Welcome to the Ronald McDonald House®. The purpose of the House is to provide a safe, secure, affordable, temporary home away from home for the parents or other legal guardians of children who travel to Birmingham for medical care.
At any time, up to forty-one (41) families are sharing the facility. Everyone, including staff, volunteers, guests and authorized visitors must cooperate to assure that the House is a safe and comfortable place for families to stay. Therefore, it is critical that:
- Guests (see footnotes at bottom of page)and their authorized visitors continuously adhere to both the letter and the spirit of all Ronald McDonald House policies and procedures.
- Visitors are not allowed in guest bedrooms or common areas of the House between the hours of 10pm and 7am.
- Guests and their authorized visitors conduct themselves in a manner that is wholesome, supportive of a communal, family-oriented living environment and that assures the safety and comfort of all guests.
Overall Philosophy
- The Ronald McDonald House is operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Alabama (RMHCA), a private, non-profit organization, as a temporary home-away-from-home. RMHCA retains sole discretion for granting permission for individuals to be Guests or Authorized Visitors. RMHCA representatives may cancel or restrict this permission at any time, with or without cause. Violation of House policies may lead to a warning, stay-related restrictions or immediate dismissal of all or some of the Guests in your family group.
- A guest asked to vacate the premises generally will be required to checkout by noon of the next day.
- At its sole discretion, RMHCA may determine that the well-being of the House and its guests requires that a Guest vacate the premises immediately.
- Unless otherwise agreed by RMHCA, a visitor asked to leave the premises must do so immediately.
Fire/Emergencies
- Please acquaint yourselves with the location of all exits.
- In case of fire, serious illness, injury or other true emergencies, call 911. Also, notify the front desk by dialing 7255 if you can do so safely.
- If the alarm sounds, or the staff announces an evacuation, use the nearest exit to leave the building. Please meet RMH staff in the rear parking lot, so that we can attempt to account for all guests.
- In case of a weather emergency, please follow RMH staff instructions.
Services That We Offer
- Affordable, temporary housing for families of sick children.
- Kitchen and food storage facilities for guest use.
- Frequent meals provided by community volunteers and businesses. These meals, however, are not guaranteed to be available.
- Free Laundry facilities. Detergent/Fabric Softener are available for $0.50 each.
- Scheduled transportation, provided by Children’s Health System and UAB.
- Two Nursing Nooks with an electric breast pump for nursing moms and refrigerated storage for medications/breast milk.
- Free passes to family-oriented recreational facilities.
- Emergency supplies of shampoo, soap, tooth brushes, etc.
- Cribs and emergency use of House car seats.
- Free local phone service. Please give the direct phone number to your room to family, friends, and hospital staff.
- Internet and computer access.
We Are In This Together
When things really work well the Ronald McDonald House is like a family, with everyone helping to make the House a positive, supportive, safe and loving place. Therefore, as a guest, we need to ask for your help:
- If you see something that isn’t clean or isn’t working, or if you have a suggestion for improving things, please let us know.
- Please complete your Guest Survey when you check out.
- Please complete the Guest Chore assigned to your room. (If there is a medical or other reason for not doing this chore, please let the staff know.) If you have a little extra time on your hands or have a special skill, we’d love to have you as a temporary volunteer while you are with us.
- You are required to immediately notify staff of any problems, of which you aware, that could result in safety hazards or damage to property. This includes smoking, use of drugs/alcohol, potentially dangerous behavior by Guests/Visitors, as well as maintenance problems such plugged drains, water leaks, spills, smoke, etc.
- RMHCA’s utility bills are almost $60,000 annually. Please turn off lights/water when not in use.
- Guests must close all windows when operating heat or air-conditioning. Rooms should not be cooled below 72 degrees or heated above 72 degrees.
General Guest Eligibility Guidelines
The child (patient) qualifying the family for a stay at the Ronald McDonald House must:
- Be 18 years of age or under.
- Have a verifiable permanent residence outside of Jefferson County.
- Be a biological, adoptive or official foster child of a registered guest or the child's legal custodian or guardian.
- Be receiving care at any Birmingham-area medical facility as an inpatient, or in a partial hospitalization or intensive, multi-day outpatient treatment program, or be scheduled for a next day surgery or significant invasive diagnostic procedure during the family’s stay at the House.
- During their stay, guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an approved adult.
- Not present a helath, behavioral or safety hazard to others.
Note: For a guest to share a room with a person under the age of 18, the guest must be the legal spouse (age 18 or older), custodial parent, or legal guardian/foster parent of the minor guest. Any exceptions will be considered by RMHCA only when accompanied by written permission of the minor’s parent or legal guardian.
If there are changes in who is staying in your room, as family members come and go, you must notify RMHCA staff immediately.
The child’s parents or guardian and other family members staying at the House must be actively involved in visiting the hospitalized child, generally at least once per day, or in caring for the patient or his/her siblings who are staying at the House.
Referrals to Stay at the House
A referral is required before a family can stay at the House:
- First time guests require a referral from an appropriate representative of the medical provider involved in the child’s care.
- Guests, in good standing, may self-refer for return visits within 12 months of their last referral.
