Knowledge of sickle cell disease (SCD) is woefully lacking across the board - even among vulnerable populations. ESCAPE utilizes all possible means to increase public awareness of SCD and its impact on society. This effort includes presentations in schools, places of worship (churches, mosques, temples), and other venues. ESCAPE shares this message through podcasts, media interviews, YouTube videos, podcasts, literature, and other means of communication.

Knowing one’s sickle cell status is pivotal to any decisions a person makes and their outcomes - especially the quality of life of the children they would bring into the world. Forewarned is forearmed, and by knowing their status, individuals can determine what they and their families will experience. We direct individuals seeking to know their sickle cell status to trained professionals who treat them with respect and absolute confidence. Depending to the findings, we may set up follow-up counseling sessions.

It must be understood that the kind of counseling we offer is not clinical counseling. We counsel members of vulnerable groups at risk of having children with sickle cell disease on the toll it takes on their time, finances, emotions, and social life. We encourage couples who want to have children to consider other parenting options like adoption.

Just as it is important for individuals to know their own sickle cell status (preferably before having children) so it is to know the status of their children. If a child, unfortunately, has the disease then all stakeholders - parents, health care providers, community support workers, teachers, employers, and the community at large, must do everything in their power to give the child a chance at the best quality of life possible. This will entail putting in place all the services and support the child will need to treat and manage their condition for the rest of their lives.