PAGE BY PAGE: USING CHILDREN'S LITERATURE AND CAREGIVER RESOURCES TO ADDRESS FAMILY NEEDS DURING ILLNESS

Abstract

Families navigating a child's illness face not only logistical challenges but also profound emotional and psychosocial strain"”needs that are often overlooked in current support systems. While organizations like Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) provide essential instrumental resources such as housing and meals, there remains a critical gap in expressive support that addresses the emotional well-being of both children and their caregivers. Rooted in my two-year volunteer experience with RMHC and informed by a comprehensive literature review, this project responds to that gap through the creation of a dual-format resource: a children's storybook and a companion guide for caregiving adults. The storybook helps children understand and process their medical experiences, while the adult guide offers developmentally appropriate language, evidence-based insight, and conversation prompts to foster emotional connection. This project bridges research and creative practice to support family resilience during medical crises. By providing both emotional literacy tools for children and structured support for adults, this resource addresses unmet psychosocial needs and promotes holistic, family-centered care"”advancing the conversation around how we support families facing serious pediatric illness.