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Chai Lifeline is a chesed organization founded in 1987 by Rabbi Simcha Scholar to help families with "children battling a deadly disease."
Although they have professional staff, much of their work depends on volunteers,
whose ranks include those who, in their younger years, received services and survived. Their goal is to "restore the light of childhood to children whose innocence ended when life-threatening or lifelong illness was diagnosed."
While most Chai Lifeline programs operate year-round, their upstate New York summer program
"for children with catastrophic illnesses" helps "Jewish children from around the world."(Camp Simcha)
Subsequent expansion included services to other major Jewish areas such as
Baltimore
and the West Coast.
Their Los Angeles office was described as "provides services to ... families of all Jewish denominations" and "depends on foundation and individual donations."
By 2012, small scale Chai Lifeline groups had begun in UK and Belgium, with support
from the New York-based main office's professionals.
Besides Miniature golf, arts & crafts workshops, modified sports, color war, and Talent show there are helicopter rides and concerts. An innovative swimming pool ramp and water-submersible wheelchairs enables more children to enjoy swimming. They have a motorboat, paddle and bumper boats, and a pontoon boat capable of holding an entire bunk, including wheelchair-dependent children.
The camp program is directed by Dr. Peter Steinherz and an entire team of Oncology, pediatric oncology nurses, EMTs, social workers and Physical therapy. In case of emergencies, an acute transport ambulance is on-site at all times, and accompanies campers on any trips. A Medevac helicopter is on call, and can reach the camp within five minutes.
Project C.H.A.I. Crisis Intervention program ensures that children, their parents, teachers, clergy and communities can properly deal with traumatic events, often partnering with organizations such as Jewish Family & Children's Service of Arizona's Aleinu program and Misaskim. Jewish News of Greater Phoenix: JFCS forms crisis response team The Jewish Star: Quick action averted cremation The Yeshiva World PHOTOS: Misaskim Hosts Important Meeting Between NYPD Brass & Many Bais Yaakov Administrators Chai Lifeline is funded by Jewish Philanthropy and other fundraising receptions. Carol Gardens Patch: Keep the Money Flowing In! Lincolnshire Review: Chai Lifeline’s “Caliente: A Hot Night for a Cool Cause” InsideToronto.com: Ex-NHL players hit ice for sick children The Yeshiva World: Chai Lifeline Lakewood 10th Anniversary Reception Social Miami: Make-A-Difference Gala Benefits Chai Lifeline Southeast They also receive government funding and grants. The Yeshiva World City Council Delivers Over $5 Million Of ‘Kosher Pork’ « » Frum Jewish News
Healing Hearts Bereavement Program – Annual weekend retreats and counseling where parents who lost a beloved child are comforted.
Chai Family Centers – Community-based counseling centers help children and parents cope with the impact of illness on their lives.
Short-term counseling – Transient advice for ill children, their parents and/or siblings is available through regional offices.
ChaiNet – A community by and for Chai Lifeline families, Chai Net allows parents to exchange information and support one another in their battles against pediatric illness.
Partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure Chai Lifeline provides counseling for Jewish women with breast cancer. YouTube – 2010 30 Second Public Service Announcement
Homebound Educational Learning Program – A tutoring program that enable hospitalized or recuperating children to keep up with their schoolwork.
Helping when the focus was beyond children with illnesses included after:
Trained volunteers offer emotional and professional support.
Fundraising programs include
Events include
History
Scholar's initial guidance was from Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, and the focus was Jewish Childhood cancer patients in the New York City area. By 1990, they had offices in Florida and Jerusalem, with another planned for California.
Mission Expansion
Yeshiva University hosted the first university-based Shabbaton to give exposure and training for Chai Lifeline college-age volunteers, under a Fighting Illness With Love banner. , their first (2008) Canadian outreach still seemed limited to Montreal, like Federation CJA, with whom they affiliated. By 2018 the Toronto Star had reported the expansion of Chai Lifeline Canada to Toronto and somewhat beyond.
Services
While not all services were available in all locations as of 2015, some of the programs
offered by a blend of professionalsdegrees among various articles include MD, MSW, LSW and volunteers are:
Camp Simcha
Camp Simcha is a campus located in Glen Spey, New York San Diego Jewish Journal: Special Camps for Special Kids that offers children with cancer a chance to enjoy traditional camp activities.
Camp Simcha Special
Camp Simcha Special was created in 2001 to meet the medical and social needs of children and teens with disabilities, chronic diseases, or genetic diseases. Located on the same campus as Camp Simcha. The program is directed by Dr. Robert van Amerongen The Jewish Star: Summer in Camp Simcha Special with a staff of pediatric specialists, nurses, EMTs, social workers and physical therapists. The Jewish Press: Camp Simcha Special Changes A Family's Life
About
Chai Lifeline trains volunteers.
Hospital and home-based services
Advocacy and Case Management – a team of case managers that offer emotional support and information.
Insurance Support Service – Providing general information including: explaining insurance coverage and helping to complete reimbursement applications.
Meal Support – Providing meals to hospitalized patients and their families, many times also supplying food for families with a sick child when cooking is impossible.
Transportation Services – Transportation to and from medical centers and doctors’ appointments.
Chai House – A house located in the close proximity of The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to accommodate family spending periods of time in the hospital. Jewish Exponent: When in Dire Straits, a Group Offers a Hand
Counseling
Chailine Telephone Support Groups – Parents of children with similar prognosis discuss their situations offering support via conference calls facilitated by professional therapists.
Educational assistance
ChaiLink – Webcam connections that link hospitalized or recuperating children to classrooms, teachers, and friends, and loans of laptop computers loaded with educational software.
Crisis intervention and bereavement services
The New York Times described the organization's Brooklyn Tragedy 24 Hour Crisis Intervention Hot Line
and Director of bereavement and intervention services Dr. Norman Blumenthal's
made-for-parents video, created after the Murder of Leiby Kletzky in New York.
Trips and vacations
Chai Lifeline arranges trips for children who spend their days in and out of the hospital. Trips involve sporting events, shows, and special trip such as
Fundraising programs
Chai Lifeline is a New York City volunteer-based The Lakewood Scoop: Chai Lifeline NJ Kicks Off Volunteer Recruitment 501(c)(3) non-profit organization New York NY 10001- Tax Exempt Organizations and 10001 New York New York Non Profit Organizations that primarily works with children battling cancer.
Affiliates
Chai Lifeline International is an affiliate. One of its programs is named Chaiuanu, and it provides services in Israel.
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