Wonders & Worries Mission
Wonders & Worries provides free professional support for children and teenagers ages 2 – 18 through a parent’s serious illness or injury, so that they can reach their full potential.
Our copyrighted Illness Education and Coping Curriculum is clinically validated and professionally delivered by Certified Child Life Specialists, free to families and available in Spanish and English.
In addition, Wonders & Worries provides a multitude of informational and supportive resources for parents as well as continuing education opportunities and resources for professionals nationwide.
About Us
Wonders & Worries opened in 2001 in Austin, Texas by two certified Child Life specialists, Meredith Cooper and Melissa (Missi) Hicks. Both women had experience working with pediatric patients in children’s hospitals. Meredith was the first pediatric oncology Child Life specialist in Austin at Children’s Hospital of Austin. Missi relocated to Austin after working with children who had cancer at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center in Baltimore and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston – Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center.
Meredith and Missi became aware of the incredible need to offer developmental and coping support to children and families struggling with parental illness or injury. Children were often left alone
wondering,
“Why is mom losing her hair?”
or worrying,
“Did I cause mom to get cancer?”
Often parents, out of misguided concern for their child, hesitated to tell their child about their diagnosis and treatment. They lacked the words to offer age-appropriate information and support for their child’s developmental wonders and worries.
Meredith and Missi shared the vision that community-based, child life services for children and families with parental illness were needed not only in Austin but throughout the nation and world.
WATCH
On You Tube …
The Neff Family: “Wonders & Worries were there for us …”
Differentiators
Wonders & Worries fills an important unmet need. There are many factors that make us uniquely suited and qualified to positively impact the lives of children affected by serious parental illness and injury nationwide, including:
- We go beyond evidence-based practice and offer the only clinically validated curriculum and support of its kind.
- For 23 years, we have been leaders in the industry. We are one of the pioneers of the child life community-based support model.
- Our direct services are exclusively delivered by Certified Child Life Specialists who are clinically trained in the developmental impact of illness and injury on children.
- We are Level 1 Trauma-Informed Care Certified. Our support is always customized to meet the individualized needs of the child and family. We provide both individual and group support.
- All of our services for families are completely free of charge.
- We support families impacted by all physical illnesses and injuries, not just cancer.
- We work with children as young as two years old.
For Parents
We empower parents with tools and strategies to support their children and teenagers as they navigate their parents’ serious illness or injury. Through individual and group support, we facilitate coping by providing:
- Age-appropriate understanding of illness, treatments, and side effects
- Strategies for expressing feelings related to changes in the family
- Skills for coping with stress, anger, sadness, and fear
- Connections to peers sharing similar experiences
No matter where you are, Wonders & Worries is here to help your family. Please review our comprehensive list of services, and when you are ready, click on Find a Provider to find the services available in your area.
Connect with us today by completing a referral form or calling our helpline at 1-844-WE-WONDER
Referral Form
Resources for Parents
Wonders & Worries provides a wealth of free resources for parents navigating a serious illness or injury: Resources
Helpline
When you don’t have the words or the time, Wonders & Worries is here. The helpline is free and fast – no scheduling or commuting. Call 1-844-WE-WONDER or email at [email protected] for help.
WonderCast™
WonderCast™ is a podcast that provides support for parents navigating serious illness or injury. Julie May, a seasoned child life specialist, hosts WonderCast™ and introduces assorted topics through candid discussions with guests experiencing different types of medical situations or professionals sharing insights. New episodes are available bi-monthly through a multitude of podcast platforms.
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Articles
Browse our selection of free, helpful resource articles. Find information on child development, coping, discussing illness, activities, and more.
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Videos
Browse our selection of free, helpful videos.
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WonderChat™ for Parents
WonderChat™ for Parents regularly provides webinars that focus on strategies to support parenting throughout a serious illness or injury. Topics focus on challenges that families face and build on ideas to maximize family coping and connection. Each webinar is facilitated by Kim Fryar, Wonders & Worries’ National Program Director, along with other experienced child life professionals.
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Recommended Reading
Our professional child life staff recommend the following books to help you and your children through serious illness or injury.
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Download the App!
W&W2Go™ for parents provides information and strategies that maximize family communication and coping during a parent’s illness. Many topics are explored through six main categories: Child Development and Parenting, Family Activities, Illness Communication Strategies, Support for Children, Bereavement Support, and Family Resources. The app is available on both Apple and Android platforms.
Download for iPhone
Download for Android
For Professionals
Wonders & Worries provides a multitude of informational and supportive resources, continuing education opportunities, and training for professionals nationwide.
Take advantage of our highly rated professional continuing education. Visit our online catalog for the Wonders & Worries Continuing Education Programs! We offer live and on-demand online classes.
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If you know a family who could benefit from our services, let us know. We have offices in Central Texas, Houston, and San Antonio, and provide phone consultations to families and professionals anywhere through our National Helpline.
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Enroll in our Registered Wonders & Worries Provider™ (RWWP) Training & Support Program and add our clinically-proven and time-tested curriculum to your professional expertise or medical institution’s therapeutic capabilities.
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Wonders & Worries has published multiple articles in peer-reviewed journals and is committed to an ongoing research agenda, evaluating the impact of our programs and sharing the results of our work.
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Explore our WonderChat™ for Professionals with webinars, featuring content on salient topics for professionals like you.
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Wonders & Worries Offices
Wonders & Worries provides services nationally through our own staff, a network of professional providers trained and authorized to deliver our copyrighted curriculum, and a variety of virtual support options.
Wonders & Worries has 7 physical locations in Central Texas, the Greater Houston and in San Antonio. All offices are by appointment only. If you do not live near one of these locations, we offer a wide variety of free resources as well as support options outside of our office coverage area.
Main Office
9101 Burnet Rd., Suite 205
Austin, Texas 78758
512-329-5757
[email protected]
Austin – Westlake Office
923 Westbank Drive, Suite C
Austin, Texas 78746
512-329-5757
Austin – East Office
In the Southcliff Building in the YWCA
South I.H. 35, Suite 110
Austin, Texas 78741
512-329-5757
Georgetown – Williamson County Office
2425 Williams Drive, Suite 105
Georgetown, Texas 78628 View Map
512-329-5757
Houston Offices
The Galleria Location
5850 San Felipe, Suite 120
Houston, TX 77057
713-324-8956
The Woodlands
The Canopy at Memorial Hermann
Medical Plaza 1
1120 Medical Plaza Dr., Suite 250
Shenandoah, TX 77380
713-324-8956
Katy
The Ballard House
21421 Cinco Park Rd
Katy, TX 77450
713-324-8956
San Antonio Office
In the START Center for Cancer Care
4383 Medical Drive, Suite 127
San Antonio, Texas 78229
210-307-4853
ACCEPTS VIRTUAL CLIENTS
Connect with Wonders & Worries on Social Media
We love engaging with our community of client families, supporters, donors and partners. Please connect with us and follow us on any of the following platforms.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WondersnWorries
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wondersnworries/
LinkedIn: https://www.instagram.com/wondersnworries/
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@WondersandWorries
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