Children's Harbor
Harbor Family Center Counseling and Support · About this organization
What you get
You, your child and your other children can get free counseling from licensed staff, plus support groups, at a family center inside the children's hospital in Birmingham.
How to start
Call (205) 638-6123 or stop by the Harbor Family Center on the hospital's second floor. A doctor or nurse can also refer you.
Good to know
- Sessions can happen in your child's hospital room, in clinic, by phone or by video.
- It serves children with many serious illnesses, not only cancer.
The details, as published
Children's Harbor runs the Harbor Family Center inside Children's of Alabama in Birmingham. Its licensed counselors give free, confidential individual, couples, parent-training and family counseling to seriously ill children, parents, siblings and extended family, plus support groups. Sessions can take place at the Family Center, in the patient's hospital room, the outpatient clinic or by telehealth. All Family Center services and activities are free.
What help you may get
Mental Health Therapy
Free counseling with licensed professionals
Free, confidential individual, couples and relationship, parent-training and family counseling by licensed professionals, at the Family Center, in the hospital room, in clinic or by telehealth.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- individual counseling
- couples and relationship counseling
- parent training
- family counseling
- telehealth sessions
- Counseling is free.
Peer And Emotional Support
Support groups and family center
Support groups for people in similar circumstances, and a nonclinical family center inside the hospital where patients and families can play and unwind.
Noncash help · As Needed
Can cover
- support groups
- family center play and respite space
- Free.
Why this may help
Peer And Emotional Support: Support groups and the family center give you time with parents going through the same thing.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The Family Center serves children with serious illnesses and their families at Children's of Alabama, which includes children with B-ALL.
Age
The program does not publish an age limit.
- No age limit is printed on the pages read.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- All Family Center services and activities are free to patients and families.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
Residence coverage is not published clearly; confirm with the program.
- No residence rule is printed; the service focuses on families of Children's of Alabama patients.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: Children's of Alabama.
- Focusing on the children and families of Children’s of Alabama.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- The Harbor Family Center — Where the Family Center sits; telehealth is also offered. Not a residence rule. — Inside Children's of Alabama, 1600 6th Avenue South, Suite 200, Birmingham
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? No. A required care-team start is not published; the family can use the available route below.
Who can start: Parent Or Guardian, Physician, Healthcare Team
- Phone the counseling line or walk in to the Family Center on the hospital's second floor.
- A counselor sets up the first session in the setting that suits your family.
Ways to apply or ask
- Phone · (205) 638-6123 — Counseling and Family Center line.
- In Person · Open form or page — Walk in to the Harbor Family Center, 2nd floor (Main Street), Children's of Alabama, Monday to Friday 8:30 to 5 for counseling.
Documents to prepare
The program does not publish a document checklist. Ask before gathering paperwork.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Open |
| Funding or space | Not Applicable |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Sep 29, 2026 |
- Counseling page read 2026-09-29 lists hours and a phone line for new families.
- Counseling hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., with after-hours appointments by need.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Focused on families of children treated at Children's of Alabama.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Sep 29, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Contact Us | Children's Harbor · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Counseling | Children's Harbor · checked Sep 29, 2026
- The Harbor Family Center | Children's Harbor · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Children's Harbor - Serving Children With Serious Illnesses · checked Sep 29, 2026