Caregiver Support
Caregiver Support
Support For Parents and caregivers of Children Experiencing Cancer & Blood Disorders
West Coast Kids Cancer Foundation is here to help your whole family, including you, as you care for your child through childhood cancer and blood disorders. No matter where you are on your journey, we want to provide you with support and resources to ease the load. We understand the importance and need for spaces that bring caregivers together. A fellow oncology/hematology parent can relate to your experience in a way that other friends and family might not be able to.
WCK runs online Caregiver Sessions for parents and caregivers once a month. In these sessions, you can learn more about different aspects of childhood cancer and blood disorders and how to manage their everyday impacts. The sessions provide space for caregivers to ask questions and engage in conversation.
If you prefer connecting one-on-one rather than in groups, WCK has launched a Peer Support Program where we can connect you with a fellow caregiver who has been on the cancer/blood disorder journey. They know what it’s like and they deeply understand the survival mode you might be living in. Peer support volunteers are trained on how to provide support to caregivers by listening to understand your experience so they can loop you into the right places.
ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT
Want to get connected with another caregiver?
We all need someone to walk alongside us through a difficult journey. At WCK, we want to help combat the isolation and mental health challenges that often come with a childhood cancer or blood disorder experience. We’re so excited to now offer a Peer Support program that matches caregivers with a trained volunteer with lived experience who can deeply relate and offer listening, emotional validation, and help to find practical support.
Peer Support is all about partnership. The beauty of this program is there is no power dynamic between volunteers and caregivers – everyone comes to the table as an equal and support is about what matters most to you.
If you have any questions, please email us at [email protected].
Peer Support FAQs
What does the matching process look like?
Once you have registered for the program, a WCK program coordinator will set up a call with you to get a better understanding of what to prioritize when matching you to a volunteer and to review the Code of Conduct. Once the Code of Conduct is signed, the program coordinator will send your contact information to a Peer Support Volunteer, who will then reach out to start the match.
What is the time commitment for participating in this Peer Support Program?
There is no fixed time commitment to being matched with a Peer Support Volunteer. Depending on your availability and capacity, you can text, call, video call, or meet in person. We want this program to work for you!
Hey! I'm Qudrat.
Want to learn more about our caregiver support programs? Reach out to Mental Health Resource Coordinator Qudrat Aujla at familysupport[at]wckfoundation.ca.
