The Ronald McDonald House of Connecticut in New Haven is helping parents of sick children access customized networking and grief support services with a new online kiosk. The
kiosk--which uses patented software donated by Netkey--is available to resident families of the nonprofit temporary living facility and to surrounding New Haven communities.
Parents can use the kiosk to research their child's medical condition and participate in message board and real-time chats with other parents coping with a child's illness or
loss. The kiosk is linked to the Web site of the Hygeia Foundation, an international community resource for education and support for people dealing with the illness or death of a
child. The site (http://www.hygeia.org) provides original poetry, medical information, educational and support resources and chat sessions.
Part of Hygeia's mission is to use Web-enabled kiosks to reach communities that have little or no access to its online information and services.
(NetKey, Penny Crump, 203/483-2888, ext. 276)