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Rady Children's Specialists

Clinical Social Worker Services

Managing the needs of a child with a chronic or life-threatening illness is challenging, and at times, overwhelming. Our clinical social workers offer the following services to help parents and families through this difficult time:

  • Provide individual/family counseling to help the patient and family members cope with the diagnosis and ongoing medical treatment throughout the course of the illness, including end-of-life care and bereavement support.
  • Coordinate family/medical conferences as requested by the family or medical team.
  • Facilitate communication within the family and with the interdisciplinary team and community agencies.
  • Provide information, education and referrals specific to the child’s diagnosis and family’s needs.
  • Advocate for the child and his or her family.

The clinical social workers provide inpatient and outpatient coverage, and are active participants in the following clinics: Hematology/Oncology, Neuro-Oncology, Sickle Cell Disease, Hemophilia, Long-Term Follow-Up, and Pain Clinics. The clinical social workers also offer specialty programs such as a support group for Spanish-speaking families, as well as event coordination for sickle cell disease patients and the Palliative/Supportive Care Program.