Adaptation to Health Care Challenges

From its inception, GUCCHD has worked with children, youth and families who with special health care challenges, crafting policy and advocacy efforts, helping develop and disseminate appropriate service and providing direct intervention and support for individuals and families.

Developmental Disabilities

The Georgetown University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities is a leader in the development of policy and systems of services and supports for individuals with developmental disabilities and has a long history of providing an array of community services and supports to the District of Columbia's most vulnerable individuals and their families. The GU-UCEDD conducts basic or applied research, evaluation and the analysis of public policy in areas that could affect individuals with developmental disabilities

Family Adaption to Cancer and Cancer Risk

We are collaborating with researchers at the Lombardi Cancer Center Pediatric Cancer Prevention and Control program who are studying the biobehavioral aspects of cancer risk. Maternal cancer disturbs normal parenting routines, increases family stress, and contributes to stress and increases in anxiety and depression among offspring. Presently, little is known about the psychosocial impact on adolescents of maternal breast cancer "previvorship"—a term describing women at high risk for developing breast cancer owing to family history and genetic status. The lifetime risk of developing breast cancer is dramatically increased in the biological children of women carrying certain genetic risk and this work is examining the long-term outcomes of adolescents learning this news on their cancer-related behaviors and cognitions, quality of life, and identity. Results will lay the groundwork for intervention with this growing population. Funded by grant R01 CA137625-01A1 from the National Cancer Institute.