Augmenting Traditional Health Care Through Mutual Assistance Groups for Families

This chapter reports results of a study regarding twenty mutual assistance groups for parents of children with sickle-cell disease (SCD). Since groups for persons affected by SCD primarily serve African Americans, this information will help to increase awareness of the existence of mutual assistance groups serving this population. The chapter illustrates how the blending of traditional health care and mutual assistance groups can be an important resource for African-American families coping with chronic disease. In addition, it provides a foundation for discussion about the development of mutual assistance groups within the African-American community.