Juvenile Arthritis

What is Juvenile Arthritis?

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. read more

2013 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. read more

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. Our JA Family Fun Day held in February at Lincoln Stars Hockey was a great success! read more

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 cold pack. read more

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 LaCroix at jlacroix@arthritis.org or (515) 278-0636 to be added to our mailing list and be notified of upcoming programs.