Being a teenager with a chronic illness can be challenging. The symptoms of an illness, particularly pain and fatigue, can interfere with just being a normal teen. The Children’s Health and Illness Recovery Program, or CHIRP, was developed to teach teens and their family strategies to help them live as normal a life as possible while coping with the effects of their chronic illness. The skills acquired in the CHIRP intervention are life skills almost every teen can use, and these skills can be especially valuable for those working to overcome the negative effects of chronic illness. The CHIRP Teen and Family Workbook provides evidence-based activities shown to improve coping skills, stress management, communication skills, and functioning in teens with chronic medical conditions. In addition, family-based activities included in CHIRP assist teens and parents in developing more effective ways to communicate about their illness and increase teen confidence and independence in both managing their illness and their lifestyle. These skills are important building blocks to help teens move toward recovery and improve functioning and quality of life as they approach young adulthood. The skills acquired in the program also serve as a guide and motivation for continuing the gains that teens and their families make in CHIRP.
The Development and Implementation of Theory-Driven Programs Capable of Addressing Poverty-Impacted Children's Health, Mental Health, and Prevention Needs: CHAMP and CHAMP+, Evidence-Informed, Family-Based Interventions to Address HIV Risk and Care