Admissions Priority/Room Assignment/Occupancy
In order to serve families with the most immediate and urgent needs and to assure a positive environment for all guests, RMHCA at its sole discretion will determine:- The priority with which room requests will be filled, the duration of any guest’s stay, and the room assignment. Note: Generally, RMHCA will review guest stays at least every 21 days.
- Guests may be required to move to a different room. In case of a room change, we will try to give guests adequate advance notice, however, guests may be required to move within four (4) hours of RMHCA’s request.
Fees/Registration
Guests generally are asked to donate a nominal fee to stay at the House. This fee is $10 per night per room for nights 1 through 21 and $5/night after night 21. A $15 key deposit is requested at check-in. It will be refunded at check out if the key is returned, your room is left clean and intact, and if you comply with the check-out procedure.
- Except in true emergencies, registration is by appointment only.
- At registration, guests will be required to provide identification information/documents. This may include: a driver’s license/state ID and social security card or a visa/passport or other identification, phone number(s) and proof of permanent address. (Note: No attempt is made to validate citizenship or visa status. Documentation is required for identification purposes only.)
- A $15 card key deposit is required at check-in. It will be refunded at check out if ALL the key cards are returned, guests' room are left clean and intact, and if guests comply with the check-out procedure.
- At the time of registration, each family must have at least one family member age 13 or older who is fluent in English (or a translator) present to assist with registration. An iterpreter is available at teh House via a special telephone if an actual translator cannot be present.
- At the time of registration, you must provide an expected check-out date. If your plans change, please let us know immediately. Otherwise, we may not be able to provide you with a continued stay or we may unnecessarily turn another family away.
- If you have an automobile, you may park areas where you are provided an access card .
Continuing Use of Guest Rooms/Occupancy
- All guests must sign in at the front desk by noon each day and must advise the staff of their plans for continued use of the room. If there is a true emergency and a guest cannot personally sign in with the front desk each day, they must notify the staff by telephone at 205-212-7255 Staff will ask for a telephone number in order to call the guest back and verify the situation.
- If a guest must be absent from the House, the staff must be notified and guests must obtain approval to hold a room for longer than 24 hours. Guests are responsible for rent during any absences unless they officially check out of the House. If a guest requests to be absent from the House for greater than 24 hours, RMHCA reserves the right to ask the guest to check out and then check back in.
- Unless previous arrangements have been made with RMHCA Staff, any room that has been unoccupied for more than 24 hours may be deemed abandoned.
- If you leave or abandon items of value, such as clothing, RMHCA will try to identify and notify the owner. Abandoned personal property will be returned only after any keys and other RMHCA property is returned and after any outstanding balance has been addressed with RMHCA staff. After 30 days, RMHCA reserves the right to dispose of abandoned items.
- RMHCA has the right to re-evaluate a guest’s need for a room periodically. Guests may be required to provide proof of a current permanent residence as a condition of continued stay.
- RMHCA staff or designees may enter any room at any time for purposes of maintenance, to assure compliance with policies and procedures or for other operational purposes. Staff will knock prior to entry and will attempt not to inconvenience guests. Staff may confiscate prohibited items such as food or items that present a health or safety hazard from guest rooms.
- Although we attempt to provide a safe and secure environment, please be aware that we cannot be responsible for lost or damaged valuables left unattended in your room or anywhere on RMHCA premises. Please keep your room locked at all times.
Cleanliness, Kitchen and Housekeeping
Absolutely NO FOOD or DRINKS are allowed in the bedrooms or common areas of the House. Food and drinks are to remain in the kitchen and dining rooms or the playground/courtyard. We expect all trash to be placed in appropriate receptacles (we are not trying to be difficult, but it is the only way that we can control those agressive Alabama bugs)
Kitchen rules require all guests to:
- Wash hands with soap before using the kitchen and frequently when using raw meat/poultry, eggs, etc.
- Use disposable gloves when handling “House” food or other food that will be shared by other families. Dispose of gloves after use.
- Persons with colds, coughs, stomach flu or other infectious diseases shoud not handle community food and he/she must not use public areas such as the family room, dining rooms, children's play area, library, etc.
- Properly store and label all food, with name and date. (Labels/markers are provided in kitchen drawer.)
- Unless authorized by another guest, use ONLY your own food or “House” food.
- Use exhaust fan when using range top or broiler. Birmingham Fire Codes prohibit deep-frying (of any kind).
- Completely clean up after using the kitchen area. Wipe counters/tables. Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher. If dishwasher is full of clean dishes, please empty. Hand wash pots/pans.
- If your start the dishwasher, only use detergent made specifically for dishwashers.
- Communal refrigerators are cleaned periodically. RMHCA reserves the right to dispose of any unlabeled, out-of-date or otherwise potentially hazardous food.
- Store medications and breast milk only in the designated refrigerators on the 2nd or 3rd floors. Key cards are available at the front desk.
Health
If your child is particularly susceptible to infectious diseases (for example, transplant and chemotherapy patients), please ask your medical provider whether your child/you should stay at the House. Note: RMCHA assumes no liability for an illness or injury a guest or visitor sustains during his/her stay.
