Parents and caregivers of children with chronic health conditions are often essential members of the care team, but their own capacity is rarely supported in a structured way. SCFA™ helps fill that gap.
When caregivers are overwhelmed, burned out, or unsupported, the impact extends beyond the individual parent. Caregiver capacity affects family functioning, care coordination, treatment follow-through, child outcomes, and pressure on the health system.
SCFA™ is an online psychoeducational and peer-coaching program that helps caregivers recognize stress, regulate their nervous systems, and build sustainable self-care practices. It is designed to be accessible, practical, and realistic for families living with chronic medical demands.
SCFA™ can support hospitals, clinics, and caregiver-serving organizations by offering caregivers structured support without adding significant burden to clinical teams. The program can be adapted for different caregiver populations and integrated into care pathways, education programs, or family support services.
SCFA™ has received nearly $50,000 in non-dilutive funding from CHEO to pilot and evaluate the program with caregivers. The pilot will examine feasibility and acceptability, with the goal of building an evidence-informed model for caregiver support.
SCFA™ was created by Jen Perzow, a medical parent with 15+ years of lived experience and more than 20 years of professional experience in health policy, program development, implementation, and evaluation.