The importance of family support is profound. Family support is especially essential when a child is recovering from a tragic event that has directly affected the child. If a child is injured as a result of a traumatic experience, one would assume that the child is receiving inpatient care and treatment. Unfortunately, most families this day and age are working families. Therefore, the families are relying on working to maintain financial stability. If a parent or guardian is faced with the decision of being with his or her child while the child is hospitalized or continuing to work, this can be emotionally stressful for the family. For a parent who does not have a choice but to continue to work, he or she may run the risk of not fully understanding how his or her child is progressing while in the hospital. The parent may also miss out on giving input regarding medical interventions for the child. For a parent that makes the decision to be with the child while in the hospital, he or she may run the risk of possibly losing wages or employment. Similar situations present themselves when other family members are injured or ill. Should a wife have to leave her husband’s bedside due to financial implications? In that type of situation, the family will be without the husband’s income while he is hospitalized and also face loss of the wife’s income as well.

The T.I.P.P.E.R. Foundation, Inc. will be able to assist low – to moderate income families with a monetary supplement for up to thirty days at a per diem rate of $50.00 if a family member is experiencing a loss of wages due to wanting to be by the bedside of his or her child or spouse while receiving inpatient hospital care. The case managers at various medical sites will review all applications received to determine eligibility. Some of the conditions that are necessary for a primary caretaker to qualify for a monetary supplement are as follows:

• Employer must verify income
• Hospital staff must verify admission and attendance
• Injured person must have been transported to a hospital in Maryland by Medivac or by ambulance as a result of any unpredictable accident that has caused severe injury to the body

In the near future we plan to develop detailed qualification guidelines and application processes.