A Sense of Belonging: Program Improves Emotional Health Among Children with Chronic Illnesses

The nearly 20 million American children who live with serious or chronic conditions are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, bullying, and social isolation. Team IMPACT, a national nonprofit organization, seeks to address that risk by building connections between kids with disabilities or complex medical conditions and collegiate sports teams.

Rachel Rogovin, MSW, LICSW, Team IMPACT’s director of clinical services, said the organization serves as a bridge between the hospital setting and the child’s community.

“At the end of the day, we all just want to belong. By increasing the quality and quantity of social connections, Team IMPACT supports children socially and emotionally as well as behaviorally, academically, and physically,” she said.

Connections outside the hospital

Before joining Team IMPACT, Rogovin was a pediatric oncology social worker at Hasbro Children's in Providence, Rhode Island. There, she witnessed the importance of supporting children with serious illnesses beyond the hospital walls.

“So much of their lives are lived with their health care providers in the hospital, so it’s important to build a bridge of support within their community, too,” she said.

That's where Team IMPACT comes into play. Kids and families are referred to Team IMPACT by their health care team (or connect directly), and a sports team is matched with the child based on their goals and needs.

Making a match

Team IMPACT’s intake coordinators first conduct comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments with each referred family. “We want to understand why they are coming to Team IMPACT and identify what they want to get out of this experience,” Rogovin said.

Next, Team IMPACT identifies a collegiate athletic team in the child’s community willing to participate in a two-year experience with the child—though most relationships don’t stop there. “This is more than a one-time tour. The experience is intended to be an ongoing relationship,” Rogovin said.

When the match has been made, case managers provide clinical road maps for teams to follow. These include targeted interventions, suggested activities, and toolkits to help team members understand what the child and family face.

As the relationship unfolds, Team IMPACT assesses the strengths and opportunities of the match. For example, the organization tracks how often the family visits campus and whether communication between the family and team is reciprocal or one-sided.

“At the end of the day, Team IMPACT is more about community and relationships than about sports,” Rogovin said.

Measuring outcomes

The relationships have made a significant impact on the 3,670 children who have participated in a Team IMPACT experience over the past 13 years. Children involved with Team IMPACT measurably improve their emotional resilience, which can impact the overall quality of life for kids and their families.

While Team IMPACT is not an adaptive sports program, participation makes kids more interested in becoming physically active. Rogovin said 87% of participants become more physically active after the experience.

Perhaps most significant, 82% of Team IMPACT kids see improved adherence to medical care. This is particularly important for children with conditions that require long-term treatment.

“The treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer, includes at-home chemotherapy given by a parent or caregiver for two to three years,” Rogovin said. “One study shows that if you go from a 95% adherence rate for home chemotherapy to less than a 90% adherence rate, your risk of relapse increases 400%.”

Team IMPACT is a tool in the tool belt of pediatric caregivers. “We can be one piece of helping a child and family be as adherent to their treatment as possible. That will pay big dividends in terms of long-term health outcomes,” Rogovin said.

Getting involved

Children’s Hospital Association has joined forces with Team IMPACT to enhance the pediatric health care experience and increase program access among the nation’s children’s hospitals.

Learn more about how children’s hospitals can get involved with Team IMPACT.