocates and health care providers, so they are better able to serve families. Caregivers of children with neurologic conditions can complete the brief survey here through May 3rd.

On the Blog
Respite Care Provides Time to Breathe 
Last month, JJMF’s Development & Programs Coordinator, Kelsie Guerriero, was on the blog with an impactful and relatable message about the importance of parents and caregivers having trustworthy, reliable help and the chance to take breaks. Read Kelsie’s full blog here.

Building Awareness
International Children’s Book Day
You know we love to read! In honor of International Children’s Book Day, we shared a list of some of our favorites. Check out the full list here.

Disability Book Week 
April 23rd through 29th was Disability Book Week and our Community Engagement Associate, Karlita Blackwell, compiled a list of her family’s favorites. We enjoyed hearing the JJMF community’s personal favorites in the comments. To see the list, click here.