About PADRE
The Pediatric-Adolescent Diabetes Research and Education (PADRE) Foundation is an independent, 501(C)(3) organization. It was founded in 1985 by a concerned parent of a child newly diagnosed with diabetes due to a lack of support services to educate families on living with Type 1 Diabetes. Over the years, PADRE has grown into Orange County’s only provider of education and support exclusively to children and adolescents who have diabetes.
From our base at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange, and also at Hoag Hospital’s Mary & Dick Allen Diabetes Center in Newport Beach, PADRE provides regional support, education, and events to help bring knowledge and normalcy to families affected by diabetes. Our families feel that the service PADRE provides is essential to their continual emotional well-being.
Diabetes Education and Support: Our programs help many low-income and vulnerable children who live with the very challenging disease of Type I Diabetes. PADRE provides over 100 classes and support groups annually to approximately 2,000 children and their parents and siblings, providing them with much-needed diabetes self-care education that goes beyond what is provided at initial diagnosis. Our programs are 100% funded through philanthropy; there is no insurance or government reimbursement.
On a monthly basis, PADRE offers specialized classes such as our Caregiver’s Class, Carbohydrate Counting Class, Insulin Shot Class and Pump Basics Class, which all assist in managing Type 1 Diabetes. Many of our classes are taught in Spanish, which enables us to address the needs of those Spanish speaking families with Type 1 Diabetes. Classes serve children and adolescents from throughout Orange County (plus other Southern California counties). They are taught by the Diabetes Team of CHOC Hospital and include Certified Diabetes Educators and Registered Dieticians, as well as physicians and psychologists. All classes are provided at no cost as more than half of those we serve are of low-income.
In addition, the PADRE Foundation hosts numerous fun activities for children and families (family retreats, annual fashion show, teen retreats, harvest carnival, Christmas party, etc). The purpose of these activities is to enable these children to have a sense of normalcy and to enable them to be side by side with their peers who do the same things that any child with diabetes must do (test their blood sugar, take shots, measure food, etc.). Acceptance of their disease along with establishing a routine is mandatory to prevent the numerous complications a child living with diabetes can face.
Our participants utilize the hospital setting less frequently which is a reflection of better diabetes management, acceptance and control. PADRE’s programs are recognized by the American Diabetes Association, and we collaborate with Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and Diabetes Camping and Educational Services Inc.
