The purpose of Tombolo is to:
- Help families identify and voice their support needs
- Act as a broker for services and resources relevant to families of children with ongoing health conditions
- Work with families to mobilize their existing support networks using in-person and web-based solutions
- Offer workshops, professional development and informal learning opportunities around the needs of families of children with ongoing health conditions
- Create opportunities for volunteers to work with families of children with ongoing health conditions
- Inspire a lifelong increased commitment to the well-being and mutual support of fellow community members
Program Descriptions
Families can call Tombolo directly or providers can refer families to Tombolo. After an information session and the family agrees to work with Tombolo, our staff works with the family to understand their unique situation and identify their current and future support needs.
Community Connections
Tombolo will connecting the families with high quality people and organizations in the Twin Cities community. We believe that collaborative partnerships with local schools, civic associations, non-profits and government agencies are critical for the well-being of families. Through a series of four meetings, a ‘Community Connector’ volunteer will work with families to create and implement an individualized outreach plan.
Family Bridges
We work with the family to identify family, friend, neighbors, and colleagues that could be a potential source of support, advocacy, and caring. Together we develop a plan for mobilizing this network using in-person and web-based strategies. The strategy is flexible and dynamic, changing to meet the changing needs of the families.
Circle of Care
Tombolo will match families with a volunteer that can give emotional and practical help. Volunteers have a wide variety of skills including: child care experience, health care experience, social networking experience, budgeting and finances, etc. and commit to helping a family for two or more hours per week.
Community Learning & Engagement
Community workshops, professional development and other engagement opportunities are led by local professionals for children and other family members to address specific topics of need. More than 15% of children have a chronic medical conditions and it is critical that professionals who work with these families understand the unique needs of these children and families.
