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The experience of a serious illness can be challenging for the whole family, and it’s normal for children, parents, siblings, and other caregivers to feel a range of emotions and need support. Our experts in Pediatric Psychosocial Oncology are here to support you and your family’s emotional health as you manage cancer or another serious illness.
As a part of a child’s ongoing care, a clinical social worker or psychologist will meet with your family to get to know you and discuss what psychosocial services may be useful. You may also meet with a resource specialist regarding eligibility for resource assistance programs. Psychiatrists are available for consultation if needed.
Your family’s needs may change over time, and our team will work with you to make sure that you get the individual support you need throughout treatment.
We can help your family:
Our social workers and psychologists are on the staff of Dana-Farber's Jimmy Fund Clinic, where your child will receive outpatient care, and Boston Children's Hospital, where our pediatric cancer patients are hospitalized. These professionals work closely with your child's medical teams at both institutions, as well as with other staff members involved in caring for your child and family. They also lead regular telephone support groups for parents whose children are being treated for cancer, so they can get support from other parents facing similar challenges and learn strategies for coping from Dana-Farber social workers.
Our staff respects the privacy of your family and treats all communication with you as confidential.
In general, your written consent is required before information can be shared with anyone who is not part of your health care team. Only under certain very limited circumstances does the law require that confidential information be disclosed, including when someone is believed to be at serious risk of hurting himself/herself or another person, or when required during certain legal proceedings.
Psychosocial Oncology: 617-632-6080