Flagship program
The Beads of Courage® Flagship Program
What is the Beads of Courage Program?
Our flagship program is a resilience-based intervention designed to support and strengthen children and teens coping with serious illness and their families. It is the standard of care in more than 300 children’s hospitals worldwide. Through the program, children, teens and their families tell their stories of courage using colorful beads that serve as meaningful symbols honoring their courage displayed throughout their medical treatment experiences.
How does it work?
Upon enrollment each child is given the Beads of Courage bead color guide we call the Beads of Courage Bead Prescription (available from Beads of Courage, Inc). Their Beads of Courage experience begins when they are first given a length of string and beads that spell out their first name. Then, colorful beads, each representing courage during their treatment experiences are given to the child by their professional healthcare provider as determined by the Beads of Courage Bead Prescription. As beads are added to their Beads of Courage collection, children and teens can RECORD, TELL, and OWN their stories of courage.
All Program Bead Prescriptions were developed in collaboration with experts in the field (nurses, doctors, child life specialists, and social workers) so that each bead guide would reflect meaningful acknowledgment of a child or teen’s courage displayed during their treatment experiences.
Major Benefits
Ongoing evaluation of the Beads of Courage program indicates that the program helps to decrease illness-related distress, increase the use of positive coping strategies, helps people find meaning in illness, and restore a sense of self when coping with serious illness. The program also provides something tangible to use to tell about the courage displayed during treatment and after.
Looking to enroll in the Beads of Courage program?
Please look at the list of our hospital partners to see if your hospital offers the Beads of Courage program. The list also indicates which Beads of Courage program is in use at the hospitals. If you see a match, you can reach out to your care team – usually nursing, social work and/or Child Life. If you do not see a match, please check out our Beads at Home opportunity.
Are you a hospital looking to start a partnership in caring with Beads of Courage or start another Beads of Courage Flagship Progam at your facility?
We have a summary of considerations and the steps to start a new partnership or flagship program with Beads of Courage. Please contact us. We are excited to hear from you and look forward to supporting any questions you might have and beginning the process with you.
Tools, Training, and Support
Beads of Courage, Inc. provides all hospitals with the necessary program materials accompanied by education, training, and support to implement the Beads of Courage Program. This includes:
- On-site training to educate the clinical team about program implementation and the science that guided the development of this evidence-based program
- Procedure and alphabet bead collections
- Handmade one-of-a-kind treatment milestone beads
- Program literature (training manuals, the Beads of Courage® Bead Prescription, posters, and more)
- The Beads of Courage Ambassador Workshop for Reflection and Renewal
- Opportunity for continuing education credits
- Ongoing support for the staff during the longevity of the program
Would you like to sponsor a Beads of Courage program start, help sustain current programs, or sponsor a program bead or experience?
Beads of Courage, Inc., as a 501(3)(c) non-profit is grateful for all supporters of our programs and values our caring collaborations with non-profits, businesses, and private donors to provide financial support for the Beads of Courage Program at their community hospitals and across the USA. Please contact us at info@beadsofcourage.org if you have any questions or would like to be part of our caring community that makes our programs possible!
