Welcome parents, patients, families and caregivers!
APOSW is committed to build up the emotional and physical well-being of children with cancer and their families. As pediatric oncology social workers, we know that most families are not prepared to have a child diagnosed with cancer, and that once the diagnosis is made, a family's life can change very quickly.
We hope that you will use the services provided by the pediatric oncology social worker available to you. Three important questions you might have are:
What is a social worker? What is a pediatric oncology social worker? What does a pediatric oncology social worker do?
Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with and solve issues in their everyday lives, such as family and personal problems, dealing with relationships, and adjusting to changes in the family, including illness of a member. Depending on where you live, there may be certain requirements that a person has to have to be called a social worker. Most areas require a social worker to hold a bachelor's level of education and a license.
Pediatric oncology social workers are those social workers who possess general social work knowledge, as well as the knowledge, interest and skills specific to the practice of childhood cancer. There are pediatric oncology social workers helping families in hospitals, outpatient clinics and in community agencies.
Pediatric oncology social workers can have roles that change depending on where the social worker works, whether it is in the community, outpatient clinics or in the hospital. Although many pediatric oncology social workers in hospitals, clinics and community agencies offer other services and resources, they can:
 help a child and his/her family cope from the moment of diagnosis through to the end of treatment, whether survivorship or palliative care
help everyone in the family adjust to the diagnosis and the changes created in how they live their lives
help the child patient, siblings and their parents/caregivers by providing emotional support and counseling
help the child patient and the family maintain a 'new normal' way of living
help families move through the medical system, helping bridge the connections between the family and the medical team
help school-aged patients remain active in school in order to lessen the impact of treatment on their learning progress, and their closeness with friends
help patients return to school successfully, when they are ready to return
help identify resources - emotional, supportive and/or financial - for families and children
help families and children by advocating for their needs within the hospital and community setting
Click here to access a wealth of information for parents, families and caregivers.
|
