The Adolescent Leadership Council (TALC)

The Adolescent Leadership Council (TALC) strives to prepare teenagers for the transition to adulthood and independence by providing them with mentors they can relate to.

Living with a chronic illness can be a frightening, alienating and confusing experience, perhaps particularly so when combined with the already existing challenges of young adulthood. TALC pairs adolescents living with diseases such as asthma, diabetes, lupus, cancer and sickle cell a
nemia, together with Brown University student mentors, who are also chronically ill.

The goals of TALC are to:

• Provide a forum for teens with chronic illnesses to discuss their experiences
  
  
• Pair teens with college-age role models who are successfully transitioning to adulthood
  
  
• Decrease isolation of group members

A mural created by children in the TALC program

Gary Maslow, MD, a triple-board resident at Hasbro Children's Hospital, founded TALC in 2005. Since its inception, 20 teens, 17 parents, 14 Brown University student mentors, 6 pediatric residents, and 2 medical students have participated in TALC.  In 2005, 8 teens participated in the year-long program and reported in semi-structured interviews (before and after) that the group decreased isolation, improved the teens’ attitudes toward their illnesses, and improved their relationship with their parents. 

In order to further their mission, TALC offers a variety of summer and year-round programs and events.

Parents are an integral part of the TALC program, offering support to their children and each other through participation in the Parent Council.

TALC is a free program available to all chronically ill adolescents and their families. If you are, or know someone who is, a motivated teen with chronic illness, please contact Jennifer Shucard at 401-444-7563 or by email at talcteens@gmail.com.

For TALC news, updates and patient advice, read their latest newsletter. For more general information about TALC including a member-run blog, click here.


A large part of TALC's success is due to its faculty advisors: Diane DerMarderosian, MD, Michelle Rickerby, MD, and Rosland Vaz, MD.  The TALC program would not be possible without the essential funding provided by the Rhode Island Foundation, a charitable community trust serving the people of Rhode Island.

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