Public Outreach

Although the overriding focus of JDRF is to fund research directed toward a cure, JDRF also provides social, emotional, and practical support to children who are newly diagnosed with diabetes, and to their families. JDRF has a strong and growing national Outreach program that includes the following underwritten or sponsored initiatives:

The Online Diabetes Support Team, which answers questions about type 1 diabetes from people who access the team via a link on the JDRF web site. The team responds within 48 hours. This highly successful effort was conceived by JDRF volunteers, and it remains a volunteer-driven effort. In fall 2006, the program reached a significant milestone -- it received and responded to its 10,000th request.

The Bag of Hope, sponsored by Roche Diagnostics, a program that assists newly diagnosed families in their earliest, and often most difficult days, by providing them with a wealth of information about type 1 diabetes and a Bag of Hope which contains specific information about type 1 diabetes, a blood glucose meter, Rufus the Bear with Diabetes, and other educational information. Upon request, a JDRF Outreach mentor contacts a family member of a newly diagnosed type 1 diabetic to offer much needed support. This effort is driven and coordinated by volunteers.

The Palmetto Chapter currently receives requests for Bags of Hope from approximately 10 newly-diagnosed families per month. We currently serve or are in contact with approximately 250 families in Columbia and surrounding communities. Our primary means of outreach to these families is through information supplied to parents when their child is hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital upon diagnosis.

We know that parents of children with type 1 diabetes will face other critical milestones, such as their child's entry into school, participation in sports and camps, adolescent non-compliance and denial of their disease, issues related to driving, and leaving for college. There is a critical need for the Palmetto Chapter to identify and implement systems of communicating with parents of children with type 1 beyond the point of diagnosis. We must also compile resources and information to meaningfully respond to our parents' need for support as they manage their child's disease in facing these challenges.

For reasons researchers don't yet understand, the incidence of type 1 diabetes is growing at more than 3% each year. Local schools that recently had no students with type 1 diabetes now report 3, 5, or even 8 students with the disease. Current staff and volunteer resources of the Palmetto Chapter of JDRF are inadequate to meet the growing need for information and support to these students and their families.

For the reasons noted above, the Palmetto Chapter is currently seeking grant funding to support outreach initiatives. With this support, the Chapter hopes to be able to complete and provide the following projects and services:

· Completion of an Outreach Survey - Identify needs of local type 1 community concerning support and resources. This survey will also help to identify potential lead volunteers who will create the infrastructure, systems and processes, which will ensure that the Outreach program is sustainable.

· Creation of Mentoring Program -- Diagnosis for a child and their family is typically a harrowing experience. The child and their parents are traumatized by the incredible toll that a type 1 diabetes diagnosis takes on their family. A mentoring program that puts type 1 families in touch with trained JDRF volunteers, who are experienced parents of type 1 children, is critical in helping those families challenged with raising type 1 children.

· Support Groups -- Type 1 diabetes is both logistically complex and emotionally challenging. Parents need to share information about everything from signs that their child might have dangerously low blood sugar to exchanging good low carbohydrate recipes. Additionally, there are new challenges at each life stage for which type 1 diabetics need support. JDRF support groups in Columbia and surrounding communities would allow for all of this to happen. JDRF will be able to plan and organize the informative and enriching meetings for families and all affected by the disease.

School Outreach -- Because school nurses play an important role in helping children with type 1 diabetes manage their diabetes during the day, it is important for them to know that JDRF can be a great resource to them. JDRF can work with school nurses to ensure they are aware of the Outreach program and encourage them to make referrals; that newly diagnosed families are contacted and when appropriate receive a Bag of Hope; provide opportunities to educate classmates about type 1 diabetes, and encourage schools to become involved in the Kids Walk to Cure Diabetes.

· Child's Rights -- Children with type 1 diabetes have certain rights in school and public settings. These rights can be as simple as having access to snacks at appropriate times, which is often misunderstood or even denied. JDRF can provide written guidelines for parents in dealing with schools and other institutions to ensure their child's rights are upheld.

· Family Events -- Families need an opportunity to come together with their children to have fun with other kids who are just "like them". These events would be strictly a fun event without asking for donations or participation in chapter activities.

· Outreach Brochures/Newsletter -- Marketing the new Outreach program will be an important part of its success. Families and the medical community need to know what resources are available to them and who to contact.

· JDRF Ambassador Program -- Children with type 1 diabetes feel empowered when they are able to represent JDRF and share their personal experiences with others. JDRF Ambassadors will have the opportunity to provide service and health education to our community while giving volunteer time to JDRF. Responsibilities are to include public speaking, general public relations activities, health fair participation, social event attendance, and other volunteer efforts.

· Requests For Supplies -- The Palmetto Chapter office regularly receives requests for assistance in obtaining free or low-cost diabetic supplies. Inquiries are currently answered on an informal basis.

· Community Awareness --JDRF can increase the community's awareness of JDRF and type 1 diabetes by increased media exposure and by speaking at civic organization/events.

The Palmetto Chapter JDRF

publicoutreach

Public Outreach