- Guests must provide requested health information prior to scheduling a room and/or registering at the House.
- Guests who have or have been exposed to diseases such as e-coli, meningitis, measles, chicken pox, skin rashes, tuberculosis, whooping cough, RSV, mumps, hepatitis, conjunctivitis, head or body lice, scabies or other illnesses that may put others at risk, must notify RMHCA prior to scheduling a stay or as soon as the guest is aware of the illness/exposure.
- Guests who suspect that they have head or body lice, fleas, scabies or similar problems must immediately notify the House staff and will be required to document proof of treatment and room cleaning measures.
- At the request of RMHCA, a guest may be required to seek medical care and provide documentation that it is appropriate for them to remain in the House.
- In the interest of health and hygiene, guests are required to maintain their rooms and communal areas in a clean and reasonably neat fashion.
- Guests must wash hands after bathroom use and before handling “House” food/kitchen utensils.
- Guests must wear shoes (slippers) and shirts in kitchen, halls and other public areas.
Safety and Security
- Policies and procedures regarding safety and security will be strictly enforced.
- In the interest of the protection and comfort of all guests, House Staff will call the police when safety or security threats arise.
An adult must supervise all guests and visitors under the age of 18. Children under the age of 13 must have direct adult supervision (in the same room with the child) at all times. (Note: While we attempt to provide a safe environment for children, this is NOT a childproof facility.) Dangerous play, including running in the House, playing on/jumping from the stairs, the throwing of hard or sharp objects or the unsupervised use of paints, clay or other materials that can damage House property is prohibited.
The following are prohibited on RMHCA premises:
- Guns, any other weapons, fireworks, alcoholic beverages, dangerous chemicals, and illegal drugs (or legal drugs for which the user does not have a legitimate prescription) are prohibited on the premises.
- Physical or verbally threatening behavior, including physical discipline of children on our premises.
- Smoking both inside and outside of the House, except in any designated smoking areas, currently outside the front door in the designated smokers hut . NO SMOKING is allowed in the House, on the playground/backyard, drop off area (17th Street side) or in front of the House (4th Ave. Side).
- Use of candles, incense, hot pots/plates, warming devices, space heaters or other flammable devices.
- Animals (except therapeutic, guide or assistance animals with prior approval).
- Propping open any door or window to the outside in a way that would allow unauthorized access.
- Admitting someone without a Guest/Visitor/Staff ID to the building.
- Opening a fire door except for emergencies. These doors will trigger alarms.
- Entertaining visitors past 10pm or before 7am in guest rooms or common areas of the House
- Duplication of Keys
If you have an automobile, you may park in the Crown parking lot across 17th Street from the House. A access card to the lot will be given to you at check-in.
Respect for Other Guests and RMHCA Property
Guests are asked to treat other guests and staff with courtesy and compassion. The following behaviors are prohibited:
- Drunken or otherwise chemically impaired behavior.
- Loud conversations, music, TV or other noise that can be heard in public areas or that may disturb others.
- Sexual behavior in public spaces, including outdoor areas and automobiles on premises.
- Verbal or other behavior that may be viewed as offensive to others because of references to religion, ethnic or racial background, sexual orientation or because of profane or sexual content, etc.
- Public use of TV, videos, internet, electronic games, etc., that contain R-rated/Youth Restricted, or other offensive content.
- Invasion of privacy through unwanted discussion of a child’s condition, a family’s personal situation or through attempts at religious proselytizing.
- Solicitation of guests, volunteers, visitors or staff for money or other goods.
- Unauthorized use or removal of, or damage to, RMHCA or another guest’s property, including food and beverages. Guest may be charged for damage to, or loss of, RMHCA property.
Check-Out
Please let us know as soon as you know your check-out date. Please follow these check-out procedures:
- Strip beds and bring towels/linens (including bedspread if soiled) to the linen bins located near the elevators on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Guests on the first floor are asked to leave their linens on the bathroom floor.
- Make bed with spread only (if clean, otherwise add to dirty linens).
- Pick up all trash from floor, beds, and furniture. Take trash to receptacle located near the exit door of the hallway behind the kitchen Put new liner in cans.
- Turn off heat or air-conditioning.
- Check that all water is off.
- Empty food, milk, and medicine from refrigerators and pantries.
- Check for any belongings under the bed, in drawers, and in the laundry.
- Clear voice mail.
- Turn off alarm clock.
- Turn out lights/lock door.
- Complete Guest Survey and note anything that needs repairing in your room.
- Return key cards and arm bands to front desk and settle any outstanding fees.
WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR STAY AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE.
IF WE CAN BE OF ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK.
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A guest is a Registered Guest who is approved to occupy a room in the House and who had been issued an arm-band or other House ID.
An authorized visitor is a relative or long-time friend or work associate of a guest, or a medical or social service provider or sponsor or translator involved with the patient/family, who has registered with and has been approved as a visitor by RMHCA representatives. Unless otherwise approved by RMHCA management, visitors are restricted to public areas of the House.
The House and any outdoors space that is part of RMHCA’s property.