FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS - BETH AND NAYELIS IMAGE

Friends of Karen Social Worker Beth Ferrari and 13-month-old Nayelis during a hospital visit.

For Health Professionals

  • Friends of Karen was founded in 1978 by one compassionate woman, Sheila Petersen, who rallied her local community to help one family bring their daughter, Karen MacInnes, home from the hospital to live her remaining days with her family.
  • We have 13 full-time and 8 part-time staff members -- and more than 150 active volunteers.
  • Our unique case management approach enables Friends of Karen to assist the entire family based on their individual financial and emotional needs.
  • Our social work staff works with most hospitals in the New York tri-state region.

 

"There can be nothing worse in this world than a family witnessing the suffering of their child with a life threatening illness.  Friends of Karen continues to be there for them.  The financial, professional and emotional support that the organization provides during these difficult times is literally a life-preserver for these families."
David T. Hannan, MD, MPA, President of the Medical Society of the State of New York

 

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For Health Professionals

For Health Professionals
For Health Professionals

The vast majority of families who come to Friends of Karen for assistance are referred through a hospital social worker. This section will help health professionals determine whether a family is eligible for our assistance, and understand our referral procedures. As a partner in helping these families, you are key to this process.

The initial referral for a family should come through their hospital social worker. This will ensure that families meet our Guidelines before the family contacts Friends of Karen. This step is important so that the family does not make an unnecessary call only to find out that they are not eligible for our assistance. The attached downloadable brochure provides an outline of our services and application procedure.

 

 
Contact Information

For families living in Manhattan, The Bronx, New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York counties of Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan Ulster and Westchester contact Shelagh McLean at 914-617-4048 or shelaghmclean@friendsofkaren.org

For families living on Long Island, contact Marla Krellenstein at 631-473-1768, ext. 308 or marlakrellenstein@friendsofkaren.org

For families living in Queens, contact Jessica Dunn at 212-308-1378, ext. 102 or jessicadunn@friendsofkaren.org

For families living in Brooklyn, contact Doug Turk at 212-308-1378, ext. 101 or dougturk@friendsofkaren.org

After the initial referral is made by the hospital social worker, the family must contact Friends of Karen directly at 1-800-637-2774, ext. 205, or ext. 202 to speak with our Spanish-speaking case manager.

A Friends of Karen social worker will conduct an intake assessment with the family by phone, and an application will be sent to the family after the assessment is completed. No financial support can be given before a completed application is received and our social workers have assessed a family’s need.

 

 
In-Services Available Upon Request

If you would like a Friends of Karen social worker to visit your facility and outline our services to you or your staff, please contact Shelagh McLean at 914-617-4048 or shelaghmclean@friendsofkaren.org

 
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