Circle Of Care For Families With Cancer

CIRCLE OF CARE PROVIDES IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING EMOTIONAL, PSYCHOSOCIAL, AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO FAMILIES WHEN THEY HAVE A CHILD OR YOUNG ADULT DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER.

OUR UNIQUE COMBINATION OF PROGRAMS ADDRESS THE NON-MEDICAL NEEDS OF CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS, AND YOUNG ADULTS WITH CANCER, INCLUDING: BAGS OF LOVE: OUR CANVAS TOTES ARE DELIVERED AT THE HOSPITAL THE DAY OF DIAGNOSIS. EACH BAG INCLUDES PERSONAL CARE ITEMS, A FUZZY BLANKET AND PILLOWCASE, COMFORT ITEMS, AND OUR RESOURCE DIRECTORY, THE PURPLE PAGES. EMERGENCY FUND:HELPS FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL CRISIS MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS (RENT,OR MORTGAGE PAYMENTS, UTILITY PAYMENTS, FOOD, GASOLINE) PROVIDING SMALL RELIEF FROM THE FINANCIAL BURDENS ASSOCIATED WITH CANCER TREATMENT. A CANCER DIAGNOSIS IS ONE OF THE MOST DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE EXPERIENCES A FAMILY WILL FACE WITH THE AVERAGE COST FOR A PEDIATRIC CANCER CASE AT $833,000 AND TREATMENTS LASTING FROM 2-3 YEARS. TOO OFTEN, PARENTS MUST REDUCE THE HOURS THEY WORK OR STOP WORKING ALTOGETHER, TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SICK CHILD AND SEE THEM THROUGH THEIR CANCER TREATMENT. LIFELINE PARENT COMMUNITY: A SUPPORT NETWORK CONNECTING NEWLY DIAGNOSED FAMILIES TO PAST CIRCLE OF CARE FAMILIES. MATCHES ARE MADE BY AGE AND DIAGNOSIS, WHICH FOSTERS A DEEP AND VALUABLE UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT'S LIKE TO WATCH YOUR CHILD GO THROUGH CANCER. HOSPITAL VOLUNTEER PROGRAM: OUR SPECIALLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE WELCOME DIVERSIONS AND RESPITE DURING LONG HOURS OF TREATMENT. PROVIDING MORE THAN 2,500 SERVICE HOURS EACH YEAR LEADING CRAFT ACTIVITIES, READING STORIES, OR SIMPLY LENDING A SYMPATHETIC EAR. ART FROM THE HEART: VOLUNTEER DESIGNERS WORK WITH TEAMS TO TRANSFORM A CANCER PATIENT'S ROOM AT HOME INTO A PERSONAL WONDERLAND. WHEN LIFE IS CONTROLLED BY CLINICAL CARE, HAVING THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE DECISIONS AND CREATE YOUR OWN SPACE IS INVALUABLE. THIS PROVIDES AN ENORMOUS EMOTIONAL BOOST TO PATIENTS, SIBLINGS,AND FAMILIES, GIVING THEM SOMETHING TO LOOK FORWARD TO AS THEY ENDURE LENGTHY TREATMENTS. THE JOY EXPERIENCED FROM THIS PROGRAM REMAINS LONG AFTER THE TEAM COMPLETES THE ROOM. AYA: ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS, INDIVIDUALS BETWEEN THE AGES OF 15 AND 26, ARE A UNIQUE GROUP: TOO MATURE FOR MANY OF THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED AT THE HOSPITALS AND CLINICS, AND TOO YOUNG TO FIT IN WITH THE ADULT POPULATION IN TREATMENT FOR CANCER. IN RESPONSE TO GREAT DEMAND, CIRCLE OF CARE HAS DEVELOPED PROGRAMMING SPECIFICALLY FOR AYA'S TO PROVIDE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT WHERE THEY CAN HAVE FUN, CONNECT WITH OTHERS WHO ARE FACING SIMILAR ISSUES AND PARTICIPATE IN THE DESIGN OF THIER OWN ADVENTURES.