Information For Medical Professionals

How do I make a wish referral?
Healthcare providers may contact Lori Steinman, Director of Program Services, at (559) 221-9474 or lori@centralca.wish.org for a copy of our medical guidelines to determine a child's eligibility.

If you believe a child may qualify for our services, please call us.
We will be happy to take the referral over the phone or you may ask us to send you a copy of our referral form. Feel free to copy this form and keep the copies on file for all future referrals. You may then fax your referrals to our offices.

What if a child cannot communicate their wish?
If a child cannot communicate their wish, we will work closely with the family, as well as healthcare providers, to select a developmentally appropriate wish.

Does the family's financial status matter?
No, economic background does not affect whether a child is eligible for a wish.

Are some families reluctant to accept a wish because it feels like taking charity?
There are several reasons why a family might hesitate to contact us or accept a wish. A family might feel, for example, that they could grant a wish for their child themselves. We have found, however, that parents cannot find the psychological and financial resources to carry out complex plans when day-to-day life requires so much from them. This is a time for the family to let someone else "take charge." In addition, a wish often requires more than money for its implementation. A desire to meet a personal hero, or attend the Super Bowl, or be a model for Seventeen Magazine may be something that parents alone cannot facilitate.

What if a family can afford to pay for a wish themselves. If they accept this wish, will this be unfair to other, less fortunate, families?
All medically qualified children are eligible for a wish, regardless of family income. Even if a family can afford to fund the wish themselves, we seek to bring elements of surprise, magic and fun to the wish experience that many families could not achieve because of the daily stresses and emotional trauma of having a seriously ill child. We have never had to turn a wish down because of a lack of funds, and take pride in fulfilling a wish for every Central California child, regardless of race, creed or economic status.