The HOPE Program in the Childrens Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Childrens
Hospital Los Angeles has evolved over the last 30 years and continues to create new and innovative approaches to psychosocial care. Today, our Center is an international leader in the comprehensive care of children and teens with cancer, together with their families. We provide state-of-the art medical treatment combined with compassionate psychosocial care and support, as well as making scientific discoveries in all facets of the disease and treatment focused on reducing suffering and improving quality of life.
Mission of HOPE:
To develop and coordinate a complete range of culturally sensitive psychosocial services and educational activities for young people with cancer or blood diseases, their families, professionals, and the community; and to provide leadership and coordination in psychosocial health outcomes research with this population.
Values:
Achievement of the HOPE Program mission rests on our belief in certain core values. These include:- The right of all individuals (children, adolescents, families, and survivors) to the best possible psychosocial care during and after treatment for cancer or blood diseases.
- Collaboration across healthcare disciplines involved in pediatric hematology-oncology clinical care, education and research.
- The importance of evidence based practice.
- Innovative thinking with openness to new ideas and opportunities.
- Ethical integrity in all aspects of the psychosocial health outcomes research.
- Respect for family, cultural, ethnic and racial diversity.
- Stewardship and accountability for psychosocial care.
- Education and information dissemination relative to psychosocial health outcomes.
- Respect for the past history of psychosocial care, with a focus on the future.
- Leadership that respects the wisdom of all individuals involved in psychosocial care of young people with cancer or blood diseases.
Major Services
School Transition And Re-entry (STAR) Program helps children from toddlers to late teens successfully return to school, college, and vocational programs after receiving cancer and blood disease treatment. STAR staff members serve as a link between the child or young adult, family, medical team, and school to coordinate health, social, and academic needs to help youth transition back in to a successful educational routine.Download a Brochure (PDF)
The STAR Program assists children and teen with their return to school by educating friends at school about their cancer experience. Check out a sample presentation about Timmaree, made by her parents in consultation with their STAR Coordinator.
HOPE Resource Center (HRC) provides free information, services, referrals, and innovative technology resources for health education to cancer and blood disease patients and families. By centralizing electronic and print information resources in one location, HOPE Resource Center helps guide families and staff searching for additional information and provides a Health Educator to help them understand the information they find.
Long-term Information Follow-up and Evaluation (LIFE) Program provides long-term evaluation, support, and health education for childhood cancer survivors as they become adults. LIFE program staff help young people understand, cope with, and manage late effects of childhood cancer treatments as they transition to adulthood.
Teen Impact (teenimpactprogram.com) for Adolescents and Young Adults with Cancer and Blood Diseases improves the quality of life for teens and young adults surviving cancer by providing group interventions, retreats, and recreational outings. Teen Impact provides teenaged patients a safe and therapeutic environment to discuss and receive peer based support and guidance through unique adolescent and cancer-related issues.
Psychology Program helps children and their families cope with the psychological challenges associated with surviving cancer and blood diseases. Consultation services focus on evaluating and providing therapy for parents and siblings as well as children with cancer and blood diseases since entire families are affected when a child is diagnosed.
Neuropsychology Program provides evaluation when illness or treatment has impacted a child's brain and ability to learn. Services provide crucial assistance in determining learning strengths and weaknesses.
