Compass to Care wants to highlight the importance of Social Workers this month!
Pediatric oncology social workers play an essential role in cancer treatment
While doctors and nurses focus a good deal of their attention on treating the disease, it is a different member of the care team who often helps children and their families deal with the psychological, financial, and other practical issues that accompany cancer. Social Workers can assist from the time you first learn of your child’s cancer through the end of treatment and beyond.
Every hospital is different, but social workers may assist patient families with how to:
- Talk with your child about illness
- Help brothers, sisters and other family members adjust
- Pay for cancer treatment
- Apply for government benefits
- Secure housing, food, and transportation during treatment
- Help patients remain connected to school to keep up with studies as much as possible during cancer treatment and return to school successfully when it’s time
- Find community support resources in or near your hometown
Social Workers play an integral role in the lives of Compass to Care children and families every day. Social workers are able to refer children to Compass to Care to make sure the travel needs are covered for the family.
These essential professionals help families manage day-to-day challenges and are often a lifeline for families through a cancer diagnosis and its treatment. For this and so much more, we say THANK YOU to all Social Workers.
If you are a Doctor, Nurse or Social Worker and would like to refer a child and family to Compass to Care for support, find more information HERE.
To learn more about the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers click HERE.