The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a non-profit organization that helps keep families with sick children close with each other, and offers them the care and resources that they need. (What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/what-we-do) The mission statement of RMHC is this: “The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children.” ((n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.volunteermatch.org/search/ org38197.jsp) Here is how the Ronald McDonald House Charities addresses what they do, on their website: “Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family.
Adding a financial strain can make it all almost too much to bear. RMHC can help address those problems, whether they involve housing that’s near a hospitalized child, the expense of staying together in another city, or even getting basic medical and dental care in a vulnerable community.” (What We Do. (n.d.). Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ what-we-do) What we do The Ronald McDonald House When a child is going through treatment for a medical crisis they may be located in an area not near their home. As a solution to families being split by distance, the Ronald McDonald House Charity offers Ronald McDonald Houses. A Ronald McDonald House offers a place for families to stay near their hospitalized child for little and sometimes no charge. (Ronald McDonald House. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-house (Citation for last 3 sentences)) The Ronald McDonald House Charity says this: “Our Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.” (Ronald McDonald House. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-house) The Ronald McDonald Houses offer home-cooked meals, private bedrooms, and play rooms for children. In some houses, but not all they offer special suites with suppressed immune systems, accredited education programs, recreational activities, non-clinical support services, and sibling support services.
There are 349 Ronald McDonald Houses across the globe. (Ronald McDonald House. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-house (Citation for entire paragraph)) Ronald McDonald Family Room A Ronald McDonald Family Room is an area in a hospital for families to forget that they’re in a hospital. The family rooms offer the opportunity to rest and relax just moments away from their sick child. (Ronald McDonald Family Room. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald- family-room) According to the RMHC website, family rooms offer a health benefit to the sick child as well. They state: “Research shows that a family presence in the hospital helps children heal and cope better.
Staying close by allows parents to better communicate with their child’s medical team and improves adherence to complicated treatment plans.” (Ronald McDonald Family Room. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-family-room) Services for the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are unique from one location to see, but these services are often offered: A kitchen area that includes a stove and microwave, shower facilities, a sleeping room, laundry facilities, internet access, reference books, a seating area with a television, and a quiet room. (Ronald McDonald Family Room. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-family- room (Citation for entire paragraph)) Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles The Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles are 40 feet long, 8 feet wide state-of-the-art vehicles that are specifically created to offer pediatric offer pediatric health care services.
Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles use a holistic approach to their treatment with prevention, treatment, and referral. (Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-care-mobile (Citation for last 2 sentences)) “Prevention: We deliver health education, which reduces overall medical costs, addresses behavior, and lifestyle choices and helps motivate families to improve and maintain their health.
Treatment: We provide services ranging from immunizations and preventive check-ups to dental care and treatment for chronic and acute illnesses. Referral: Our staff works with families to help them get access to ongoing care with a primary doctor or dentist.” (Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. (n.d.). Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ ronald-mcdonald-care-mobile (Citation for last 3 sentences)) Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles differ from community to community, but the services they can offer are: Primary care, well-child visits and developmental screening, immunizations, diagnostic, preventive and restorative dental care, oral hygiene education, asthma treatment and self-management education, pulmonary function testing, vision, hearing and lead screening, school and sports physicals, prenatal care for pregnant teens, childhood health promotion and injury prevention education, nutrition counseling, pediatric specialty care, such as oncology, cardiology and otolaryngology, ophthalmology, mental health assessment and referral, blood collection, social service resource referral, health education, and care for special needs children. (Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. (n.d.).
Retrieved March 31, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/ronald-mcdonald-care- mobile (Citation for entire paragraph)) History of Ronald McDonald House Charities In 1974, the first Ronald McDonald House was opened with help from McDonalds. (Ronald McDonald House Charities. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/our_story/ our_communities/rmhc.html) The first Ronald McDonald House was created in Philadelphia, and was inspired by the experience of former Philadelphia Eagle tight end, Fred Hill, and his wife. Their 3-year-old daughter, Kim, was being treated for leukemia, and for 3 years they were camped outside the waiting rooms and corridors of the hospital. They noticed other parents doing the same thing, and many of which could not afford hotel rooms. The Hills began a small charity, which eventually led to the first Ronald McDonald House. (Fritz, J. (2015, October 26).
Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://nonprofit.about.com/od/profiles/p/Ronald-Mcdonald- House-Charities-Rmhc.htm (Citation for the last 4 sentences)) Here are some significant dates that the Ronald McDonald House Charities official website listed for their history: 1974: “The McDonald’s owner/operators helped make the vision of a “home-away-from-home” a reality, donating proceeds from the sale of Shamrock Shakes.” (Our History. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history) 1984: “Ronald McDonald House Charities officially established in memory of McDonald’s corporation founder Ray Croc, a strong advocate for children.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history) 1985: “The first Ronald McDonald House opens in Amsterdam, Netherlands.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/our-history) 1986: “The 100th Ronald McDonald House opens in Long Island, New York.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history) 1986: “RMHC creates an Award of Excellence to honor child health care advocates making great contributions to improving the quality of life for children. Julius B. Richmond, M.D., founder of Head Start, is the first recipient of the award.” (Our History. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our- history) 1992: RMHC creates a new program for the families of critically ill children with the first Ronald McDonald Family Room, opening at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, KS.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/our-history) 1999: “The 200th Ronald McDonald House opens in Budapest, Hungary. Houses are now located in 18 countries around the world.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history) 2000: “RMHC launches the first Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Worcester, MA, offering cost-effective medical, dental, and health education services to vulnerable children.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our- history) 2002: “Worth magazine names RMHC one of ‘America’s 100 Best Charities of 2002.’ It’s the second consecutive year RMHC receives this honor.” (Our History. (n.d.).
Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history) 2005: “The first European Ronald McDonald Care Mobile opens in Poland.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/our-history) 2010: “RMHC celebrates the 300th Ronald McDonald House opening in St. Louis on September 29. The 300th house provides 20 bedrooms, and is 18,188 square feet.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http:// www.rmhc.org/our-history) 2012: “RMHC is honored by the American Hospital Association as an exceptional partner in the delivery of health care services.” (Our History. (n.d.). Retrieved April 2, 2016, from http://www.rmhc.org/our-history)
