The article is devoted to the study of the features of socio-psychological adaptation of parents of seriously ill children. In the course of an empirical study, features of the emotional response of parents to the action of acute stress of the message of the child’s diagnosis were revealed. Extreme, crisis situations imply intensive use of a large number of various resources. During the first period of acceptance of the child’s diagnosis, systemic changes occur in the lives of parents, which can cause a decrease or loss of their personal and labor potential. The features of socio-psychological adaptation and coping strategy of parents are studied. It is revealed that most parents have a low and extremely low level of socio-psychological adaptation, do not have internal reserves for independent control of the situation, choose ineffective coping strategies, pinning hopes on outside help. Without a special program of psychological and pedagogical assistance, parents of seriously ill children will not be able to provide adequate emotional support to their children. The necessity of creating a state program of assistance to this category of the population of the Russian Federation is proved.