Children's Health Foundation
Emergency Assistance Program · About this organization
What you get
Usually $300, generally up to $500 for baby supplies, prescribed food, child-item gift cards, dental care or medical travel; up to $800 for adaptive equipment and $250 for burial or cremation.
How to start
Your care team or another qualified professional makes the referral. Give them your medical and financial details, other funding attempts, and the vendor quote.
Good to know
- One lifetime award across all categories; no reimbursement for past purchases.
- Other available assistance must be tried first. Awards are discretionary.
The details, as published
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
What help you may get
Bereavement And Memorial Support
Emergency Assistance Program — bereavement and memorial support
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Emergency Assistance Program — household bills and cash assistance
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
Meals And Food
Emergency Assistance Program — meals and food
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
Medical And Insurance Costs
Emergency Assistance Program — medical and insurance costs
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
Practical Items And Home Help
Emergency Assistance Program — practical items and home help
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
Travel And Transportation
Emergency Assistance Program — travel and transportation
A qualified professional may request future diagnosis-related transportation, prescribed food, child-specific basic supplies, adaptive equipment, or uninsured dental treatment. CHF usually awards about $300 and generally not more than $500, with adaptive equipment up to $800, purchases items or pays vendors directly, and allows one lifetime EAP award per eligible child.
Up to $500 · One Time
Can cover
- Adaptive equipment
- Diapers, formula, special car seats, bassinets, and supportive equipment
- Gas cards or rideshare to medical appointments
- Limited burial or cremation support
- Prescribed special food or supplements
- Retailer gift cards for child-specific items
- Uninsured dental treatment
Does not cover
- Cash distributions
- General family support
- Home renovations or modifications
- Orthodontics
- Reimbursement for past expenses
- Rent
- Utilities
- Average assistance is $300 and generally does not exceed $500; adaptive equipment may be considered up to $800, and limited burial/cremation support up to $250.
- One lifetime assistance award per eligible child.
- The published monetary limit is shared across the listed benefit components.
Why this may help
Bereavement And Memorial Support: Limited burial or cremation help is included among the emergency expenses.
Meals And Food: Prescribed food and child-item gift cards can meet some food needs within the broader assistance.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. A pediatric B-ALL-related request can qualify when all diagnosis, residence, financial, last-resort, and referral rules are met.
Age
Age 0 to age 17, measured at application.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- A licensed social worker, medical professional, therapist, school counselor, or similarly qualified professional must generate the application.
Financial need is required.
- Applicants may instead meet the financial route through current Medi-Cal, CCS, or WIC enrollment; Tricare families must also be Medi-Cal eligible.
- Only one lifetime award is available per child.
- The program is a funder of last resort and requires documentation of attempts to obtain other public and private help.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Published program service area in US-CA.
- The child and custodial parent or guardian must reside permanently or indefinitely in San Diego or Imperial County.
- The source-backed service area is San Diego and Imperial Counties. California is confirmed, but this must remain a county-level result rather than a statewide program.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
How to get started
Does a social worker or care team need to start it? Yes. Ask your child’s social worker or care team to begin the request.
Who can start: Healthcare Team, Social Worker
- Ask a qualified professional working with the child to make the referral.
- CHF reviews and, if approved, purchases the item or pays the vendor directly.
- Document the medical need, household finances, other funding attempts, and proposed future purchase.
- Parent asks a qualified professional working with the family.
- Professional documents diagnosis, request, health impact, exhausted resources, amount, vendor, and contact details.
- Upload treatment or support letters, denial letters, and a vendor quote when applicable.
Ways to apply or ask
- Online Portal · Open form or page — The portal requires the qualified professional to create or use an account before viewing the application.
Documents to prepare
- Other-funder denial letter or funding-attempt information
- Treatment plan or medical support letter
- Vendor quote, item description, item number, tax, and shipping details when applicable
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Not Published |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 24, 2026 |
- Form updated May 2026; funding and award remain discretionary.
- The official page presents intake as available year-round.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Awards are discretionary.
- One lifetime EAP award is shared across all EAP categories.
- Only future services or supplies; no reimbursement.
- Other available assistance must be pursued before ordinary requests.
- What FPL year, current funding, review time, and non-dental required documents apply?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 24, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Emergency Assistance Program | Children’s Health Foundation · checked Aug 27, 2026
- Emergency assistance program · checked Aug 27, 2026