Gilda’s Club Chicago
Child, Teen and Family Support · About this organization
What you get
Free support groups, Noogieland activities and family events for your child, siblings and you, plus free short-term counseling for you as caregiver.
How to start
Create a free member profile on the Gilda’s Club Chicago membership page and sign up for a one-hour virtual orientation, or email kirbyweiland@gildasclubchicago.org.
Good to know
- Your child can also get bedside yoga and meditation during oncology care at Lurie Children’s or Advocate Children’s; ask your medical staff.
- Downtown clubhouse visits can include supervised play for young children during some activities.
The details, as published
Free membership in Gilda’s Club Chicago gives children, teens and parents affected by cancer age-appropriate support groups, Noogieland activities and family social events at the Wells Street and Oak Lawn clubhouses and online, plus bedside yoga and meditation for oncology patients at Lurie Children’s and Advocate Children’s. Short-term individual counseling is free for a primary caregiver, and bereavement groups serve those who have lost someone to cancer.
What help you may get
Peer And Emotional Support
Support groups and activities for children, teens and parents
Age-appropriate support groups, social events, arts and crafts and family activities in Noogieland, parent and family support groups, and bedside yoga and meditation for oncology patients at Lurie Children’s and Advocate Children’s.
Noncash help · Recurring
Can cover
- children and teen support groups
- parent and family support groups
- Noogieland activities
- family social events
- bedside yoga and meditation
- Free.
- Nearly 300 activities a month across locations and online.
Mental Health Therapy
Free short-term individual counseling
Short-term one-on-one counseling at no charge for people living with cancer, the primary caregiver of someone with cancer, or someone who recently lost a loved one to cancer.
Noncash help
Can cover
- short-term individual counseling
- Free.
- Short-term; number of sessions not printed.
Bereavement And Memorial Support
Bereavement groups
Bereavement support groups for members who have lost a loved one to cancer, and counseling after a recent loss.
Noncash help · Recurring
Can cover
- bereavement support groups
- Free.
Why this may help
Mental Health Therapy: As your child’s main caregiver you can get free short-term one-on-one counseling.
Bereavement And Memorial Support: Bereavement groups and short-term counseling are there for you after losing someone to cancer.
Check the main eligibility rules
Diagnosis
B-ALL is in scope. Anyone affected by any cancer diagnosis can join, including children with B-ALL and their families.
Age
The program does not publish an age limit.
Treatment status
Newly Diagnosed, Active Treatment, Maintenance Treatment, Relapse Or Recurrence, Post Treatment, Survivorship, Bereavement
- Any point from diagnosis through survivorship, and those who have lost someone to cancer.
- A one-hour virtual orientation, then a Customized Membership Plan meeting, come before support groups or counseling.
- Membership and all programs are free.
Where you live and where your child is treated
Where your family lives
You must live in: Illinois; some groups and counseling are only for Illinois residents, other activities are online or at Chicagoland sites.
- Membership page: "Some support groups and individual counseling offerings are only available to those living in the state of Illinois." Other activities run at Chicagoland locations and online.
Where your child is treated
No treatment-location restriction is published.
- Membership does not depend on the treating hospital; bedside yoga runs only at Lurie Children’s and Advocate Children’s.
Where the service, camp, stay, or experience happens
- Gilda’s Club Chicago Wells Street Clubhouse — Main clubhouse with Noogieland; not a residence rule. — Downtown Chicago
- GCC Clubhouse at Advocate Christ Medical Center — Second clubhouse with Noogieland; not a residence rule. — Oak Lawn
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, Caregiver
- Create a free member profile and sign up for a one-hour virtual orientation.
- Meet one-on-one with a clinical staff member to build a Customized Membership Plan.
- Register for groups, Noogieland activities or counseling from the calendar.
Ways to apply or ask
- Web Form · Open form or page — Membership form; a Clinical Program Staff member replies.
- Email · kirbyweiland@gildasclubchicago.org — Child, teen and family programming contact.
- Phone · 312-464-9900 — Wells Street clubhouse.
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 |
- Membership form and orientation sign-up are live on the membership page.
- Orientations run several times a month.
Limitations and things to confirm
- Support groups and counseling need an orientation and a membership plan meeting first.
- Some groups and counseling are only for people living in Illinois.
Official sources
Program details were last verified Sep 29, 2026. Availability can change, so check the official program before applying.
- Contact Us - Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026
- FAQs - Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Kids, Teens & Families Support | Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Locations - Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026
- Free Cancer Support | Gilda’s Club Chicago · checked Sep 29, 2026