Epilepsy Support Network of Orange County

Program night - Epilepsy expert series: every second friday of the month, our community of Support meets to offer our 10 programs. Members connect with one another and learn from our expert guest speakers who specialize in Epilepsy and other related fields from choc, hoag, uci, and other community partners. In 2023 we offered 19 successful program nights serving 3138 attendees.

Community education presentations: free community presentations for Epilepsy education to create seizure safe zones around the County. We participated in health fairs, conferences and community events for Epilepsy awareness and advocacy. Presentations include: seizure recognition and first aid, building a healthy brain, Epilepsy 101, esn programs. Program accomplishments: educated 6,123 community members through our presentations.

Intake and referral program: immediate Support provided to first time callers through individualized attention for best possible seizure and symptom control. Callers are connected to our most appropriate programs and referred to Epilepsy specialists. Program accomplishment: provided information, referrals and Support to newly diagnosed individuals with Epilepsy and those experiencing a reoccurrence of seizures to get them to local Epilepsy centers for best outcomes to 135 families.

Emotional Support groups for parents: an encouraging and uplifting Support group facilitated by a licensed, clinical psychologist who specializes in Epilepsy. Parents met monthly to discuss all areas of life affected by Epilepsy. Program accomplishments: counseled 55 parents.adult social: this monthly social group provides the opprotunity to meet other adults with Epilepsy to share experiences, answer questions and meet new friends; enables adults with Epilepsy to connect, share resources and challenges with one another as they are usually socially isolated. Program accomplishment: connected 129 adults throughout the year to meaningul relationships.friday friends club: while parents of children with Epilepsy and adults with Epilepsy attend our programs, ffc provides play and social skills time for developing friendships in a safe, accepting, playful and purposeful environment for both special needs and typical children. Siblings of affected children attend to serve as neurotypical role models. Program accomplishment: expanded lesson plans with themes, character building, enrichment activities; served 1,551 children.teen club: social skills group helping teens with Epilepsy to build self esteem, friendship skills and stay socially connected in a safe and supportive environment. Typical teens serve as peer role models to teach appropriate social behaviors. Program accomplishments: facilitated successful teen outing, served 174 teens.online Support group for parents: provided 7-days a week, 24 hour online access to parents with diverse experience in pediatric Epilepsy. Program accomplishment: newly diagnosed parents quickly connected with online support.adult educational expert series: an educational Support group for adults diagnosed with Epilepsy to learn about the most up to date information, treatments and research in the field of Epilepsy. Program accomplishment: educated 356 parent educational expert series - spanish an educational Support group for parents with a child or teen diagnosed with Epilepsy to learn about the most up to date information, treatments and research in the field of Epilepsy with spanish translation to meet the needs of our spanish speaking families in the community. Program accomplishments: expanded group; educated 88 parents.parent educational expert series: an educational Support group for parents with a child or teen diagnosed with Epilepsy to learn about the most up to date information, treatments and research in the field of Epilepsy. Program accomplishments: educated 445 parents.