After 15 years of operation, Little Heroes Foundation discovered that there was need for a service component of what we do, as another way to help those in need who required at-home support beyond what our major projects could deliver.
In 2011 we launched ChildFamilyCare, an initiative funded by the Foundation and delivered in conjunction with various like-minded charities, to support these unmet needs of children and their families in their life after diagnosis of cancer and/or a serious illness.
Following the success of the program, it was refined and rebranded as Little Heroes Care, delivering in-home support services to families of seriously ill children.
As part of Little Heroes Foundation’s ongoing vision to identify new opportunities where families and children need support, the Little Heroes Care Program scope was expanded to incorporate new support initiatives for a broad range of illnesses that affect children in SA and across the country.
To this day, the Little Heroes Care program works closely with like-minded charities and medical institutions to achieve our vision. There are many people that do amazing work in our community and over our 20+ year journey, Little Heroes Foundation has had the privilege to work with some inspirational and impactful organisations.
To increase our impact in communities across SA and Australia, we have contributed close to $2.3 million to support the work of organisations including:
In 2020, the Foundation is partnering with Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation, to help establish a new initiative in schools across the state. This program aims to develop and evaluate a new ‘PEACE Pack’ module/kit for use in primary schools with students who have experienced trauma or challenges within their own mental health and wellbeing, including school bullying.
We believe that you are never too young to talk about Mental Health. We recognise the growing concerns around the mental wellbeing of children as a serious illness, and that is why we have decided to partner with BMHRF in 2020 to help them deliver this program that will support many children across the state.
This initiative will also deliver a ‘Buddies Bench’ to participating schools, as a way to encourage conversation and allow students to become ‘Little Heroes’ in the schoolyard for those who may be experiencing challenges with their mental health.
As part of the Family Services component of Little Heroes Care, the Foundation met and connected with families of children who were living with a rare, incurable skin condition known as Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB).
Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) is a rare disease whereby the skin blisters and peels at the slightest touch. Living with EB has been likened to living with third degree burns. It is very painful, and sufferers must be bandaged every day with dressings to protect and medicate their wounds.
Butterfly children, as they are often referred, are missing a gene that enables the layers of skin to require specialised care to ease the symptoms of their debilitating condition, which causes their skin to. Their fragile skin requires constant bandaging, a procedure that would otherwise be performed by a nurse in a hospital environment, can now be safely completed within the family home, thanks to our in-home nursing support.
So far, Little Heroes Foundation has provided over $657,000 towards this program, helping families across the country have access to better nursing care for this rare condition.
This established service will continue into 2020 for SA-based children with EB.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The family services component of the Little Heroes Care program ran until the end of 2019, contributing over $600,000 in funding for services including:
If you require support services, please get in touch with your social worker or request the support of a social worker at the Women's and Children's Hospital.
Name
Email
Subscribe