Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp

The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp is dedicated to providing “a different kind of healing” to seriously ill children and their families.

Camp Sunshine 

Camp Sunshine in Casco, Maine is a retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Dream Day on Cape Cod

The central focus of Cape Cod’s Camp Nan-Ke-Rafe is family, fun, and respite.

Camp Rising Sun

Camp Rising Sun provides a safe and nurturing environment to kids who have faced a cancer diagnosis.

Make-A-Wish 

Make-A-Wish® grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer

Alex’s Lemonade Stand works to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.

American Brain Tumor Association

American Brain Tumor Association provides comprehensive resources that support the complex needs of brain tumor patients and caregivers, as well as the critical funding of research in the pursuit of breakthroughs in brain tumor diagnosis, treatment and care.

American Cancer Society

American Cancer Society works relentlessly to save lives and create a world with less cancer and more birthdays. Learn about specific types of childhood cancers, risk factors, early detection, diagnosis, treatment and more.

American Childhood Cancer Organization

American Childhood Cancer Organization is one of the largest grassroots, national organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with cancer and their families.

Cancer Care, Inc.

Cancer Care, Inc. provides counseling, support groups, educational workshops, publications and financial assistance to anyone affected by cancer.

Caring Bridge

Caring Bridge allows families to set up a free website that they can update with their child’s condition and progress.

Circle of Care

Circle of Care, started by three moms who met during their children’s battles with pediatric cancer, provide immediate and ongoing peer support to families of children with cancer.

Childhood Leukemia Foundation 

Childhood Leukemia Foundation offers a free wig alternative popular with young children called Hugs-U-Wear, as well as other programs to support children dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation

Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation aims to improve the treatment, quality of life and the long term outlook for children with brain and spinal cord tumors through research, support, education and advocacy to families and survivors.

CT Brain Tumor Alliance

The CT Brain Tumor Alliance helps local families in the fight against brain tumors.

Children’s Oncology Group

Children’s Oncology Group is the world’s largest organization devoted exclusively to childhood and adolescent cancer research.

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer

CureSearch for Children’s Cancer funds and supports children’s cancer research and provides information and resources to all those affected by children’s cancer.

Hair Club for Kids

Hair Club for Kids sponsored by the Hair Club provides a free wig for any child (17 and under) undergoing cancer treatment.

Lea’s Foundation

Lea’s Foundation for Leukemia Research, Inc. funds research into the causes of, and cures for, leukemia and its related cancers.  Additionally, the Foundation seeks to increase public awareness of these cancers and to provide patients and their families with limited direct financial assistance.

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society helps people touched by blood cancer. Contact the Connecticut Chapter to participate in local events supporting research, patient support and information programs.

LIVESTRONG Fertility

LIVESTRONG Fertility is dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.

LIVESTRONG Foundation

The LIVESTRONG Foundation provides free cancer support services to help people cope with the financial, emotional and practical challenges that accompany the disease.

National Brain Tumor Society

National Brain Tumor Society is committed to finding better treatments, and ultimately a cure, for people living with a brain tumor today and anyone who will be diagnosed tomorrow.

National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health

The National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health provides information on treatments, clinical trials, supportive care, literature, screenings and tests for childhood cancers. The Young People with Cancer: A Handbook for Parents is a great resource for families, siblings and friends of those facing childhood cancer.

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health

The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health conducts and supports research and provides information about pediatric complementary health products and practices.

National Children’s Cancer Society

National Children’s Cancer Society serves as a financial, emotional and educational resource for families.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation is dedicated to eradicating childhood brain tumors and providing support to families.

Reid R Sacco AYA Cancer Alliance

The Alliance provides support for leading-edge research specifically directed at finding better treatments and cures for young adult cancers.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation

St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives.

Sunshine Kids Foundation

Sunshine Kids Foundation is a national organization that provides exciting and positive group activities for children and teens with cancer.

SuperSibs! @ Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation

SuperSibs! ensures that siblings of children with cancer are honored, supported and recognized so they may face the future with strength, courage and hope.

Teen Cancer America

Teen Cancer America’s mission is to improve the experience, outcomes and survival of teens and young adults with cancer by providing facilities and programs designed especially for them in hospitals throughout the USA.

For a comprehensive list of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Resources, please visit the Adolescent and Young Adult Program

Child & Family Support Services

Our psychosocial team offers patients and family support services and includes psychologists, social workers, child life specialists, and a resource specialist. These care team members have special expertise in the social, emotional, and psychological aspects of caring for children, adolescents and young adults. Whether helping you find the information you need, providing coping strategies or introducing you to a network of support, our staff and services are available to help.

Child Life Specialists

Child Life specialists facilitate coping and use a variety of interventions to support the emotional needs of hospitalized children, adolescents, young adults as well as their siblings when appropriate. Child Life specialists prepare patients for medical procedures in an age-appropriate way and provide coping strategies throughout painful, invasive or difficult situations. They work to promote child development and provide opportunities for therapeutic play, socialization, mastery, and normalcy in a physically and emotionally safe environment.

Clinical Social Workers

Family Support includes clinical social workers who can provide support to patients and families throughout the various stages of the family’s journey, such as adjusting to a new diagnosis, treatment and survivorship. Social workers can assess a family’s psychosocial needs and provide a variety of services to enhance the quality of life for patients and their families. These can include emotional support and counseling, connecting patients and families to community resources, and assistance with navigating school and work. Learning to cope with any stressors related to one’s medical diagnosis and understanding how to expand and strengthen a network of social support are all skills social workers can provide.

Psychologists

Hematology/Oncology psychology is dedicated to the emotional, behavioral, and neurocognitive needs of patients. Our psychologists provide evidence-based interventions for psychological issues related to cancer and blood disorders from diagnosis, through treatment and survivorship. Meeting with one of our pediatric psychologists can be especially helpful when a patient’s emotional or behavioral health become acute, interfere with treatment, or limit quality of life. Neuropsychology services are also available to evaluate patients’ thinking, reasoning, and learning to determine if these areas have been impacted by their illness or cancer treatment.

Resource Specialist

Our Resource Specialist connects patients and families with hospital, local and national resources to help ease the financial burden a serious illness can create.

Registered Dietitians

Our team of pediatric registered dietitians provide a variety of clinical nutrition services to help improve children’s health. Our nutrition specialists provide care for infants, children and teens affected by a variety of medical conditions, including critical illnesses, developmental delays and food allergies.