NORTHWEST KIDNEY KIDS INC
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Mission Statement
Our vision is to see every child living with kidney disease thrive. Our hope as we engage kidney kids is they learn to take charge of their health; manage their condition and embrace their future. We strive to build a supportive community where families feel nurtured and encouraged. Our goal is to provide a safe, caring environment where everyone in the kidney kid family can learn, grow and realize their potential. As an organization, NW Kidney Kids strives to be self-sustaining, known as a compassionate force well recognized and respected as one which operates with integrity. We have a positive influence in the kidney disease community both locally and nationally. To do this, we are always seeking to improve and expand our programs to make them relevant and valuable to the needs of more children/families.
About This Cause
Northwest Kidney Kids, Inc. was founded in 2006 to provide support and education to children with chronic kidney disease and their family members. NW Kidney Kids is in a unique position because we are the only organization with a focus on serving youth (birth -18) with chronic kidney disease and their families in the Northwest. Kidney disease is a lifelong disease. There is no cure. Children and their families need tools to manage this chronic condition. NW Kidney Kids mission is to offer hope and support to these children and their families. We provide prevention services, educational programs and group activities that empower Kidney Kids to take charge of their health, embrace their future, and achieve lifelong success. Our largest program is our Summers Camps Program. Youth and Family Kidney Kids Camp is a no-cost camp for children with chronic kidney disease (either on dialysis or with a transplant) and their family members. The Kidney Camp experience provides a safe environment for children and families to gather for educational activities, parent enrichment, emotional support, camaraderie, and networking. Camp provides campers with valuable information that assists them in managing the challenges associated with kidney disease. They receive support from professionals who understand these challenges, and children, teens, and parents offer meaningful support to one another and develop friendships that extend beyond Camp. Kidney Camp encourages campers to see life beyond their disease while addressing the emotional issues associated with kidney disease and empowering Kidney Kids to achieve lifelong success. Youth will get time to spend away from their families to focus on building independence, self-esteem, and self-reliance. Educators, renal nurses, physicians, social workers and adult living successfully with chronic kidney disease provide them with sessions on health-related self-management skills including the importance of maintaining a strict medication compliance, nutrition, and physical wellness. An important part of the interaction comes from counselors who are also kidney mentors, sharing personal life examples of powerful testimony with these teens about struggle and triumph in their life with kidney disease. The training and inspiration they receive at Kidney Camp help to ensure that they keep their transplants. During the three-day Family Camp, parents learn valuable tools on how to navigate the school and healthcare systems, social services, and insurance issues all of which can be overwhelming and complicated. All Camp participants have the opportunity to become part of a community that understands them and helps to alleviate isolation. For many participants, Kidney Camp is their only opportunity to access education specific to kidney disease and to connect with others having a similar experience. By making the program free, Northwest Kidney Kids maximizes the involvement of financially disadvantaged families.