Informational, Support and Financial Assistance Groups and Organizations
Canada
- Ability Online Support Network
- The Ability Online Support Network provides a free Internet community for young people with disabilities, parents, and family members to find support through peer interactions.
- Canadian Cancer Society
- 55 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 300, Toronto, ON Canada M4V 2Y7
- (416) 961-7223
- 565 W. 10th Avenue, Vancouver, BC Canada V5Z 4J4
- (800) 663-2524 or (604) 872-4400
- Provides some of the same services as the US Cancer Society.
- Childhood Cancer Foundation Canada
- 21 St. Clair Avenue East, Suite 801, Toronto, ON Canada M4P 1G8
- (800) 363-1062 (Canada only) or (416) 489-6440
- Childhood Cancer Foundation Canada provides assistance through a benevolent fund, a support group infrastructure fund, and a national teen network among other services.
United States
- Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)
- 333 E. Lancaster Ave., #414, Wynnewood, PA 19096
- (610) 649-3034
- ALSF provides a free Treatment Journal; an Answer Center; and The Travel Fund program which provides transportation, lodging and meal accommodations for families traveling to 20 major cancer institutions
- American Cancer Society
- 250 Williams Street NW, Atlanta, GA 30303
- (800) ACS-2345
- Has a national network of employees and volunteers who implement research, education, and patient service programs. Although programs differ according to state and province, some widely available programs are patient-to-patient visitation, transportation to appointments, housing near treatment centers, equipment and supplies, support groups, literature on a large variety of topics, summer camps for children with cancer, research and educational programs.
- American Childhood Cancer Organization (previously Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation)
- 10920 Connecticut Avenue, Suite A, Kensington, MD 20895
- (855) 858-2226
- Free services include a yearly bibliography and resource guide, quarterly newsletter, and various handbooks to help families of children with cancer. The organization provides information and support to children and adolescents with cancer and their families, leadership through advocacy and awareness, and research support leading to a cure.
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Patient Information Website
- The ASCO website has oncologist-approved information on more than 120 types of cancer and cancer-related syndromes.
- Association of Cancer Online Resources
- ACOR offers information and e-support groups to patients, caregivers, or anyone looking for answers and support related to cancer. The ACOR website has descriptions of diseases and treatments with links to information. Additionally, ACOR hosts pediatric discussion groups.
- CancerCare
- CancerCare is a national non-profit organization whose mission is to provide free professional help to people with all cancers through counseling, education, information and referral and direct financial assistance.
- Caring Bridge
- Caring Bridge is a user-friendly site that allows parents to create a free Web page about their child and keep a virtual diary about their experiences. It can be updated at any time and friends and family can access it from any Web browser.
- Chai Lifeline
- Chai Lifeline believes that seriously ill children (including children with cancer) need and deserve as happy and normal a childhood as possible. Their programs include: Camp Simcha, professional case management, learning programs, family retreats, insurance support service, wish granting, sibling support, and community services such as volunteer training. Families are invited to contact Chai Lifeline at 1-877-CHAI-LIFE or email info@chailifeline.org for more information.
- Compassionate Friends
- The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to assist families toward the positive resolution of grief following the death of a child of any age and to provide information to help others be supportive. Compassionate Friends is a national organization offering monthly support groups for parents, siblings, and/or grandparents through a network of more than 625 chapters with locations in all 50 states, as well as Washington DC and Puerto Rico. Quarterly newsletter and pamphlets published.
- CureSearch
- CureSearch for Children’s Cancer funds the Children’s Oncology Group, the world’s largest children’s cancer research collaborative. With more than 210 member hospitals and 6,500 medical professionals, the Children’s Oncology Group provides global expertise and resources for families.
- Families of Children with Cancer
- Families of Children with Cancer is run by volunteers who provide education, support, and advocacy to other families that are in treatment, out of treatment, or bereaved.
- Friends of Karen
- 118 Titicus Road, North Salem, NY 10560
- (914) 277-4547
- 21 Perry Street, Port Jefferson, NY 11777
- (601) 473-1768
- 116 E. 16th Street, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10003
- (212) 308-1378
- Friends of Karen’s mission is to provide emotional, financial, and advocacy support for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, in order to help keep them stable, functioning, and able to cope.
- Friends of Karen serves children from birth to 21 years of age who are diagnosed with cancer or any life-threatening illness, U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, and who live in the New York metropolitan area. See the Guidelines for Family Assistance page for more details.
- GriefNet
- A large site for parents and children which specializes in email support groups where peers provide support while also being monitored by a trained therapist and psychiatrist.
- Imerman Angels
- Imerman Angels is a federally registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization that provides one-on-one cancer support, connecting cancer fighters, survivors, and caregivers. Imerman Angels partners a person fighting cancer with someone who has beaten the same type of cancer and offers the fighter a unique chance to ask person questions and get support from someone familiar with their experience.
- Lotsa Helping Hands
- Lotsa Helping Hands allows you to create a free, private, Web-based community to organize family, friends, neighbors and colleagues during times of need. You can coordinate activities and manage volunteers with a group calendar, and communicate and share information using announcements, message board and photos.
- MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
- Julie J. Gordon, 150 Cluster Court, Green Bay, WI 54301-1243
- MUMS is a national organization that aims to connect parents or caregivers of children with disabilities or health conditions together to form a network of education and support
- National Cancer Institute, Pediatric Oncology Branch, NIH
- Lists active treatment protocols for a variety of pediatric malignancies. Has a 22-bed Inpatient unit and extensive outpatient services. Children with newly diagnosed or recurrent malignancies may be eligible for treatments.
- The National Children's Cancer Society
- 500 North Broadway, Suite 600, St. Louis, MO 63102
- (314) 241-1600 (telephone) or 1-800-FAMILY
- (314) 241-1996 (fax)
- The National Children's Cancer Society helps children with cancer and their families by providing financial assistance, advocacy, education, and emotional support.
- National Family Caregivers Association
- The National Family Caregivers Association educates, supports, and empowers caregivers of persons with chronic illnesses or disabilities.
- NYU Cancer Institute: Straight Talk to Kids (How to Talk to Your Children about Cancer)
- The Never-Ending Squirrel Tale
- This website provides practical tips and encouragement for the parents of kids with cancer.
- The Wellness Community (Gilda’s Club)
- Onco Link
- OncoLink offers a variety of cancer-related information, including articles and writings by patients and their families. The site also has a children’s art gallery.
- Starlight Starbright
- Starlight Starbrigh thelps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities. Not cancer-specific. Good sections for teens (See Starlight Starbright Support on the teens page)
DISCLAIMER - While we tried to include potentially useful resources, this website is not exhaustive. New and additional resources may be available. Please let us know if there is a resource you would like to be included.