What Is the Kids at Heart Program?

Having a child or sibling with a congenital heart defect (CHD) can be difficult for parents, caregivers and families. At Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, we offer our heart families a chance to come together with other families and share similar experiences through our Kids at Heart Program community.

The Kids at Heart Program is a support program for parents, caregivers and families of patients with CHDs who are treated at Children's. Since 2022, the Kids at Heart Program has been sponsored by Chick-fil-A Atlanta and other gracious donors, in order to offer social, emotional, and educational support programs to help our heart families inside and outside of the hospital setting.

Events for heart families

From mentor programs to family outings, we provide social, educational and support opportunities to families year-round, including:

• Annual holiday party
• Camp Braveheart
• Cardiac Siblings Day
• Cardiac Teen Retreat
• CHD Awareness Week celebration
• CHD Awareness Week event at the Georgia State Capitol
• Dads and Kids Day Out
• Fall Festival
• Family Support Dinner
• Greater Atlanta CHD Walk
• Mom's Day Out
• Parents Night Out
• Parenting Your Heart Child Conference
• New Mom’s Support Groups
• Chick Fil A Family Events

Please find monthly events below.

Online support

After you register for the Kids at Heart Program, you will receive a monthly e-newsletter, a link to join our private Facebook group. If you are unable to attend our in-person event, our Facebook group is a great way to meet and connect with other heart families.

Family support dinners

Kids at Heart Program members and patient families in the Cardiac Acute Care Unit (CACU) and Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Children's are welcome to attend the monthly Kids at Heart Family Support Dinner. During these dinners, hospitalized cardiac patients and their families can:

• Connect with other families who have faced similar situations.
• Learn about helpful resources and information through a brief presentation.
• Enjoy dinner with the group, provided free of charge.

The dinners are held on the fourth Tuesday of each month (unless otherwise noted) at Arthur M. Blank Hospital.

Note: The Kids at Heart Family Dinner is for heart patients and families only. For more information, email kidsatheart@choa.org or call 404-785-6109.

Read our Kids at Heart patient stories

Kids at Heart is proudly supported by Chick-fil-A Atlanta.

Monthly Events

All event dates are subject to change. Information about all events and opportunities will be posted on all Heart Center units, posted in the Kids at Heart FB group and sent in a newsletter.

Feed the Heart Dinners

• Tuesdays, meals delivered to rooms between 5:15 to 6:30pm
• Inpatient families

Family Support Dinners

• The dinners are held the 4th Tuesday of the month (unless otherwise noted) at Arthur M. Blank Hospital.
• Inpatient and Outpatient families

New Mom Support Group

• Held once a month at Arthur M. Blank Hospital. Please see dates below.

2025 Calendar of Events

January

• 28: Family Support Dinner – Learn about Camp Braveheart!
• 30: Heart Mom Support Group

February

• 7-14: CHD Awareness Week – Spirit Week!
• 12: CHD Awareness at Georgia State Capitol
• 13: CHD Awareness Celebration Family Support Dinner, The Zone
• 19: Teen Heart Warriors Swim with the Gentle Giants (lottery event)
• 27: Heart Mom Support Group

March

• 1: CHD Awareness Celebration Event – Zoo Atlanta
• 9: Spring Family Camp Open House – Camp Twin lakes
• 25: Family Support Dinner
• 27: Heart Mom Support Group

April

• 22: Family Support Dinner
• 24: Heart Mom Support Group
• 26 or 27: Parents Day/Night Out

May

• 27: Family Support Dinner
• 29: Heart Mom Support Group

June

• 1-6: Camp Braveheart
• 24: Family Support Dinner
• 26: Heart Mom Support Group
• Date TBD: Heart Family Day at Chick-fil-A Support Center

July

• 19 or 20: Sibling Support Day
• 22: Family Support Dinner
• 24: Heart Mom Support Group
• Date TBD: Heart Family Day at Chick-fil-A Support Center

August

• 16 or 17: Dad and Kids Day Out
• 26: Family Support Dinner
• 28: Heart Mom Support Group

September

• 21 or 22: Mom Support Day/Mom’s Day Out
• 23: Family Support Dinner
• 25: Heart Mom Support Group

October

• 4: Fall Festival
• 28: Family Support Dinner
• 30: Heart Mom Support Group
• 24-26: Teen Retreat

November

• 8: Parenting Heart Child Conference
• 20: Heart Mom Support Group

December

• 6, 7, 13 or 14: Holiday Gathering
• 18: Heart Mom Support Group