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NOW OPEN: The Sibling Center!

As our co-founder, the late Dr. Audrey Evans said, “When a child is sick, the whole family is sick.” And often the family of a sick child includes siblings. Many, if not most, of the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Tucson, that have a sick baby or child, have another child to care for.

RMHC of Southern Arizona Sibling Center
inside the Play Zone at Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center

1625 N. Campbell Ave.

Monday – Friday 9am-4pm

Serving siblings (ages 3-12) of pediatric patients

We believe in Family-Centered Care, and sometimes siblings of patients need a little extra TLC – that’s why we created the Sibling Center

Parents often need to be fully engaged at their child’s bedside or need to have a focused conversation with a doctor. They also want to be fully present for all of their children. This can be stressful for everyone. The Sibling Center helps both parents and children to get the relief and attention they need.

Sibling Center services include

  • Supervised care by Child Life Assistants
  • A bright and inviting space made for kids
  • Attention to the needs of patients’ siblings

A refreshing approach to an all-too-often problem

What do you do when only one parent is able to be at the hospital, you have a child in the NICU, and a four year-old? Many families in this and similar scenarios have no place to turn, until now.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The RMHC of Southern Arizona Sibling Center is a great space for siblings of patients at Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center to learn and play while their parents spend some time focusing their child who is being treated at the hospital.

The room is staffed by two trained Child Life Assistants who will provide activities and supervision for potty-trained children age 3-12. If needed, Assistants may also be able to refer the attention of Child Life Specialists for those siblings who may be helped by learning more about why their family member is in the hospital.

The Sibling Center is on the first floor of the Diamond Tower, inside the Play Zone. A nurse or social worker can direct you if you are in the hospital.

All families who have patients at Banner Children’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center may be able to benefit from the Sibling Center. 

  • Children must be between the ages of 3 and 12 and must be fully potty-trained. 
  • Families are allowed two 2-hour visits per day.
  • A bathroom is located inside the Sibling Center.
  • No food or drink is allowed
  • All siblings must be signed in and signed out by a parent or legal guardian with valid government-issued ID who must be on site while their child is in the Sibling Center.

There is no cost to patient families for the Sibling Center. All staffing and materials costs are covered by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona. To help keep these services available, please consider making a donation online or by calling (520) 326-0060.