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Patient and Family Support Program (Cancer and Blood Disorders) Meet Our Team Locations Resources for Families Contact Information Request an Apppointment     Email This Page Print This Page           Patient and Family Support Program (Cancer and Blood Disorders) The Patient and Family Support Program provides comprehensive psychosocial and mental health services for all patients treated by the Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders as well as the patient’s siblings and parents. All of the program’s services are offered free of charge, including short-term psychological counseling, thanks to generous donors. Services Research Services The multidisciplinary team of social workers, child development specialists, psychologists, art therapists, and chaplains provides a variety of therapeutic interventions and play activities as outlets for emotional expression to help families and patients cope with illness and maintain developmental progress. Bravery Endurance Achievement Determination and Strength (BEADS) Program provides patients with a necklace and alphabet beads to spell the patient’s name. Patients receive beads each time they have a procedure, treatment or life-experience, such as a birthday. Friends of Hem-Onc is a parent-led group that offers networking opportunities for parents, advice about policies and practices and support for the work of the Patient and Family Support Program. Potomac Power is an activity program for adolescents with cancer. Project Strive is an activity and mentoring program for adolescents with sickle cell disease. Queen for a Day and Heroes are programs designed to enhance the self-esteem of children and adolescents with cancer. The Queen for a Day organization sponsors activities several times a year for Children’s patients. Pain Management Program for sickle cell patients. Sickle Cell Parent Support Group. Super Campers Always is a summer camp for sickle cell patients. Teen Room is an activity room solely for inpatient teens. Tracy’s Kids Art Therapy Program, led by a full-time art therapist, is a pediatric art therapy program designed to allow young patients tell stories, share their deepest feelings, regain confidence and a sense of self, and assert control over their lives through the creative process. Recently, the program created a display of patient artwork, called “The Hero’s Journey,” to hang in the Hematology and Oncology hallway and accompany the “Hall of Heroes,” which spotlights patients who have experienced lengthy and difficult treatment for cancer, sickle cell disease, and other blood disorders. The Patient and Family Support Program team can help with a wide range of coping issues by providing: Someone to listen. Help talking with the patient in the hospital or other children at home. Help with medical tests, taking medicines, routine care, or treatment side effects. Help dealing with the changes related to diagnosis or treatment. Help clarifying information. Information about hospital procedures and services. Information about how art therapy can help the patient or siblings. Help with the back to school transition or with learning problems. Spiritual support. A friendly volunteer. Individual or family counseling. Information about resources available outside the hospital. Activities for the patient or siblings. Back to Top Research The Patient and Family Support Program strives to improve psychosocial care for children with cancer and their families by participating in several studies: Spirituality Study The study includes interviewing children between 3 and 17 years of age to develop a better understanding of what spirituality in children with cancer means. The long-term goal of the study is to provide age-appropriate spiritual care for children with cancer. It is a multi-site project initiated within the Palliative Care Committee of the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), and is funded by Tomorrow’s Children at Hackensack University in New Jersey. Survey of Bereaved Parents This survey is designed to improve family-centered care for patients with life-threatening illnesses by obtaining feedback from bereaved parents to share with Children’s team and other pediatric palliative care providers. The study is partially funded by the Children’s Board of Visitors. Survey of Pediatric Oncology Treatment Centers This web-based study in cooperation with the Behavioral Sciences Committee of COG documents psychosocial services offered to patients and families within the first 30 days of a cancer diagnosis at COG institutions. The goals of the study include documenting: The scope of psychosocial services currently offered. The degree to which services are integrated within the centers. The degree to which staff are involved in research and evidence-based practice. Sources of funding for staff. Relationships among size of center and these other variables. Back to Top