JDRF is committed to providing meaningful social, emotional, and practical support and information about type 1 diabetes and its management to children and adults touched by the disease, and to their families.  We offer the following resources: 

• Bag of Hope - A free outreach program designed to provide information and support to families with children who have been newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.  A Bag of Hope contains a variety of educational and comforting support materials—some geared to the child, and some geared to their caregivers—the most popular of which is Rufus, the Bear with Diabetes™, but also includes a support video, children’s books, and an Accu-Chek® Blood Glucose Meter. 

• Mentorship Program – Mentor families are available to contact the newly diagnosed families to offer support.  Mentor families are those that have gone through the diagnosis themselves and have lived with diabetes for years.  All mentors go through a formal JDRF mentor training before contacting families.

• TOFUN (Type One Families United Network) – TOFUN is the JDRF family network that meets every other month.  TOFUN aims to provide social and educational events for families.  Not only are families able to receive information on living with diabetes, as well as research updates, but they can meet with other families living with type 1 and have a fun time!

• Adult Type ONEtwork – the Adult Type ONEtwork is an online forum for adults living with type 1 diabetes!  Members can join on Google™ or Facebook! 

• School Advisory Toolkit – The Toolkit is part of JDRF’s extensive program to increase the awareness of the special needs of children with type 1 diabetes in the classroom and to support parents and school administrators.  Families and schools can request a School Advisory Toolkit by contacting their local JDRF office or by visiting www.jdrf.org/satrequest to receive an electronic version.

• Online Diabetes Support Team (ODST) - An online support network made up of JDRF volunteers who have “been there” and are available to offer immediate, one-on-one advice and practical information about diabetes and its management.  Families can reach out to a volunteer by visiting www.jdrf.org.

• Life with Diabetes E-Newsletter – Published approximately eight times a year, the Life with Diabetes E-Newsletter contains important tips, Q & A with experts, and other articles to help families live well with type 1 diabetes.  Families can subscribe at www.jdrf.org by clicking on the Life with Diabetes page.   

• JDRF Kids Online - The Web site for kids with diabetes and their friends and family, available at http://kids.jdrf.org.  Kids can browse through the five "zones" for stories about kids with diabetes and lots of fun stuff. 

• Juvenation - An interactive portal for teens and young adults with type 1 diabetes, available at http://juvenation.org.  Juvenation is a social network where anyone over the age of 13 can share their thoughts, concerns and tips about living with diabetes, educate themselves about new gadgets and technologies, and just have fun meeting others who are living with the disease.  

• Countdown Magazine - Countdown offers in-depth analysis about cutting-edge research and new treatments, and also features poignant stories from some of the more than one million people who have type 1 diabetes and their families.  Families can subscribe at www.jdrf.org by visiting the Publications page.  

For more information, please contact your local JDRF Office!

Elizabeth Romero, Outreach Coordinator
Desert Southwest Chapter
(602) 224-1823
eromero@jdrf.org

Stacy Taormina, Branch Manager
Southern Arizona Branch
(520) 241- 0836
staormina@jdrf.org

Lacey Connelly, Special Events Manager
New Mexico Branch
lconnelly@jdrf.org