THE CHILDREN'S FAMILY HOUSE SOCIETY OF B.C.

When parents have a child who is battling a serious illness and the specialized care required is hours from home the situation can feel overwhelming. For over 35 years it has been our mission to offer accommodation that keeps children and families close to that specialized care and an incredible community of support. We’re here to keep families together when it matters most. We have a 73-bedroom house with services available for families conveniently located near BC Children’s Hospital. RMH BC also operates a Family Room in Surrey Memorial Hospital. RMH BC is a place filled with hope and love built on the belief that keeping the family together is an essential part of healing children with serious illnesses. Our on-going programs for children and their families include family meals groceries and pantry foods art and music therapy and health and wellness core programs. The families enjoy the facilities' Lego room games room sports courtyard teen lounge arts and crafts and movie nights. Accommodation nights provided = 26 645 nights Families served = 900+ families Music Therapy = 600 hours serving 1390+ attendants Art Therapy = 360+ hours serving 830+ attendants Medical Play = 250+ hours serving 770+ attendants Education & tutorial programs for children siblings and adults delivering nearly 300 hours to close to 500 pupils Multi-cultural and holidays celebrations = 36 occasions Out-trips for families averaging approx. one per month each year Providing supplies for families including breast pumps & car seats Laundry facilities provided close to 14 000 laundry loads Food & meals: 20 000+ plates for family meals 3 000+ freezer meals and 20 000+ of baked goods. Our Surrey Family Room inside the Surrey Memorial Hospital served 7300+ family visits and 2500+ meal plates for families. Whilst attending to their children staying at the hospital families were able to use the Family Room for sleeping facilities have a shower and do laundry. The families served by RMHBC have reported 92%+ positive impact appreciating: > Staying close to the children at the hospital; improve the family's experience at the hospital > Staying close to improve the children's recovery and improve the families' ability to be involved in the children's care > Ease the financial burden > Better able to rest & maintain physical well-being > Improved mental & emotional well-being > Families to have a sense of belonging feeling safe and be in an inclusive community

New and expanded programs for children siblings and adults: > New Chef-led Family Meal programs with volunteer groups cooking fresh healthy meals > Added the role of Family Support Manager dedicated to support Indigenous families > Expansion of Art Therapy program > Added workshops for mental health awareness > Added cultural and inclusivity programs for families > Added multi-cultural celebrations and holidays celebrations > Expanded Teddy Bear Clinic and Medical Play for children dealing with severe illness in the family > Expanded family meal events and freezer meal programs > Expanded pet therapy program > New and expanded out-trips for families > New breast-pumps and supplies added to provide for families > Expanded Welcome Bags program to assist families checking-in especially providing for those with emergency check-ins at the hospital > Expanded Gift Cards program to assist families > Expanded feedback and survey program to better learn needs of the diverse families we serve > Established close working relationship with Indigenous Health Services at Hospital to help better support our Indigenous population