Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Case Study

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Ronald McDonald House Charities is a well-known organization with 357 houses located in over 63 countries (“What We Do”, 2016). These houses, specifically the Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City, provide places where families of any background can find support while their child, defined as a family member under the age of 21, is receiving medical treatment in the Iowa City area. Despite the many differences among the families served, they all have three common needs that the RMH meets: the need for affordable long-term housing, home-cooked meals, and emotional support. When a parent has a child in the hospital, one of the last things they want on their minds is how to pay for such basic needs as shelter and food. In order to meet these needs, the RMH of Iowa City currently has 31 rooms available to families for $15 a night, or $20 …show more content…
The most common and hurtful stereotype is that disabled or sick individuals aren’t as valuable as other humans, that they are a burden to their caregivers and society in general (Block, n.d.). Although it is true that these children’s conditions put a lot of added stress on their families, they also bring a perspective to the world that healthy people cannot. In many cases they are able to demonstrate an optimism and appreciation for life that may be taken for granted by those in good health. On the other hand, chronically ill people, especially children, are often viewed as “holy innocents endowed with special grace” (Block, n.d.). This stereotype may result in sick people receiving special attention negatively through excessive pity or positively through programs such as Make-A-Wish. Stereotypes exist because they are true for a certain subset of people. Regardless if a stereotype applies to a sick child or not, it is important that they are treated like an individual rather than a