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Pediatric Oncology Social Work

The hospitalization or illness of a young family member can disrupt the family's normal routine. The child's social worker is familiar with the many kinds of stress the family experiences when a child is ill. The social worker can help identify ways to cope with issues of separation or uncertainty during this stressful time. A variety of support services and resources are offered by the Pediatric Oncology Social Work team, including:

• Assisting with finances and helping to identify specialized insurance programs
• Identifying community resources and making necessary referrals
• Planning for discharge to home or other facilities when appropriate
• Providing ongoing counseling for children, parents and family members to attend to emotional issues, including initiating referrals for continued support
• Helping with parenting issues or concerns
• Sharing information about resources and programs within the Health System and in the community.

The oncology social work team also facilitates a support group on the inpatient unit for parents. For information

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See Also:

• Childhood Cancer Survivors
  opens as a .pdf document
  
  
• Download the support group schedule -- opens as a .pdf document
  
  
• Pediatric Cancer Clinical Trials
  from the Engage web site

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University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48109

This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center