The LANTERN Initiative

Lighting the Way to resources to support the whole family

Caring for a child with medical complexity or other serious, life-limiting illnesses is overwhelming. This can be even more challenging when the child is also living with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Day to day life includes juggling appointments, treatments, medications, household responsibilities, work, and much more in order to meet the needs of the whole family often at the expense of the caregiver’s well-being. Knowing where to begin to find the right resources and finding time to search can feel impossible, leading to feelings of isolation and stress.

The LANTERN Initiative is designed to support parents and caregivers by educating and connecting families to trusted resources and while building a community of support as no one should navigate this alone. If you are managing these challenges, or know someone who is, let the LANTERN Initiative help to light the way.

LANTERN Member Interest Form

For Pennsylvania Families

Thanks to the generosity of donors as well as strong partnerships with incredible organizations, interested Pennsylvania families are invited to become members of the LANTERN Initiative to access additional services at no cost while helping to create a community of support across the state.

Introducing Firefly*, The LANTERN Initiative’s web-based app providing:

  • Access to a digital care plan book to organize your child’s medical records, contacts, needs, wishes, and more all in one secure location
  • Ability to add family members or other caregivers to a private portal to help improve and ease communication.
  • Download and share information with the click of a button.
  • Direct access to the PPCC LANTERN team who will be working behind the scenes to upload and share the best resources or events and answer your questions via chat.
  • Access to the Firefly Forum...ask questions, share resources, build community!

*Firefly is developed and supported through partnership with Villages by Thanacare. Firefly is HIPAA-compliant and aligns with major privacy standards for sensitive data.

Additional benefits include:

  • Invitation to join the PPCC Parent Advisory Council, a working group of parents from across Pennsylvania who work with PPCC in the areas of resource creation, fundraising, outreach and advocacy.
  • Direct referrals to peer support and other community-based services
  • A hard copy of PPCC's Care Plan Book
LANTERN Member Interest Form

In partnership with

Our goal is to make a family’s journey less isolating and overwhelming by connecting them with helpful resources.

While we may not have every answer, PPCC is committed to working hard to help parents and caregivers find the support and information that’s needed.

Additional questions?

Contact krista@ppcc-pa.org

384 Fox Chapel Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15238 | Contact Betsy Hawley at: betsy@ppcc-pa.org

PPCC is not a health care provider and does not give medical advice or treatment. PPCC does not endorse or recommend any listed facilities, service providers, or support groups herein. PPCC offers the list and information as a resource only. PPCC does not pre-evaluate, or consider the Medicare/Medicaid status of the providers.

The Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition is a registered 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.  Donations are tax-deductible according to the IRS’s rules and regulations.  The official registration and financial information for PPCC may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll-free within Pennsylvania 1-800-732-0999.