KITES (back to top)
The K.I.T.E.S. (Kids Introduction to Enrichment Services) program is commonly called "love bundles". Backpacks are presented to newly diagnosed children and their families filled with resources, information and distraction and play items selected specially for the child to help make a clinic visit or hospital stay not so scary.
The K.I.T.E.S. program is intended to alleviate some of the initial anxiety experienced by newly diagnosed patients and families.
Through the K.I.T.E.S. program, a Children's Cancer Center representative meets with newly diagnosed patients and their families to introduce them to the Center's services and help answer questions.
A key element of the K.I.T.E.S. program is "Cancer in the Classroom". At the request of families, the Children's Cancer Center provides age-appropriate in-services to a child's class, church or other group. This component is available to families at any phase of the child's illness.
PTEEN GROUP (back to top)
This program provides peer support and recreational opportunities to a unique and often overlooked population - teenagers.
The Children's Cancer Center understands that teens facing life-threatening illnesses must deal with issues unique to adolescents. At a time when most teens are looking forward to their futures, these kids are dealing with uncertainty. The Children's Cancer Center also understands that teens are often a displaced group: too old to benefit from children's programs, yet too young to participate in adult programs.
For this reason, the Children's Cancer Center formed a program targeted to teens. The teens come together monthly in an environment where they can discuss their feelings in a non-threatening and non-judgmental environment while building relationships with teens facing similar issues.
BIG BUDDY (back to top)
The Big Buddy Mentoring Program pairs second year medical students with brothers and sisters of patients for one medical school year.
The Big Buddy Mentoring Program is designed to accomplish three main goals:
- To provide a hands-on volunteer experience for second-year medical students and educate them, outside of the classroom, about how an illness affects the entire family.
- To give the siblings, who must also cope with the issues surrounding their brother or sister's illness, special one-on-one time and attention.
- To give parents support by providing an outlet for their children.
The Big Buddy Program kicks off each September (the start of the medical school year) with an orientation meeting for the medical students. After buddies are matched, the medical students meet their little buddies at a kick-off party where the whole family is invited. From November to April, the pairs of buddies get together on a monthly basis for special outings of their choice. In the past, these have included horseback riding, hockey games, movies, pizza dinners and picnics in the park. The Children's Cancer Center provides the buddies with a stipend to cover the outing expenses. With the conclusion of the medical school year in May, the Children's Cancer Center hosts an end-of-the-year trip to a local theme park.
The Big Buddy Program was started in 1987 with University of South Florida Medical School students and the young patients at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. The program is popular among the families because it provides support with little effort from parents who are already burdened with their child's treatment, and as with all Children's Cancer Center programs, it is completely free for participants.
KANGA KREWE (back to top)
The Children's Cancer Center, in an effort to educate the children with sickle cell disease, the family, the school, and the community, developed the Hop To It Kanga Krewe Program. The program includes Mr. McDaniel's Classroom tutoring program, sib shops, support group and Kanga Camp.
Sickle cell disease:
- is the most common inherited blood disorder in the United States
- affects about 72,000 Americans or 1 in 400 African Americans
- affects approximately 2 million Americans who carry the trait
- has no cure
- is detected through a blood test at birth - currently 40 states perform the test as part of their mandatory newborn screening. Florida is a state with mandatory testing.
The program strives to give children more control over their illness by educating them about their disease and emphasizing the importance of school attendance and achievement. Our mascot is a kangaroo named Dr. Tickle Sickle. A kangaroo was picked because kangaroos only hop forward.
The following activities are offered as part of our sickle cell outreach:
- Mr. McDaniel's Classroom: A tutoring program started by retired Tampa Bay Buccaneer player Randall McDaniel and his wife Marianne it is held every Tuesday at the Center from 6:00-8:00 p.m. for sickle cell patients in kindergarten through fifth grade. Participants are matched with a tutor for the school year and work on homework and special projects.
Through good grades, attendance, citizenship and participation in activities at the Center, tutoring participants earn "Kanga Cash" to spend in the Kanga Corner store.
- Family Support Nights: At monthly family support nights, families are invited for the evening. While the tutored children resume their normal routine, siblings gather for a special sib shop and parents meet for support.
- Kanga Camp: A weekly summer day camp called Kanga Camp is hosted for patients includes outings to Tampa attractions, crafts and lots of fun.
For information contact Jamie Nettles (813) 367-5437 ext. 8 or jnettles@childrenscancercenter.org
FAMILY FUN EVENTS (back to top)
Family Fun Events are held several times throughout the year for families to have fun and enjoy themselves away from the medical environment. Our current events include Fall Festival, Winter Holiday Party and Spring Carnival. We also host at least one Parents' Night Out per year.
