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International Newsletter

  • Sign up to receive the new Pediatric Psycho-Oncology Professionals/Providers International (POPPI) Newsletter. Contact Christina Signorelli
  • Read the March 2024 issue here.

Of Special Note:

  • New funding opportunities! Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation/American Psychosocial Oncology Society Pediatric Psychosocial Standards of Care Research Grants
    Two grant types will be offered (anticipated funding one of each). Stakeholder engagement is encouraged for both, as appropriate for the proposed project. This can include the perspectives of patients, parents/caregivers, administrators, and/or payors. Each award is $10,000. Payments for stakeholder involvement should be included in the award budget. Applicants should justify if additional funds in excess of the $10,000 budget is needed for stakeholder compensation.

    1. Implementation of the Standards. These applications should focus on research that advances the implementation of any of the 15 Standards and can document improved care provided to children with cancer and their family members. The standards can be found at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pbc.25675/full

    2. The feasibility, application and utilization of the Matrix and Guidelines. This research should focus on use of the Matrix and Guidelines to implement the pediatric psychosocial Standards of care in practice. We are looking for evidence of how the Standards can be introduced into practice and/or how the Matrix and Guidelines can be applied to monitor/track changes in psychosocial practice. This may include identifying gaps in services and building new tools/resources/staffing. Quality Improvement/Improvement Science methodologies may be included. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/pbc.28586

    Eligibility:

    1. Current APOS membership and an early investigator (within 10 years of terminal degree).

    2. A research mentor must be clearly identified, and the application must document his/her involvement in the study design and execution, as well as training and mentorship.

    Expectations:

    1. Funded grant results are expected to be presented at the APOS annual meeting.

    2. Researchers are expected to publish the results of their funded grant research.

    3. Grant recipients are expected to acknowledge the Mattie Miracle Cancer Foundation (funding agency) in presentations and in publications and share a brief summary of the research for a MMCF newsletter.

    The Letter of Intent is Due May 20, 2022 (11:59 PM ET).

    Components of Letter of Intent (LOI) Proposal (400 words maximum)

    Include a brief overview of the proposed project.

    A. Abstract (400 words maximum) with purpose, aims,methods, and outcome measures

    B. Impact Statement (2 sentences) State how this project will impact the psychosocial care of pediatric oncology patients and families and/or pediatric oncology programs

    C. Innovation Statement (2 sentences) State how this project is a novel approach to childhood cancer research.

    D. Dissemination Statement (2-3 sentences) State how this work can lead to the goal of uniformity of evidence-based care (based on these Standards) for children with cancer and their families, regardless of location or size of the institution where care is provided.

    E. Identify Mentorship Team/Plan - Identify mentor(s) and describe general plan for mentorship.

    For specific questions, please contact Susanne Tomlinson or Lori Wiener.
     

  • CAR-T Road Trip: A Board Game
    CAR T Road Trip is a board game designed for children ages 8+ receiving CAR T-cell therapy to play with a healthcare provider and caregiver. The aim is to help children learn about CAR T-cell therapy in an fun, interactive, nonthreatening way in order to improve knowledge, preparation and coping. Providers interested in obtaining a copy of the game should contact Dr. Lori Wiener.
  • Research examining the impact of the Standards continues. Recently, a study that many readers of the POPPI newsletter participated in was published: https://europepmc.org/article/MED/34828757 This study examined the psychosocial interventions and services provided to children with cancer and their family members, whether there are differences in the interventions provided by age of the patient and by treatment, and barriers to psychosocial service provision. We thank each of you who participated in this study. 
     
  • Tools to Guide the Identification and Implementation of Care Consistent with the Psychosocial Standards of Care 
     
  • Cancer Caregivers is a comprehensive guide to the state of the science of cancer caregiving. It describes the characteristics and experiences of cancer caregivers based on their life stage, relationship to the patient, and ethnic group membership, as well as patients' disease and treatment type. The text highlights the significant progress in research focused on the development and dissemination of psychosocial interventions for cancer caregivers, and includes in-depth case studies to illustrate their delivery and application. It also explores the provision of support to caregivers in the community and the legal and ethical concerns faced by caregivers throughout the caregiving process. Cancer Caregivers offers both fundamental and practical information and is available from the Oxford University Press website, as well as Amazon, and is available in both print and Kindle formats.
     
  • Now available:  Bright Ideas: Problem-Solving Skills Training. Designed to help reduce the emotional distress in mothers of children recently diagnosed with cancer. 
     
  • Now available: Standards for Psychosocial Care for Children With Cancer and Their Families

Conference Abstracts:

American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS)
British Psychosocial Oncology Society (BPOS) 
International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) 
International Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP)
Maruzza Congress for Children's Palliative Care
Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP)

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.