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The Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation (NCCF) has
developed a number of programs to meet the educational needs of
every child diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness
in Southern Nevada. Through these programs, our professional
staff works to ensure that each child is given equal opportunity
and accommodations required by law in their need for education.
The NCCF and Torino Foundation Education
Services Program, named for it funding donor, offers a number of
services designed to help a child, diagnosed with a chronic or
life threatening illness, return to school with success and
support. It is important for the child undergoing treatment to
return to school as soon as medically cleared as school offers a
sense of normalcy "back to routine life", a sense of
purpose/achievement, a time to transform fear to hope for the
future, and allows time to socialize with peers. Often, school
work can be a distraction from treatment or painful procedures.
Benefits of School Re-Entry
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Promotes positive self esteem
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Eases parent anxiety |
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Informs school personnel of possible
accommodations |
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Increases comfort level of teacher and
school staff |
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Clarifies illness misconceptions and myths
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Discourages teasing and bullying
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Increases communication between school and
family |
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Provides an understanding of side effects
and medications |
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Encourages teachers and classmates to think
of creative and kind ways to support their friend
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HOW WE HELP:
NCCF begins by establishing open communication
with school personnel:
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Providing school personnel with specific
information regarding the child's diagnosis, treatment and
individual needs |
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Scheduling child, parent and school
consultation with the medical team prior to the child's
return |
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orking together with school personnel to
prepare and facilitate the child's return
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Providing classroom presentations to
classmates promoting support and understanding
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Promoting normal psycho-social development
and optimizing the child's rehabilitative potential
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Coordinating tutoring and other educational
services |
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Coordinating neuropsychological evaluations
as needed |
SCHOOL RE-ENTRY TEAM PREPARES CHILDREN FOR
SCHOOL
NCCF’s Educational Director and full time
teacher is your child’s lead liaison, NCCF’s Family Counselor,
your child’s nurse and doctor ALL work with teachers, school
nurses, counselors, social workers, psychologists and other
staff members in a collaborative effort to facilitate the
child's return to the classroom.
The School Re-entry Team will travel to the
school where presentations are arranged for the classroom and
faculty to pave the way for the child to return to school.
The appropriate time for child to return to
school depends on the child's:
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Strength and physical capabilities
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Degree of pain and/or fatigue
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Degree of immune suppressant
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Type, frequency and duration of therapy
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Readiness and/or anxiety level
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EDUCATING CLASSMATES
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Provides entertaining and educational
presentations |
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Establishes support and understanding
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Encourages classmate participation and role
play |
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Dispels myths and teasing
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Instructs as to handle teasing and
misconceptions |
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Helps identify a "safe person" or buddy
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SCHOOL FACULTY PRESENTATIONS
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Review psychosocial concerns (ear, teasing,
changes in body image, hair loss, social adjustment, etc.)
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Review medical concerns (fatigue, exposure to
infections, central lines, physical activity and treatment
protocols) |
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Review of educational concerns (attention,
concentration and/or motor skills, difficulty processing
information, late effects, and absenteeism)
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The School Re-entry Program offers an
opportunity for your child's classmates and teachers to learn
basic and important information regarding their diagnosis and
treatment plan. A school re-entry also provides an opportunity
for a healthcare professional to clarify misconceptions,
alleviate fears, and disqualify myths.
Neuropsychological Testing
In order to meet a student's
needs, a psychologist measures IQ, academia, memory, attention, and
behavior to assist in school re-entry. Information obtained is
used to build appropriate accommodations to the curriculum and
environment to heighten student success. All NCCF clients are
eligible for psychological testing at no cost.
Process to receive Education
Support Services:
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After
the client receives an initial psychosocial assessment with
a social worker, an internal referral for an education
assessment is made on behalf of the client and given to the
Patient Services Coordinator (PSC). |
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The
PSC logs the referral and contacts the family to schedule
the education assessment. At that time the family is asked
to bring the clients most recent report card, Parentlink
information, and, if applicable, a copy of the client's
transcript, 504, and/or IEP with them to their appointment. |
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Dependent
upon working schedules, the PSC or the Director of Education
Services will complete the Education assessment. |
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After
review of the assessment, the Director of Education Services
will determine the most appropriate course of action and
inform the parents and student of his recommendation(s). |
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The
client will continue to receive case management services as
necessary to monitor the client's progress and continue to
assess for additional educational needs, including but not
limited to tutorial services, neuropsychological testing,
and advocacy. |
LET US KNOW HOW WE ARE DOING
Please take a few moments to complete a survey on
our effectiveness with your child's progress and education.
NCCF
TUTORIAL AND EDUCATIONAL SERVICES SURVEY
The survey must be done in one sitting. The
system will not record partials.
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