Social Support Teams: CanKids is committed to build a cadre of trained professional working in the field of pediatric oncology support services. The Cadre includes Social Workers, Data managers, Dieticians, Counsellors, Teachers, Parents and Survivors support group. The CB Department conducts Trainings of the SST in conducted at an interval of 6 months over an year. The SST Team are responsible for the implementation of the programme in Cankids Hospital Support Units.
Capacity Building is an integral part of Cankids and the trained cadre’s enhanced knowledge and regular update in Paediatric – oncology field strengthen the team to take efforts in improve coordination as per their roles and responsibilities for further strategic planning - cum - restructuring in programmatic and organisational aspect.
The Cankids Capacity Building module comprise of Workshops, Training programmes, Meetings, and Platform sharing. In the year 2014 – 15 total 21 Workshop has been conducted on Core Module and Thematic Module for 308, Total 36 Training Programmes were conducted for 591 participants, 15 Meetings in the form of Orientation, Sensitization, Forum and meets were done for 187 participants, and in 14 Events 2642 participants. These programmes were organized regionally, nationally and the SST Capacity Building is funded JivDaya Foundation, Dallas for the National Outreach Programme. Needs assessment and skill development of the SST is done on regular basis as an annual activity of the CB department. The Capacity building of the Parent Support Group as an Empowerment and reintegration programme and the Young Survivor Group – Kids Can Konnect in the Fellowship – cum – Leadership development is a core programme being implemented by the CB Department.
Parent Support Group (PSG): The Parents Support Group is a group of Parents who are associated in Cankids for providing Emotional Support, Patient Care and support, Patient Navigation and advocacy, and reintegration. The Parent Support Group is a group of Parents whose children have completed the Cancer treatment or parents who have lost their child to Cancer also have foster care the child under treatment. Parents can join as PSG member and enroll as Regular, Periodic AWAZ members to support each other to empower and build the capacities of families. Parent Member of this group are committed to the cause of Cancer and provide emotional support by holding hand of each and every parent. PSG is an empowered group that has experienced the Cancer treatment process and are capable to understand the difficulties that arise during this treatment. There is three category in the PSGs associated in Cankids. Regular, Periodic and Awaaz Members.
The Total PSG members associated in Cankids are – 137 out of which Regular Members - 37 who provide regular services at the Cankids Units on the weekdays starting from 3 days to 5 days in a week as per their convenience, Awaaz Member – 76 are in different places and raise awareness for Childhood Cancer, treatment, support and advocate for a Pain free treatment Periodic Member - 24 participate in organizing the programmes and Events along with the Regular PSG Members. The PSGs are trained by Cankids to develop their capacity, provide them update knowledge and develop their skills so that they execute their roles and responsibilities properly in the field of Childhood Cancer. Parents support as a strong voice and enable them to advocate for better childhood Cancer Treatment for all children, to be a strong support / shoulder for every parent whose child is fighting with Cancer under the YANA program, to walk this difficult journey and beyond with every parent. Each PSG member has to go through the Enrollment process of Cankids as per the recent PSG Policy drafted and approved in the 2014
KidsCanKonnect (KCK) is a group of teenage and young adult childhood cancer survivors, patients, siblings and friends committed to work as childhood cancer ambassadors; create awareness; advocate for better treatment standards support; improve knowledge about late effects and issues of social reintegration. They are given reimbursements to enable them to volunteer without financial burden. KCK is encouraged to have its own management body and has a steadily growing membership. The KCK team is working to expand KCK in all CHSUs across India and a two year KCK Leadership Program has been initiated to nurture survivor leadership.