Parent Adviser Training & Support

We are so excited you are joining our volunteer team. As a caregiver of a St. Jude patient, you have knowledge to share and we look forward to partnering with you. Please watch the video below as Katie talks about what it means to become a parent adviser.

Patient family-centered care (PFCC) exists every day at St. Jude. It occurs with every patient and family interaction within the hospital. St. Jude focuses on PFCC by understanding the viewpoint of patients and families in every aspect of care.

About PFCC

History

The Surgeon General first defined family-centered care in 1987. PFCC focuses on the family as the child’s main source of strength, support and well-being. It defines PFCC as a partnership between healthcare staff and parents. The PFCC philosophy shapes policies, programs, facility design and the quality and safety of medical care.

For more than ten years, parent advisers have partnered with St. Jude staff.  Efforts began in 2008 as a grass-roots initiative, and since then, parent advisers continually seek to advance family-centered care culture throughout the institution. Advisers ensure that patient family populations at St. Jude are well represented by serving on the Patient Family Advisory Council, Quality of Life Steering Council, Parent Mentor Steering Council and the Virtual Advisory Council. These councils have been instrumental in starting and championing many initiatives including creating and implementing the recommendations to improve the quality of palliative and end-of-life care and the creation and implementation of the parent mentor program. Additionally, parent advisers serve as educators and mentors and have joined many work groups, committees and focus group efforts across all levels of the organization.
Mission

To ensure that patient and caregiver populations have the opportunity to share their experiences and perspectives to improve all facets of the organization through programs that advance the core tenants of Patient and Family-Centered Care.
Vision

Patient and family voices will positively influence and contribute to a family-centered culture, facilitating the delivery of outstanding patient experience.
Values
We believe in:
- Creating partnerships with patients and families at all levels of care o Sharing information with patients and families in an ongoing and supportive manner.
- Respecting the diversity among families and viewing families as partners who contribute to the well-being of patients o Empowering all employees to be patient family-centered and focused on how they contribute to improving the patient experience.
- Providing a healing environment inclusive of facilities and programs appropriate to the developmental needs of children and families.
- Creating policies based on patient family-centered care concepts that promote efficiency, cost effectiveness, quality care, and flexibility.
- Enhancing and supporting the wellbeing of staff to facilitate an exceptional patient care experience.
- Providing supportive care to patients and families during the entire trajectory of care to include diagnosis, treatment, transitioning off treatment, transitioning to adult care, end-of life-care and/or bereavement.

Resources for you as an adviser

Reimbursement

Based on your adviser role, you may have expenses which St. Jude is able to reimburse. These expenses will be related to the role you are assigned. For example, a mentor may need childcare to be able to meet another parent. A Patient Family Advisory Council member may have travel costs associated with attending a meeting or conference. Some expenses are paid in advance by the hospital, and some are initially paid by you and then reimbursed.
Travel Information
Please book airline travel and hotel with the St. Jude Travel Office six weeks prior to event, but no later than 14 days before travel event. They can be reached at 901-595-5000.

If traveling by plane

Please book airline travel and hotel with the St. Jude Travel Office six weeks prior to event, but no later than 14 days before travel event. You will receive a travel itinerary after booking the flight. You will need to review your travel itinerary and approve the information.
We use Uber Business to help our Advisers get to and from St. Jude. This service will enable you to call for an Uber Driver whenever you need it, and the ride will be direct billed to St. Jude. No more need for pre-scheduled cabs or shuttles! When you schedule your ride, you’ll be able to see the estimated arrival time. At the airport and in the downtown area there are plenty of Uber drivers and arrival times should be quick. Have your ID badge ready when you are being dropped off. As the Uber driver approaches a gate, show your St. Jude ID badge and explain you’re being dropped off. Please allow extra time to get through this process. A Security office must escort Uber on campus.

If traveling by car

When trips longer than 250 miles one way are contemplated, the most economical and time saving method of transportation may not be the use of an automobile. In such cases, it is expected that you consider air travel. Should you receive approval to travel by automobile or rail for personal convenience, you will be reimbursed the lesser of mileage/rail costs plus parking or the 14-day advance airfare costs plus ground transportation and baggage fees.
Please contact the St. Jude Travel Office to book hotel reservations. You will receive a travel itinerary. You will need to review your travel itinerary and approve the information.

Adviser travel tips

Review and approve your airline travel itinerary. It has your:
- Hotel confirmation number
- Flight arrival and departure information
- Contact information for travel assistance
For travel assistance while traveling

St. Jude Travel Office: 901-595-5000

Office hours are Mon-Thurs 7am-8pm Central Time. If calling outside US/Canada dial 901-236-0889

After Hours Emergency Travel Service: 888-387-7315

Your Emergency Assistance Code is S-O0OG

Travel expenses reimbursement

You may have expenses which St. Jude is able to reimburse. Some expenses are paid in advance by the St. Jude and some are initially paid by you and then reimbursed. Examples: parking, transportation if Uber is not available, baggage fees, etc. Receipts are required for all items greater than $30 (except meal per diems and mileage).

Reimbursement for use of a personal vehicle will be reimbursed $15.00 for each round trip to/from the airport when airport parking is not also reimbursed.

Automobile mileage is reimbursed at a rate per mile that conforms to current IRS rulings for necessary business travel. The amount reimbursed for auto mileage is based on the direct mileage from the point of origin to the destination and vice versa.

You will be reimbursed for personal meal expenses at a rate consistent with U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Domestic Per Diem. The meal reimbursement for first and last travel days will be made at 75% of the per diem, consistent with the GSA. If a meal(s) is provided, the per diem will be reduced for the meal(s) provided.

Be sure to send in your expense information quickly so that we can get you reimbursed!
Telling Your Story
One of the most important activities of a St. Jude parent adviser is the ability to tell your story. This can be a story about a short aspect of your child’s care such as:
- A specific event (first trip to Procedures or signing the treatment protocol)
- A timeframe (diagnosis or transition to off-therapy)
- A short overview of your family’s experience throughout treatment
- Your involvement with PFCC
Telling Your Story Critique Guide

More resources

Below are resources to help you prepare for your adviser role. You may only need to use some of these resources to participate in your adviser role. If you are not sure which resources your need or have questions about the resources, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at PFCC@stjude.org

Prepare for meetings

Prepare for any meeting by reading this helpful guide:

How to Prepare for Meetings

Participate in meetings via Webex

Need to hop on a Webex meeting? These guides can help you participate to the fullest.

Log in to St. Jude email

Check out these documents if you are logging into your St. Jude email for the first time or need some help with your password. You can also call the St. Jude helpdesk at 901-595-2000.

Join Microsoft Teams

Some advisers may be asked to join Microsoft Teams. These documents can help you get started.

Parent Adviser Training & Support

About PFCC

History

Mission

Vision

Values

Resources for you as an adviser

Reimbursement

Travel Information

If traveling by plane

If traveling by car

Adviser travel tips

For travel assistance while traveling

Travel expenses reimbursement

Telling Your Story

More resources

Prepare for meetings

Participate in meetings via Webex

Log in to St. Jude email

Join Microsoft Teams

About St. Jude

I want to:

St. Jude campus

Contact

Follow