Circle of Care
Lifeline Emergency Funds · About this organization
What you get
Help with living expenses and treatment travel, plus possible gas or grocery gift cards. The amount isn't published. Ask.
How to start
Your social worker starts the request. Get in touch with the program team with a bill it can pay. Gather the information your hospital social worker needs to review the request.
Good to know
- Direct bill payment requires a bill the organization can pay.
- Repeat-award limits aren't published; ask before requesting help again.
The details, as published
Circle of Care’s Lifeline Emergency Funds help Connecticut families, or families treated at one of four partner hospitals, with nonmedical living and travel costs connected to a child’s cancer. The program pays an approved bill directly to the creditor and may also provide gas or grocery gift cards. A hospital social worker must sign off on every request, and the family begins by contacting Circle of Care’s program team.
What help you may get
Household Bills And Cash Assistance
Lifeline Emergency Funds — household bills and cash assistance
Circle of Care’s Lifeline Emergency Funds help Connecticut families, or families treated at one of four partner hospitals, with nonmedical living and travel costs connected to a child’s cancer. The program pays an approved bill directly to the creditor and may also provide gas or grocery gift cards. A hospital social worker must sign off on every request, and the family begins by contacting Circle of Care’s program team.
Amount not published
Can cover
- Gas
- Groceries
- Nonmedical living costs
- Other approved bills
- Travel costs
- The official page does not publish a standard amount or cap.
- The official page does not publish a repeat-award limit.
Meals And Food
Lifeline Emergency Funds — meals and food
Circle of Care’s Lifeline Emergency Funds help Connecticut families, or families treated at one of four partner hospitals, with nonmedical living and travel costs connected to a child’s cancer. The program pays an approved bill directly to the creditor and may also provide gas or grocery gift cards. A hospital social worker must sign off on every request, and the family begins by contacting Circle of Care’s program team.
Amount not published
Can cover
- Gas
- Groceries
- Nonmedical living costs
- Other approved bills
- Travel costs
- The official page does not publish a standard amount or cap.
- The official page does not publish a repeat-award limit.
Travel And Transportation
Lifeline Emergency Funds — travel and transportation
Circle of Care’s Lifeline Emergency Funds help Connecticut families, or families treated at one of four partner hospitals, with nonmedical living and travel costs connected to a child’s cancer. The program pays an approved bill directly to the creditor and may also provide gas or grocery gift cards. A hospital social worker must sign off on every request, and the family begins by contacting Circle of Care’s program team.
Amount not published
Can cover
- Gas
- Groceries
- Nonmedical living costs
- Other approved bills
- Travel costs
- The official page does not publish a standard amount or cap.
- The official page does not publish a repeat-award limit.
Why this may help
Meals And Food: Grocery costs can be paid through the emergency fund's help with everyday expenses.
Travel And Transportation: Gas and other travel costs are part of the emergency expenses considered.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. The official page describes assistance for families facing a childhood cancer diagnosis, so B-ALL in a child age 0–18 is within the published diagnosis scope.
Age
The program does not publish an age limit.
- The official page uses “child” and “childhood cancer” but publishes no numeric age limit.
Treatment status
No specific treatment status is published.
- A provider must verify the patient or diagnosis.
- A hospital social worker must sign off on every financial-assistance request.
- The program is described as emergency assistance for families facing unexpected expenses, but no formal financial-need or numeric income test is published.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: CT, MA, NY.
- One route is being a Connecticut family.
Where your child is treated
Treatment must be connected to: An alternative route is treatment at Baystate Children’s Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, or Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital..
- An alternative route is treatment at Baystate Children’s Hospital, Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital, or Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital.
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: Caregiver, Parent Or Guardian, Social Worker
- Confirm Connecticut residence or treatment at a listed partner hospital.
- Contact the Circle of Care program team.
- Provide a bill the organization can pay and ask the hospital social worker to sign off on the request.
Ways to apply or ask
- Email · 203-663-6893 · programs@thecircleofcare.org — Email the program team to discuss assistance; the hospital social worker must sign off on the request.
- Online Portal · Open form or page
Documents to prepare
- Bill for direct payment
- Hospital social-worker sign-off
- Approved bills are paid directly to creditors.
- Gas and grocery assistance may be provided as gift cards.
Availability and timing
| Program | Active |
|---|---|
| Applications | Call To Confirm |
| Funding or space | Not Published |
| Application window | Rolling |
| Last checked | Aug 23, 2026 |
- The current official program page directs families to email the program team; funding capacity is not published.
- No fixed application dates are published.
- No processing time is published.
Limitations and things to confirm
- A hospital social worker must sign off on every request.
- Direct bill payment requires a bill the organization can pay.
- The award amount, financial test, repeat-award rule, and review time are not published.
- How long does request review normally take?
- Is current assistance subject to available funds?
- What income or hardship documentation is required?
- What is the maximum amount and how often may a family receive help?
- What numeric age limit does Circle of Care use for a “child”?
- Which nonmedical bill categories are accepted or excluded?
Official sources
Program details were last verified Aug 23, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Financial Support for Families With Cancer · checked Aug 23, 2026
- Circle of Care · checked Aug 23, 2026