19^th Annual Children’s Hospice International World Congress Co-Hosted by George Mark Children’s House in San Francisco

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--George Mark Children’s House:

“CHI Program for All-Inclusive Care for Children & their Families, Next Steps”

WHEN:		Sunday, November 16 - Wednesday, November 19, 2008
WHERE:		The Palace Hotel
		2 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

WHO/WHAT: Today, two million children in the United States are suffering from a serious or terminal illness. Close to 20% of these children live in California; as many as 30,000 children currently participating in a publicly funded health care program could benefit from a pending MediCal waiver that will coordinate care systems and keep children with acute illnesses out of the costly and unnecessary pattern of seeking primary care in the emergency room.

From exploring options for benefits coverage to uncovering new trends in providing pediatric palliative care, the CHI World Congress educates hundreds of health care professionals from around the globe caring for children with life-threatening conditions.

The event is co-hosted by San Leandro, CA-based, George Mark Children’s House, the first free-standing respite, transitional and end-of-life care facility in the United States for seriously and terminally ill children and their families.

This year’s conference features 2 ½ days of breakout sessions where participants will discuss topics ranging from policy impacting dying children and their families to holistic care when a child dies. The program will include:

Sunday, November 16^th 5:30-7p.m.: Opening reception with welcome by San Francisco Supervisor Michaela Alioto-Pier, creator of the Blue Ribbon Panel for California Pacific Medical Center

Monday, November 17^th 8:30 a.m.: Welcome by California Senate President pro Tem, Don Perata. Opening remarks with welcome by Ann Armstrong Dailey, CHI Founding Director; John Golenski, Executive Director, George Mark Children’s House and Rev. Mpho Tutu, Board Member, Global AIDS Alliance, Founder & Executive Director, The Tutu Institute for Prayer & Pilgrimage

2:15 p.m.: Terri Pratt, Director, Division of Integrated Health Systems, Center for Medicaid & State Operations; Ann Armstrong-Dailey, CHI Founding Director

"CHI Program for All-Inclusive Care for Children & their Families, Next Steps"

Tuesday, November 18th 8:30 a.m.: Javier R. Kane, MD, Director, Palliative Medicine & End of Life Care Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

"Integration of Quality Palliative Care Into the Care of Seriously Ill Children"

Wednesday, November 19th 8:30 a.m.: Myra Bluebond-Langer, PhD, Professor of Anthropology & Director of the Center for Children & Childhood Studies, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ and author of “The Private Worlds of Dying Children”

"I Want To Live Until I Don't Want To Live Anymore: Involving Children With Life-Threatening Illnesses In Medical Decisions"

For more information and to register for the conference, visit www.georgemark.org.

About CHI

CHI (www.chionline.org) came into being 26 years ago to fill the service gap that exists for families when traditional hospice cannot support the needs of a seriously ill child. The primary difference between adult and pediatric hospice is that families often hope and pursue a cure for their seriously ill child, but under current healthcare standards, cannot access hospice services and pursue curative care concurrently.

About GMCH

George Mark Children’s House (http://www.georgemark.org) opened in the Bay Area in March 2004 to provide the best quality of care for seriously and terminally ill children and their families. GMCH offers free end-of-life, respite and transitional care to children and supports the whole family with practical, emotional and spiritual support. A pioneer in the United States, GMCH makes a difference in the lives of seriously and terminally ill children.