Family education and resources

Welcome to Cook Children's gastroenterology resources page. Here, you'll find information on everything from diet to managing your child's condition to support services.

Cook Children's gastrointestinal support group

Designed to offer support to all patients and families of patients with any gastrointestinal diagnosis except for Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis (there's a separate group for those families).

For more information, please contact our Parents as Partners team, parents@cookchildrens.org or 682-885-7123.

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Resources for you

Explore news, support, the latest information on treatments and research and so much more. All from trusted resources with a focus on kids and families.

504 Planning - for students with IBD
This template from the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation is designed to help you work closely with your child's school to ensure the student has access to necessary health care-related needs, serivces and accommodations.
American Gastroenterological Association
Patient information on conditions, procedures, diet and medication for GI patients.
Camp Oasis
The Crohn's and Colitis Foundation's annual summer camp for kids with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Child Life Specialist for the GI Clinic
Contact Brenda Sonnier, Child Life Specialist for the GI Clinic. Brenda is a Certfied Child Life Specialist who offers supportive services to patients who see our GI doctors to help prepare patients for difficult or complicated procedures. Please reach out to her directly or to your provider's nurse for additional information.
Clinical Therapist for the GI Clinic
Contact Kate Jennings, Clinical Therapist for the GI Clinic. Kate is a Licensed Professional Counselor who offers therapy and supportive services to patients who see our GI doctors. Please reach out to her directly or to your provider's nurse for additional information.
Cook Children's Gastroenterology Clinic on Facebook
Join our Facebook group and connect with us and other GI patient families at Cook Children's.
Crohn's Disease & Ulcerative Colitis: A guide for teachers and other school personnel
Looking for how to best explain IBD to your child's school personnel? This brochure helps explain things from a teacher/school point of view.
IBD Education Brochures
Provided by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, a variety of free educational brochures on basic IBD information, disease complications, diagnosing and monitoring IBD, diet and nutrition, employment and insurance, healthcare issues, kids/teens/young adults, older adults, parents and teachers, treatment and research, women and pregnancy.
IBD Emotional Factors
Provided by the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation, this information for the patient and family offers facts about emotions related to IBD plus tips on how to recognize and manage them.
Improve Care Now
A collaborative community where patients, parents, clinicians, and researchers work together to improve the health and care of children and youth with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
GI Kids
Provides easy to understand information about the treatment and management of pediatric digestive and nutritional conditions for children and parents, how they are diagnosed, the treatment and management of conditions.
Lower GI Series
Detailed handout from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explaining what a lower gastrointestinal (GI) series is, why it's needed, how it's done, even how to prepare (but be sure to follow your doctor's specific orders).
Restroom Request Card
The Restroom Request Card makes it easier to discreetly communicate your IBD condition and request access to restricted restrooms when unexpected symptoms arise. Sign up to receive an educational brochure, a Restroom Request Card, and more information.
Teens and IBD
Everything you need to know about IBD and answers to some of the most common questions and concerns that teenagers have about living with IBD.
Transitioning to Adult IBD Care
Helpful information to help teens make the transition from pediatric gastroenterology to an adult provider.
Transitioning to Adult Crohn's Care
Helpful information to help teens make the transition from pediatric gastroenterology to an adult provider.
Upper GI Video
Great video to help kids and teens (and parents too) prepare for an upper GI exam.

Complete Constipation Care Package
A great resource from GI Kids with everything you need to know about and manage your child's constipation, including a water tracker and a bowel management tool
Constipation Self-Care
A brief overview on ways to relieve constipation, from the National Institutes of Health.
Encopresis (Soiling)
What you need to know about this condition, it's causes, complications, treament and care.
Fecal Impaction
What you need to know about fecal impaction, it's causes, complications, and whent to contact the doctor.
Fiber, Diet and Constipation
Information on the importance of a high fiber diet in the management and prevention of constipation.
Stool Test
Your child's stool (feces, poop) can provide your doctor with important information about problems in the stomach, intestines and gastrointestinal system.
Toilet Training
When do you begin toilet training (or potty training) your child? How long will it take? What if there are problems? Find answers to these and other questions, plus tips for making it a less stressful experience for you and your child.
Toilet Training Video
Short video with examples and tips on toilet training.

Cook Children's Home Health
Services include feeding pumps, pediatric home care from nurses, social workers, physical, occupational and speech therapists, infusion, pharmacy support and more, with 4 locations across the state of Texas.
Digestive System
Great information on how the body digests food in the digestive (gastrointestinal) system.
Digestive System Interactive Anatomy Map
Learn all about the anatomy of digestive system with this interactive map from the National Institutes of Health. Includes multiple topics on the digestive system.
Eating, Diet and Nutrition for Constipation
Information on what kids should eat or drink if they are constipated from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
Feeding Therapy Program at Cook Children's
Our feeding therapy team has experience working with a wide variety of feeding disorders to help your child become more successful at mealtimes.
Gluten and Celiac Disease video
Everything you need to know about gluten and celiac disease in this video from the National Institutes of Health.
Managing Picky Eaters
Is your toddler a picky eater? This short video can help make mealtime happier, healthier and less stressful.

Crohn's & Community
This online community provides support for patients, parents and family members coping with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis on a daily basis. Join discussion groups, read personal stories, ask questions of experts and more.
Just Like Me IBD
Connecting teens with resources and information to help you navigate your condition at school, work and doing the things you like to do.
PATH Project
Help with understanding your child’s disability, your rights and responsibilities under IDEA, obtaining and evaluating resources and services for your child, accessing resources and fully participating as a team member with professionals in planning services for your child.
Support Groups
Cook Children's offers the GI Support Group, Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis support group, and Links of Hope