What We Do

Our Model of Care

George Mark Children’s House is designed to provide extraordinary palliative care to children and young adults in a home-like setting, and offer critical and compassionate support to the entire family, especially when they need us most.

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Respite Care

Children bask in attentive medical care and playful activities while their parents, siblings, and other family members enjoy a break from nonstop care routines at home.

Transitional Care

Staying at George Mark with their children after a discharge from an acute care hospital, families are taught how to continue to manage and improve their children’s health and comfort.

End of Life Care

Patients’ families stay close to their children, in their own family suite, so they can surround their child with love and support. Our palliative care team offers compassionate care to each family member.

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The Care You Can Count On:

Clinical Care Leadership George Mark is overseen by our Medical Director and Director of Clinical Programs, who partner with clinical teams to provide compassionate, individualized care for every patient and family. Next George Mark is overseen by our Medical Director and Director of Clinical Programs, both experts in pediatric palliative care, who partner with clinical teams to provide compassionate, individualized care for every patient and family. Around the Clock Nursing Care A highly skilled, compassionate nursing team who have professional experience caring for young patients with complex medical conditions. Our clinical staff receive ongoing professional development, education, and skills training geared toward the special care of our fragile patient population. Prev Next A highly skilled, compassionate nursing team who have professional experience caring for young patients with complex medical conditions. Our clinical staff receive ongoing professional development, education, and skills training geared toward the special care of our fragile patient population. Emergency Protocol and Procedures On-call pediatric provider and clinical coordinator available 24-hours a day. We are a 911 facility for patients who require emergent care beyond our licensure and scope of practice. Prev Next On-call pediatric provider and clinical coordinator available 24-hours a day. We are a 911 facility for patients who require emergent care beyond our licensure and scope of practice. Cancer Care Our amazing nursing staff are skilled in managing pain and symptoms associated with a cancer diagnosis. The clinical team works to provide comfort and bring joy to our oncology patients and their families alike. This program encompasses our psychosocial team, including our Child Life Specialist, Medical Social Worker, and Chaplain. Learn More Prev Next Our amazing nursing staff are skilled in managing pain and symptoms associated with a cancer diagnosis. The clinical team works to provide comfort and bring joy to our oncology patients and their families alike. This program encompasses our psychosocial team, including our Child Life Specialist, Medical Social Worker, and Chaplain. Palliative Aquatic Therapy Program A therapeutic spa that gives patients a chance to float in soothing waters, move more comfortably, and breathe more deeply. Many patients experience an increased range of motion, relief of symptoms, decreased pain, and improved sleep.This unique program is centered by specially trained registered nurses who apply their learnings directly to water therapy. Prev Restart A therapeutic spa that gives patients a chance to float in soothing waters, move more comfortably, and breathe more deeply. Many patients experience an increased range of motion, relief of symptoms, decreased pain, and improved sleep.This unique program is centered by specially trained registered nurses who apply their learnings directly to water therapy. Children's house Tom and Annette Kenny RN and Claire hugging George Mark house Dexter and Leo

Child Life Program

Our House hums with enriching activities, excitement, and fun. Therapeutic programming and special events happen year-round, designed to create lasting memories and strengthen family bonds. Our Child Life Specialist, certified in palliative care, oversees programming while providing direct support for children and their families.

Child Life Specialist Our certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) oversees therapeutic programming and provides support for patients and siblings, including therapeutic play, procedural preparation, diagnosis education, memory making activities, and bereavement support. Prev Next Our certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) oversees therapeutic programming and provides support for patients and siblings, including therapeutic play, procedural preparation, diagnosis education, memory making activities, and bereavement support. Therapeutic Art Our art programming brings adaptive, creative expression to help children and families process emotions, express themselves, build self-esteem, and improve communication in a supportive environment. Next Prev Next Our art programming brings adaptive, creative expression to help children and families process emotions, express themselves, build self-esteem, and improve communication in a supportive environment. Music Therapy Music offers the power of rhythm and melody for children to express their feelings, build connections, process their thoughts, and support their developmental abilities in a fun and nurturing way. Prev Next Music offers the power of rhythm and melody for children to express their feelings, build connections, process their thoughts, and support their developmental abilities in a fun and nurturing way. [link to music video] Animal-assisted Therapy Interactions with fun-loving animals nurture emotional well-being, build confidence, and foster empathy and connection with others. Prev Next Interactions with fun-loving animals nurture emotional well-being, build confidence, and foster empathy and connection with others. [links to Dayo and Sonrise stories] Horticultural Therapy Our team uses the outdoors as a calming and therapeutic space where caring for plants and spending time in nature helps children highlight their senses, play through tactile work, and create beautiful projects. Prev Next Our team uses the outdoors as a calming and therapeutic space where caring for plants and spending time in nature helps children highlight their senses, play through tactile work, and create beautiful projects. Sibling Support Our ongoing sibling support workshops, Sibshops, are provided for brothers and sisters (ages 7-13) of our patients including the Sibling Beads of Courage program. The Child Life Specialist also holds bereaved sibling art workshops, individual grief support sessions with bereaved siblings and individual grief support sessions with siblings of patients. Prev Next Our certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) oversees therapeutic programming and provides support for patients and siblings, including therapeutic play, procedural preparation, diagnosis education, memory making activities, and bereavement support. Special Events Several events are held throughout the year where our doors swing wide open. We invite current and past George Mark families to special events where we cultivate a strong network through community and support. These social gatherings foster joy, a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and warmth. (Star Wars Day, Pumpkin Day, Family Picnic, Remembrance Day)
 Prev Restart Several events are held throughout the year where our doors swing wide open. We invite current and past George Mark families to special events where we cultivate a strong network through community and support. These social gatherings foster joy, a sense of belonging, inclusivity, and warmth. (Star Wars Day, Pumpkin Day, Family Picnic, Remembrance Day)
 Children's house Caitlyn Child Life Specialist

ALL-ABILITIES PLAYGROUND PROJECT

For more than 20 years, George Mark Children’s House has been a place of comfort and connection. Our original playground, however, wasn’t accessible to most of the children it was meant to serve. With 95% of our patients living with disabilities, we’re now building a new vision: an all-abilities playground where every child, sibling, parent, and caregiver can play together.

Play is more than fun — it’s healing. It restores childhood, strengthens family bonds, and sparks joy. Construction is underway, but we still need $850,000 to complete this space. Every gift helps us open a playground without barriers, where children of all abilities can laugh, play, and belong.

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Social Work

We have a full-time Medical Social Worker (MSW) on staff to provide support for families and children along their journeys. We assist families by connecting them with resources based upon their current needs. Our MSW performs personalized, detailed assessments to ensure concerns are addressed and connections to helpful community resources are established.

Spiritual Care

With a part-time chaplain on staff, we provide spiritual and emotional support to George Mark families. We are committed to offering comfort and guidance during challenging times, especially through grief, loss, and bereavement. On our grounds, there are several secluded, peaceful spaces for quiet time, thoughtfulness, and reflection, including Hummingbird Hill, a rock fountain, and a non-denominational freestanding sanctuary.