RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF PROVIDENCE INC

Other, FOR HISTORY. OUR ONE HOUSE AND FAMILY ROOM PROVIDE A HOME FOR CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN. THE HOUSE IS LOCATED ACROSS THE STREET FROM WOMEN & INFANTS HOSPITAL, HASBRO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL. THE FAMILY ROOM IS LOCATED INSIDE HASBRO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THE HOUSE ALLOWS FAMILIES TO EAT, SLEEP, AND FIND THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT THEY NEED JUST STEPS AWAY FROM WHERE THEIR CHILD IS BEING TREATED. WHILE THE HOUSE SUGGESTS A $10 PER NIGHT CONTRIBUTION, NO FAMILY IS EVER TURNED AWAY IF THEY ARE UNABLE TO PAY. RMH OFFERS THEM CARE AND COMFORT DURING THEIR HOURS OF GREATEST NEED. OUR TWO CORE PROGRAMS ARE THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE (RMH) AND RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS (RMFR). BOTH ARE DESIGNED TO KEEP FAMILIES CLOSE DURING HOSPITALIZATIONS. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT A FAMILY PRESENCE IN THE HOSPITAL HELPS CHILDREN HEAL FASTER. OUR PROGRAMS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ALLOW FOR FAMILIES TO SPEND ADDITIONAL TIME WITH A SICK CHILD, HELP EASE FINANCIAL BURDENS, PROVIDE A SENSE OF NORMALCY TO FAMILIES, AND KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER DURING TIMES OF MEDICAL CRISIS. A RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROVIDES A TEMPORARY HOME FOR FAMILIES WITH CRITICALLY ILL CHILDREN. THE PROVIDENCE HOUSE HAS 28 BEDROOMS, A KITCHEN, A LIVING ROOM, A DINING AREA, A CHILDREN'S PLAY AREA, AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES. IN ADDITION TO ITS PROXIMITY TO MEDICAL FACILITIES, RMH PROVIDENCE OFFERS SOMETHING EVEN MORE IMPORTANT: THE SUPPORT THAT COMES FROM BEING ABLE TO TALK AND SHARE CONCERNS WITH OTHER PARENTS AND FAMILIES GOING THROUGH SIMILARLY DIFFICULT SITUATIONS. IN 2016, RMH PROVIDENCE EXPANDED, ADDING 10 ADDITIONAL BEDROOMS AND A LARGER DAY USE FLOOR. SOME CHILDREN TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES TO GET THE MEDICAL ATTENTION THEY NEED. TREATMENT MAY LAST ONE DAY, ONE MONTH, ONE YEAR, OR EVEN LONGER. FOR THE FAMILIES OF THESE CHILDREN, ACCOMMODATIONS CAN BE HARD TO COME BY. THEIR OPTIONS ARE OFTEN LIMITED TO COSTLY HOTELS OR UNCOMFORTABLE HOSPITAL CHAIRS. TO FULFILL ITS MISSION, THE HOUSE PROVIDES SHELTER TO THESE FAMILIES IN NEED. THE GOAL OF THIS NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION IS TO MAKE A DIFFICULT TIME IN AN UNFAMILIAR PLACE AS NORMAL AND COMFORTABLE AS POSSIBLE FOR GUESTS GOING THROUGH A STRESSFUL TIME IN THEIR LIVES. RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS BRING THE WARMTH AND COMFORT OF A HOUSE INTO THE HOSPITAL SETTING AND IS LOCATED STEPS FROM THE PEDIATRIC UNIT. AMENITIES INCLUDE A KITCHENETTE, A LAUNDRY FACILITY, COMPUTERS AND A COMFORTABLE PLACE FOR ADULT FAMILIES TO RELAX. RMH PROVIDENCE CURRENTLY MANAGES ONE FAMILY ROOM AT HASBRO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL IN PROVIDENCE, RI.