Financial Assistance Program

JJCCF's main program committed to providing emergency financial relief to help families fighting childhood cancer pay for everyday basic necessities such as rent, utilities, medical, car, gas and food. The assistance is described as a "lifeline" preventing families from spiraling down and vital to the survival of the children in treatment.

Geographic Scope

Child must reside in the state of Florida but is not required to be a U.S. citizen.

Partner Hospitals

JJCCF is serving patients of the following 18 partner hospitals and 2 partner clinics:

South Florida Partners:

• Nicklaus Children's at Broward Health
• Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital at Memorial
• Nicklaus Children's Hospital
• Holtz Children's Hospital at Jackson
• alex's place at Sylvester
• Miami Cancer Institute (Baptist Health)
• Palm Beach Children's Hospital at St. Mary's

Throughout Florida Partners:

• Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital (St. Petersburg)
• St. Joseph's Children's Hospital (Tampa)
• Golisano Children's Hospital (Fort Myers)
• Arnold Palmer Hospital (Orlando)
• AdventHealth (Orlando)
• Nemours Children's Hospital (Orlando)
• Nemours Children's Health (Pensacola)
• Nemours Children's Specialty Care (Jacksonville)
• Wolfson Children's Hospital (Jacksonville)
• UF Health Shands Children's Hospital (Gainesville)

Outside Florida Partners (FL residents only):

• St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• MD Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Eligibility Requirements

• Child is in treatment fighting cancer and comes from a low-income family currently experiencing financial hardship
• Child's cancer diagnosis has affected the family's finances/income
• Family is temporarily struggling to maintain basic human needs
• Many cases involve single parent households and family qualifies for government assistance programs such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income
• Child must be under 18 years of age (0-17 years old)
• JJCCF does not take gender, race or religion into consideration when determining a child's eligibility

What JJCCF Funds

• Rent
• Utilities
• Medical bills
• Car payments
• Gas
• Food
• Insurance
• Mortgage

Additional Notes

• Application not available online - must apply through hospital social worker
• One-time assistance - Approved applicants for the Financial Assistance Program are assisted on a one-time basis, but may also qualify for JJCCF's Advocacy Program
• JJCCF financial assistance check(s) are made payable to vendors and provided to child's caregiver
• JJCCF does not charge for its services and does not take a percentage of funds

How to Apply

1. Contact your hospital social worker or call JJCCF at 954-593-5603 (hablamos español)
2. Child/Family must be referred by their social worker and complete the 3-page Financial Assistance Application Form
3. Applications should be emailed to JJCCF staff by their social worker
4. Provide copies of outstanding bills representing basic human needs (i.e., medical, utilities, rent, mortgage, insurance, car payment)
5. Request grocery or gas gift cards if applicable
6. JJCCF staff will request a headshot of the child for their Annual Collage

Required Materials

• 3-page Financial Assistance Application Form
• Copies of outstanding bills (medical, utilities, rent, mortgage, insurance, car payment)
• Proof of referral from hospital social worker
• Child's headshot (for Annual Collage)

Process

• After JJCCF staff reviews the submitted application, the child's caregiver will be contacted to confirm eligibility and explain the assistance process
• JJCCF staff will mail the financial assistance package to the child's home address