One of the best ways for a family to deal with a child's illness is to share experiences with others facing the same issues. However, families are often reluctant to attend traditional support groups due to time constraints or the intimidating nature of groups.
Three times a year, the Children's Cancer Center hosts a community-based recreational activity for all patients and their families such as a day at an amusement park or a picnic in the park.
The goals of the Family Fun Events are:
- To provide parents, siblings and patients an opportunity to meet and create a network of support with others facing similar issues. They may share information to help them cope better with the stress of chronic, life-threatening illnesses.
To promote a sense of normalcy and recreation for the whole family away from hospitals and clinics.
TICKET BANK (back to top)
The Children's Cancer Center regularly receives ticket donations from the Hillsborough Bar Association, The Tampa Bay Lightning, Clear Channel Communications and other sources. These tickets are distributed to families on an as-available basis. The tickets are also distributed to the Big Buddy Program and Dream Teens for outings.
HOLIDAY ADOPT-A-FAMILY (back to top)
Holiday Adopt-A-Family program helps struggling families have a happy holiday season. Businesses, organizations, families, and individuals agree to adopt a family in need during December. All gifts are brought to the Children's Cancer Center for families to pick up.
Struggling families are recommended to the program by the hospital or clinic social workers. Donors are matched with a particular family based on the donor's ability to provide these needs. The donor takes on the role of Santa Claus for the family providing toys, food and gifts.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE (back to top)
Short-term financial assistance is available to help families experiencing a financial crisis due to their child's illness.
The assistance request must be submitted by the child's social worker and is subject to approval. Funds are provided for an emergency until a more permanent solution is found.
Direct Financial Assistance is available for:
- Medications not covered by insurance, CMS or Medicaid
- Travel expenses to and from the hospitals for families who live outside of the area
- Food and lodging for bone marrow transplant patients
- Mortgage/rent and utility payments
- Funeral expenses
- Car repair expenses/payments
- Assistance with groceries
Additional needs as determined by pediatric staff
FAMILY SUPPORT (back to top)
Oncology Support Group meets every first and third Thursday of every month to hear and share strength, encouragement and solutions to common issues and fears. The evening begins with a family dinner then splits as the parents attend support group and the kids enjoy activities together. Each support group is themed with plenty of games and crafts and occasional guest presenters.
Other events include Mothers Appreciation Day, Parents Night Out and Dad's cookout.
SCHOLARSHIPS (back to top)
"The Jason Ackerman Fund for Education"
A very bright light has dimmed but still shines. With the loss of Jason Ackerman this summer, we at the Center and many others will sincerely miss the dedicated volunteer and all around warm hearted, wonderful young man.
Due to overwhelming support and donations from clients, friends and business associates Jason's parents, board members Ron and Tina Ackerman, created the Jason Ackerman Fund for Education in his memory. This will provide many opportunities for our children through tutoring programs and scholarship funding.
Academic scholarships will be given each year to Tampa Bay youth diagnosed with cancer or a chronic blood disorder before the age of 21. The renewable scholarships are available for community college, vocational training or four year universities.
SOAR (back to top)
SOAR, standing for Surviving Oncology And Readjusting, is a program dedicated to meeting the needs of childhood cancer survivors. The Center realizes that when treatment ends, often anxiety does not. Fear of relapse, scars, living with limb loss, sterility and painful memories can frustrate survivors and overshadow joy. This program provides opportunities for survivors to get together and discuss their issues openly.
Through quarterly fun events, opportunities to work with newly diagnosed patients and a weekend retreat, the Center is growing this program with the support of Tampa Bay Buccaneer Josh Bidwell, a fellow cancer survivor, and Richard Gonzmart of The Columbia Restaurant.
LIL' TALES (back to top)
Tuesday mornings at the Center are filled with lots of smiles by offering a pre-school atmosphere for younger patients and siblings affected by cancer. While the parents enjoy a cup of coffee, the children are next door in the playroom busy having fun with volunteers. These children can often not attend a mainstream pre-school due to immune-suppression and other health concerns. Activities are tailored to the children's skills and interests and special entertainment is brought in from time to time. However, the children love playing with their new friends the most.
CAMPS (back to top)
June marks the arrival of week-long day camps at the Center. Kite Camp hosts oncology patients currently on treatment and siblings while Kanga Camp serves children with sickle cell. Both camps include a full itinerary of educational and recreational activities. Participants meet at the Center each day for a wide range of activities including local attractions and crafts.
With the name standing for Fun and Laughter In Groups Hoping Together, Flight Camp is a weekend camp serving families currently on treatment. Families participating in our Lil' Tales group stay for the weekend along with older patients and their siblings. The weekend includes various activities such as Blacklight volleyball, the Kite Games Crazy Olympics, a dance and lots of swimming.
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