Education Support

The Free Education Support Program is designed to assist children with sickle cell disease (SCD) to maintain continuity in their education when they are absent from school due to illness. Many children are hospitalized as a result of the complications of sickle cell disease. Hospitalization is a hard time for children with SCD and their parents.

On average a school aged child with SCD may miss 29 days of school per year due to illness that may or may not include hospitalization and while recovering at home. This creates a dilemma for children, parents, social workers and educators. At these times children may not receive the support that they need to make a smooth transition back into the classroom.

CSCF, Inc., in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Public School System and Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Sickle Cell Program, offer this program to ensure that every child with sickle cell disease receives the proper support to encourage their educational success.

How It Works

• This Free program is available to all children with SCD in the Pittsburgh Public School District and other participating school districts.
• Enroll you child in the Education Support Program.
• Call the Education Support Coordinator (ESC) when your child becomes ill at home or in the hospital.
• The ESC contacts your child’s teachers and school counselor to ensure that your child receives their schoolwork and assignments.
• You may have the Children’s Hospital social worker contact us to enroll your child at the hospital.
• There is no limit to how many time you can use this FREE program.
• Complete a parental survey to give us feedback so that we may better serve you.