CANKIDS INDIA

Social Support Teams:  CanKids is committed to building a cadre of trained people for pediatric oncology support services including social workers, data managers, dieticians, counsellors, teachers, parents and survivors. Such teams form the basis of CanKids’ Support Units.In 2012-13, CanKids started providing a full/part time teacher and full/part time counselor on the basis of at least one in each city of operation, with the objective to build up to one per CSU. In 2013-14, providing nutritionists and hygienists will be a focus in terms of build out. CanKids recruits, trains, monitors and supervises its social support teams. With this in mind, workshops are conducted at a national and regional level. Workshops are often funded by JivDaya Foundation under CanKids’ National Outreach Project. 

Parent Support Group (PSG):  Parents of children with cancer make excellent supporters and advocates. They are encouraged to join as volunteers and are trained to provide effective emotional support, patient navigation, family-focused care and patient advocacy. Reimbursements are offered to enable them to volunteer without financial burden. Over time,their work with CanKids may even become a source of livelihood. The aim is that every CSU builds up a PSG of at least 3-5 members and numerous ‘voice’ members who spread the message that Childhood Cancer is Curable.

KidsCanKonnect (KCK) is a group of teenage and young adult childhood cancer survivors, patients, siblings and friends committed to work as childhood cancer ambassadors; create awareness; advocate for better treatment standards support; improve knowledge about late effects and issues of social reintegration. They are given reimbursements to enable them to volunteer without financial burden. KCK is encouraged to have its own management body and has a steadily growing membership. The KCK team is working to expand KCK in all CSUs across India and a two year KCK Leadership Program has been initiated to nurture survivor leadership.