Family Resources

JACOB’S HEART FAMILY SERVICES

Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services mission is to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face. Jacob’s Heart provides emotional, social and financial assistance to families in Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and South Santa Clara Counties.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Families with a child in treatment (receiving chemotherapy and/or radiation) receive Direct Financial Assistance (DFA) of either a monthly $25 gas or grocery card. In addition, Emergency Financial Assistance (EFA), of up to $400 per year, helps families cover costs associated with essential household bills.

Families with a child off treatment are eligible for Emergency Financial Assistance of up to $400 for the following calendar year after treatment ends. Families may use these funds to purchase the $25 gas card or grocery cards and/or to help cover costs associated with essential household bills.

Bereaved Families are eligible for financial assistance to help cover costs associated with memorials or funeral services.

FAMILY SUPPORT

All Family Support Services are provided in English and in Spanish and are free of charge to families who are in treatment, off treatment, or bereaved. These services are facilitated by Jacob’s Heart Family Specialists.

Individual, Couple, and/or Family Support is provided for all immediate family members to address specific themes and/or to process feelings that arise from dealing with the profound emotional, developmental, psychological, financial and/or social challenges caused by childhood cancer. Play and/or art therapy is available for children and supportive/ educational counseling for adults. These sessions can be scheduled with a Family Specialist as hospital visits and office visits, or home visits through the “HeART on Wheels” program.

Family Night Groups are offered one time per month on Tuesday evenings from 6:00-7:30  at both our Freedom and Salinas office locations. Children, teens, and their families are invited for a light evening meal and a chance to connect with other families facing the challenges of childhood cancer through a social and/or creative activity.

Art from the Heart utilizes expressive arts for all family members to explore how art can provide a medium for self-expression and healing while building self-confidence and friendships. This program includes events throughout the year such as “Art Camp for Kids” and “Family Art Day,” among others.

Grief Support is provided for all ages and family members through individual, couples, and/or family counseling. Parents may also choose to attend Walking the Path of Grief, a drop-in support group for bereaved parents. English-speaking meetings are offered at our Freedom Office location, and Spanish-speaking meetings are offered at our Salinas office location. Light snacks are provided.

CELEBRATIONS AND MILESTONES

Honoring Special Days is a program that acknowledges important milestones such as completion of treatment, cancer-free milestones, and/or school graduations. Families can also receive one-time financial assistance to mark one of these significant occasions.

Special Events are offered throughout the year designed for families to socialize with others going through similar experiences.  Some of these fun and exciting events include the Kidrageous Carnival, Holiday Party and Spring Fling, among others.

FAMILY RESOURCES AND REFERRALS

Kids Cards is a program that provides encouragement and support to all Jacob’s Heart children and teens and their siblings. Unique and special handmade cards are mailed each month. In addition, birthdays are acknowledged with a special handmade birthday card and includes a birthday book gift certificate for children and teens to select from the “Birthday Book” inventory. This program is also available to bereaved siblings.

Adopt-A-Family is an annual holiday program available to Jacob’s Heart families. Entire families are adopted to receive gifts from a Jacob’s Heart donor.

A Resource Library and the use of a computer are available for all Jacob’s Heart families at both of our office locations in Freedom and Salinas.

A Resource Pantry is available for all Jacob’s Heart families and can provide families with non-perishable food items and other household items such as diapers and laundry soap (as our inventory allows). The pantry also has an inventory of items such as knit hats for children in treatment, as well as handmade quilts and small pillows that may ease the challenges of long car rides and/or hospital stays.

Community Resources help connect families with other community resources to assist them during this challenging time.

Back to School helps support children when they return to school by making school visits and teaching classmates and teachers about cancer and treatment side effects.

For more information and/or to sign up for our services, please call one of the Family Specialists listed below:

Susie Garcia, (831) 728-7341

Belinda Rubalcava, (831) 728-7344

FOREVER IN OUR HEARTS: In memory of Jacob’s Heart children who are no longer with us

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES in your area can be found at: