Supporting the mental wellness of heart warriors, their families and caregivers is a top priority for Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation. The stress and challenges heart parents and caregivers face can have significant and lasting effects if not properly addressed.
Recent research shows that parents of children with critical congenital heart disease (CHD) are at an elevated risk for mental health problems. Up to 50% report clinically elevated symptoms of depression and/or anxiety and 80% present with clinically significant symptoms of trauma.
Ollie’s Branch is an access point to mental health specialists that support heart families (including the heart warrior and their parents, siblings, grandparents, and other primary caregivers) through therapy sessions offered at no cost to the recipient. This program continues to be available to heart families if their heart warrior is now a heart angel. Ollie’s Branch is a resource that families can continue to take advantage of throughout their – and their child’s – lifetime.

The mission of Ollie’s Branch is to offer compassionate, accessible mental health support to allow peace of mind for families and caregivers of children with or affected by pediatric heart disease.
We achieve this by wrapping families in love to create a safe space to access mental health support with dignity.
Ollie’s Branch is committed to providing FREE and trustworthy mental health support that represents every heart family and to removing barriers to treatments such as:
- Availability of resources
- Accessibility
- Finances
- Stigma

Ollie’s Branch makes space to speak one’s mind and share all of one’s heart regardless of race, color, nationality or ethnicity, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion or spirituality, language, national or social origin, ability, and socioeconomic background.
You can count on Ollie’s Branch to match you with a therapist that is experienced in trauma, loss, and resiliency. Most importantly, we will match you with a therapist that reflects your needs and preferences.
In order to ensure we are using our resources as equitably and sustainably as possible, Ollie’s Branch is currently only available to heart families whose heart warrior primarily receives or received cardiac care at a hospital where we have a current partnership. If you or your heart warrior primarily receives cardiac care at another hospital, please check out the following resources to help get you connected with a therapist:
The hearts on this map represent our hospital partners; hover over them to see their names. The green shading represents statewide therapist coverage offered through Ollie’s Branch for families who may travel to a hospital partner for cardiac care.
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI Hospital Partners:
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- Cardinal Glennon
- Mercy Kids
KANSAS CITY, KANSAS Hospital Partner:
- Children’s Mercy Kansas City
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS Hospital Partner:
- Lurie Children’s Hospital
NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA Hospital Partners:
- Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford
- Rady Children’s Hospital
CLEVELAND, OHIO Hospital Partner:
- UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS Hospital Partner:
- Boston Children’s Hospital
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA Hospital Partner:
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Our diverse community of therapists specializes in the trauma heart families face, and they create a safe forum while lessening the stigma surrounding mental health. If you would like to be matched with one of the therapists in our Ollie’s Branch community, apply here. If you are a therapist who is interested in joining our community for referrals, please email laura@theohhf.org.
We are always growing our therapist community, so please reach out even if you don’t see your state listed above. Ollie’s Branch can currently support you if you live in any of the green shaded states on the above map. If you live outside of those states, please reach out to us at olliesbranch@theohhf.org.
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“It has been so great working with the foundation. You are amazing and I love this resource for families.”
“I can’t explain how much my therapist has helped me during the most traumatic time of my life before and after losing my heart warrior”
“Much gratitude to Ollie’s family and the organization for this incredibly impactful program. I think about all the worries and frustration during my career knowing families needed help (even before they did) and not being able to do anything other than offer understanding and comments like ‘hang in there’ with a hug.”
“We are extremely pleased with the therapist set up for (my child) by Ollie’s Branch and how effortless it was for us.”
“Thank you so much for going the extra mile for me! It means more than I can express. My son is about to go in for his Fontan, and the emotions have been overwhelming.”
“The mental health program gave me the tools that I didn’t even know I needed”
“In 15 years caring for patients with critical cardiac disease, I have witnessed the enormous strain and stress this process imparts on children and their families…Ollie’s Branch helps to fill part of that gap — the Foundation’s work supplements existing hospital mental health services for families and staff alike.”
“I had my first therapy session this morning…I have never reached out for help or been able to afford it. Thank you to the Ollie Hinkle Heart Foundation for offering these services. I’m truly grateful.”
“It was so amazing working with my therapist. I never felt so relieved on things concerning my grandson, my therapist helped me out in more ways than one. I appreciate everything you all have done for me.”
“As a parent of a child born with a CHD, I know just how overwhelming this experience can be and I had no idea programs like this existed.”
“We have utilized this for a sibling & it’s been super rewarding! Highly recommend.”


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More questions than what we answered above? Reach out to our team at olliesbranch@theohhf.org.