Objectives:

To act as a support group for sharing experiences and information,

To provide education – to supply a comprehensive short guide for patients, relatives and caregivers with literature, so that patients and their families can learn what to expect during the illness,

To provide emotional support to patients, their families and friends,

To provide, when possible, personal visits to those currently in hospitals,

To educate the public and medical community about the SCDCA Support Group and maintain the awareness of the illness,

To maintain a list of current medical literature pertaining to Sickle Cell Disease and to make it available to the support group members.

Goals:

Education concerning Sickle Cell Disease

To recognize and verbalize feelings.

To acknowledge the need and reality of grief of those who have the condition.

To learn how to forgive ourselves...as well as to forgive others.

To understand that Sickle Cell is a livable disease.

To achieve a better self-image.

To learn ways to relate better to our children when they are in pain.

To learn not to be a victim.