Family and Caregiver Support

Psychosocial services

The psychosocial services staff at  St. Jude offers support and counseling for your family during any stage of your child’s illness. Our team includes social workers, psychologists, chaplains, child life specialists, music therapists, teachers, and more. Our staff are highly skilled in the psychological, social, educational, developmental, and spiritual aspects of caring for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.

Support for families and caregivers

When a serious illness affects a child or adolescent, it impacts the entire family. At St. Jude, we do not want you to face these challenges alone. We offer several ways for caregivers to get support, connect with others in similar situations, and gain information and resources about navigating illness and treatment.

Caregiver Connections 

Coping with a child’s diagnosis, illness, and treatment can be challenging. Our social workers and parent mentors offer a way for you to connect with others who face similar issues. Caregiver Connections in Family Commons can help you find and share hope, meaning, comfort, and support. Small groups help you meet people, make friends, and learn new ways to cope.

These groups for adult caregivers provide: 

• A place to meet and connect with other St. Jude families 
• Tips and information for navigating illness and treatment 
• Methods to manage stress, fear, and fatigue 
• A chance to learn from other people’s stories and share your own 
• Support from licensed social workers and parent mentors 
• A friendly circle of comfort, community, and care 

Sibling Connections

When a child or teen has a serious illness, it affects the whole family. This includes the patient’s siblings (brothers and sisters). Helping siblings is an important part of patient and family-centered care.

Siblings of a St. Jude patient can face many challenges. These may include:

• Long separations from the patient or a caregiver
• Visits to an unfamiliar hospital
• Changes in routines

St. Jude social workers and child life specialists lead Sibling Connections. The groups can help siblings cope with these challenges.

In Sibling Connections, children and teens can expect to:

• Learn ways to cope
• Enjoy activities with other patients’ siblings
• Make meaningful connections
• Get ideas for sibling resources
• And much more

Sibling Connections meets the 4th Thursday of every month from 2–3 p.m. in the Family Commons Event Center.

Sessions are for siblings 6–18 years old. There is no need to sign up in advance. Adult caregivers can drop off siblings in the Family Commons Event Center for any session.

For more information, email SiblingConnections@stjude.org.

Mindful Moments

Join us for a time of peace, reflection, and a chance to learn about the basics of mindfulness and mindfulness practices.

• Mindful Moments sessions are open to all adult caregivers, patients, and siblings (ages 8 and up).
• Activities may include deep breathing, relaxation strategies, or guided meditation according to your comfort level.

Mindful Moments meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 11 a.m. in the Family Commons Sacred Space.

Learn more by visiting the Our St. Jude patient app for dates and times. Contact CaregiverSupport@stjude.org with any questions.

Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude Podcast

A child’s diagnosis of a serious illness can be difficult. Families, guardians, and loved ones feel a range of emotions and need support related to their child’s treatment. Caregivers SHARE, a St. Jude podcast, is a place for family caregivers to hear advice, reflection, encouragement, and real stories from families and hospital care providers. SHARE stands for Support, Honor, Advise, Reflect, and Encourage.

The podcast is brought to you by Patient Family-Centered Care; Psychosocial Services; and Strategic Communication, Education and Outreach at St. Jude.

Mentor Program

The Mentor Program matches parents or caregivers of past patients with new families who are arriving at St. Jude for the first time. The program also matches newly bereaved parents with mentors who have also lost children.

Mentors provide support, encouragement, and insight to help families through their treatment journey. Mentors draw on their own experiences to connect with those adjusting to a new way of life in the hospital or at home.

To learn more about the Mentor Program, email PFCC@stjude.org.

The Caregiver Project

Join Child Life and Music Therapy to record stories that honor and express your experiences as a caregiver. All recordings will be given to you to use as you wish and will not be shared without permission.

Learn more about The Caregiver Project by visiting the Our St. Jude patient app for dates and times. Your child life specialist or music therapist can provide more details about this project.

To learn more, email CaregiverSupport@stjude.org.

Relationship Health Workshop

Couples want to stay connected, but it is not easy when your child is sick. The Relationship Workshop in Family Commons is an easy, fun chance to learn realistic ways to nurture your marriage or relationship during this challenging time. 

The workshop is based on research and insights from families experiencing cancer. But it is open to any St. Jude parent or caregiver who feels they could benefit. You may come with or without your partner.

The workshop includes:

• Encouraging data about the resilience of relationships, even after a child’s cancer diagnosis
• Real-world tips gathered from St. Jude couples
• Ways to keep up communication with your partner, even when you do not have much time or energy
• A take-home Relationship Health Toolkit you can use on your own or with your partner

You do not need to sign up in advance for the Relationship Workshop. The time and location for each workshop will be announced on the Our St. Jude patient app. Just drop by when you see a workshop that fits your schedule.

Educational resources

St. Jude provides educational resources to help you understand and cope with your child’s diagnosis. These resources can help you with diagnosis, medical, psychosocial, spiritual, and treatment-related questions. Explore the Together by St. Jude™ online resource to find comprehensive information for all families facing childhood serious illness.

Learn more