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Juvenile Arthritis
Contact Us
Fax: 402-330-6167
Toll-free: 800-642-5292
Welcome to Nebraska
Juvenile Arthritis Resources
Juvenile Arthritis (JA) refers to any form of arthritis or an arthritis-related condition that develops in children or teenagers who are less than 18 years of age.
Impact of Juvenile Arthritis
- Approximately 294,000 children under the age 18 are affected by pediatric arthritis and rheumatologic conditions.
- State prevalence numbers for pediatric arthritis and rheumatologic conditions are available in the "Prevalence of and Annual Ambulatory Health Care Visits for Pediatric Arthritis and Other Rheumatologic Conditions in the US in 2001-2004."
- Ambulatory care visits for pediatric arthritis and rheumatologic conditions averaged 827,000 annually.
- Juvenile arthritis is one of the most common childhood diseases in the United States.
- Arthritis and related conditions, such as juvenile arthritis, cost the U.S. economy nearly $128 billion per year in medical care and indirect expenses, including lost wages and productivity.
Camp Spirit
A week long experience where girls and boys with juvenile arthritis, ages 8-15, can enjoy lots of camp activities in a safe and fun environment at a pace that is comfortable to each child’s individual needs. Camp Spirit provides the opportunity for children living with JA to be with others who have the same challenges while having fun in a supportive camp environment. Activities are plentiful: there is tower climbing, horseback riding, crafts, campfires and teambuilding to mention a few. There are also rest periods and of course an amazing team of healthcare professionals and volunteers will be onsite to assist in making a safe and fun week for your child. Campers stay in temperature controlled lodges and all activities and accommodations are accessible by foot, wheelchair and van. Staff for the week long session includes Arthritis Foundation staff, volunteers and medical professionals who are selected based on their experience in working with kids with chronic diseases. For more information visit www.camp-spirit.org.
The camp is held at Camp Kitaki in Louisville, NE. Scholarships are available based on financial need, applications will be available at the time of registration.
For more information contact:
Jessica Johnson
jjohnson@arthritis.org
(515) 278-0636
First Time Camper? If you or your child would like to know more before they head off to their first overnight camp there is a visit option! Family Days at Camp Kitaki are a great way to get acquainted with camp, tour the facilities, & take part in some of the camp activities! 2012 Family Days May 13th or May 20th 2012 Family Weekend September 1st-3rd To inquire about please contact Jessica at 515-278-0636 or jjohnson@arthritis.or
JA Family Fun Day
This event is a half-day event for kids with arthritis and related conditions. The whole family is invited to come meet other families going through similar challenges, share stories, learn more about arthritis and to have fun! Parents will have an opportunity to gather for a networking session about juvenile arthritis issues, while the kids take part in volunteer led activities! Lunch is included.
JA Conference
2012 JA Conference - July 19-22 in St. Louis, Missouri. Details at: http://www.arthritis.org/ja-conference-2012.php
Kids In Control KITS (KICKITS)
The Arthritis Foundation, Heartland Region is offering FREE survival kits to children who have been diagnosed by a doctor with a form of juvenile arthritis. The KICKIT (Kids In Control KIT) is designed to help your child learn how to take control of their arthritis by providing educational information, a health journal, a book for mom and dad, a book for the child and a heat and cold pack made by HOTPAK HUGGIES.
The KIT is free, however, if you are able, a voluntary donation is appreciated so that we can provide KITS to more kids. Donations may be made at the bottom of the registration form. Thank you for your support of Juvenile Arthritis Programs.
JA Scholarships
Heading off to college can be an awfully stressful time in your life. Not only must you find the right school, but things get even more stressful trying to find the money to pay for it. Financial aid – be it grants, loans or work-study programs – is available through federal and state programs or individual schools. But one of the first things you should consider is applying for scholarships. After all, it’s FREE MONEY!
There are many different qualities that can make you eligible for a scholarship – your race, your gender, your course of study. The list goes on and on. One thing that makes you uniquely qualified for some scholarships is the fact that you have arthritis or a related disease. Although there aren’t many scholarships specifically for kids with arthritis, there are quite a few for students with disabilities in general. Also, once you’ve narrowed down your search for schools, be sure to look into specific scholarships offered by the colleges themselves. What ever you do, don’t give up. There is money out there for you.
Check out the following list to see if any of these scholarships sound right for you.
The Arthritis Foundation offers a number of programs for children and families living with JA. We hope that you will consider joining us at some of these events throughout the year. Please contact Jessica Johnson at jjohnson@arthritis.org or (515) 278-0636 to be added to our mailing list and be notified of upcoming programs.
Kids Get Arthritis Too
Visit our "Kids Get Arthritis Too" website
