Educational and Social
Programs & Events
Signature Events
Our Programs
The Hemophilia Association of the Capital Area offers a variety of programs for its members. There are no registration fees to attend any program listed on this page, except a reservation fee for summer camp. Reservations are required to attend; see the Calendar of Events for details on specific events. Contact admin@hacacares.org for more information.
Email updates
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Retreats
HACA currently offers one retreat for adults of the chapter 18 and up:
- Women’s Retreat – Takes place each September at Meadowkirk at Delta Farm in Middleburg, VA. This event has limited space and is open to all women of the chapter.
Chapter Education Day
Each year in March, HACA provides a daylong education program on a variety of topics with two tracks: one for adults with a bleeding disorder and their family members; and another for parents of children with a bleeding disorder. We also provide a teen track, kids track, and childcare for children ages 6 and under. See HACA’s bi-weekly update for registration information.
Infusion Education
HACA partners with both hemophilia treatment centers – Children’s National Hospital and Georgetown University Hospital – to offer infusion training programs.
HACA and Children’s are providing in-person infusion and injection education sessions twice a year. Look for more details in the HACA bi-weekly update or the Events page.
HACA and Georgetown work together to offer virtual infusion training for adults patients and their caregivers. The one hour, one-on-one sessions are scheduled through the HTC, and the Zoom is hosted by HACA. If you are a patient at Georgetown and interested in infusion education, email Michelle Cha at mjc329@georgetown.edu; if you do not attend the HTC but are interested, email Brenda Bordelon at director@hacacares.org.
Von Willebrand Disease Education
HACA offers two opportunities for education for people with von Willebrand disease each year. We team up with one of our industry partners for an educational dinner or lunch in the winter. In the summer, we have a vWD education event that features two educational sessions.
Familia de Sangre Unida – Programming for Spanish-Speaking Members
Each year in November, HACA offers a day of education for its Spanish-speaking members. The event includes two sessions on topics relevant to the members, completely in Spanish, as well as Spanish-speaking representatives from event sponsors who can answer questions on products and services.
HACA will also be offering interpretation services at select educational events for Spanish-speaking members.
Summer Camp and Family Camp
HACA and the Virginia Hemophilia Foundation work together to provide both a family camp session and a summer camp experience for kids with a bleeding disorder and their siblings that live in Virginia or HACA’s coverage area.
Camp Youngblood is a weeklong summer camp for kids ages 7-17 that takes place at Camp Holiday Trails in Charlottesville, VA, usually in July. We are planning to return to a weeklong camp in 2023. Look for more details in the early part of the year.
Family camp is open to families with children age 5 and up and takes place over a weekend at Camp Holiday Trails.
Social Events
HACA holds two events each year that are created primarily for networking and socializing for all members: the chapter picnic and the holiday gathering. The picnic takes place during August, and the holiday event in December. The picnic takes place at local parks, and the holiday event at community centers. The holiday event includes a visit from Santa and gifts for the children.
Support Groups
Families Support Group
HACA currently offers two types of support for family members of a child with a bleeding disorder. The chapter hosts three gatherings each year for networking and education for families with a child 10 years of age or younger that has a bleeding disorder. HACA also works with the Children’s National Hospital Hemophilia Treatment Center for a monthly support group facilitated by social worker Marissa Zanno (currently via Zoom) for family members of children of any age with a bleeding disorder.
Men’s Group
These events take place twice a year, and are open to all men of the chapter, those with a bleeding disorder, as well as spouses, partners and fathers. One event will be a networking and social event, while the other will have an educational component.
Women’s Support Group
The group is open to all women in the bleeding disorders community (whether they have hemophilia, are a carrier, or are not affected but have a family member with a bleeding disorder). Like other support groups, there is a mix of education and social activities, and they meet two or three times each year.
