L.I.G.H.T House
What program areas participate in support of children and families impacted by cancer?
All!
Who attends Kids Group?
Kids with a family member (ie parent, grandparent, sibling) diagnosed
What is the age range for Kid's Kamp?
5-12 years old
Who is the point of contact for referrals for children/families?
Lexie is the main point of contact, and the entire clinical team can provide support in counseling for children and families
Who can support kids impacted by cancer?
Everyone in this room!
What are three examples of programs for children/teens impacted by cancer?
Kids Yoga, Kids Art, Stress Free Saturdays for Families, Toddler Talk, Brave Kids, Brave Teens, Turtles, the list goes on...
What are the names of our children's bereavement group?
Tiny Turtles (2-6), Turtles (6-12), Teen Turtles (13-18)
How often does C&F have a fun, special event?
On Average, 1x per month (sometimes more!)
Describe one thing that occurs within an initial consult for a child/teen/family
An initial consult may be with just a child/children, with parents/guardians alone, or entire families and individuals important to the family (i.e. school personnel). These visits may include parent education, new diagnosis education, memory-making, discussions around changes in treatment or disease progression. These also include collaborative conversations around what next steps will be.
Likely false: Children often express worry through behavior rather than words, or they developmentally don't have the words to ask questions. We can encourage family members to check in, provide opportunities for conversation, and remember that silence does not always mean understanding or positive coping (actually usually the opposite). A CCLS can also explore understanding and emotions in a session if a parent feels uncomfortable.
Children who engage in programs at WH have what cancer impact?
1. Diagnosed themselves
2. A loved one with a cancer diagnosis
3. Are bereaved due to the loss of a loved one due to cancer
Name one focus of C/F Support Groups
Therapeutic Play, emotional processing and coping tools, education around cancer and medical treatment
What was the most attended C&F event in 2025?
Spooky Spectacular
What does CCLS Stand For? (Hint: These are Lexie's credentials!)
Certified Child Life Specialist
A Child Life Specialist is a healthcare professional who supports children and their families in coping with illness, injury, hospitalization, or medical procedures through education, play, and emotional support.
Name one way to help support a child who is expressing big feelings (ie mad, frustrated, sad).
1. Thank them for sharing your feelings.
2. Validate their feelings
3. Talk about a calm down tool you like (coping strategies- deep breaths, fidgets, take a walk) or offer the calm down corner in the Kid's Room
What are two ways all staff can help bring kids/teens into programming?
1. Ask every participant if there are kids in the home/ their life
2. Volunteer at a monthly Special Event
3. Smile and say hi when kids are in the house
4. Start planning to host a trunk for Spooky Spectacular
5. When you give a tour, take them to the Kid's Room. Show off our bulletin boards of therapeutic activities and camp.
How many support groups do we currently have for children & teens?
8!
Toddler Talk, Turtles, Tiny Turtles, Teen Turtles, Kids Group, Brave Kids, Brave Teens, Teen Group
Name two Special Events coming up in the Fall Quarter
Spooky Spectacular, Polar Express, Painting Wishes, Creating Wellness & Pampering for Hope & Healing
You receive a call from a parent of a teen with a diagnosis. What is one piece of helpful information that you can gather from the first interaction?
1. Diagnosis
2. Treatment status/ modalities
3. Family structure/ other children in the home
4. Primary parent or guardian
5. What the family is seeking in the way of support
If there is a concern for abuse/neglect for a child/teen, what should you do?
Make a DCFS report.
Or connect with a team member who can support making a report. (All clinical team members are available to assist).
Mandated reporters are anyone who works with children which includes most professions and those with a license.
What does L.I.G.H.T house stand for?
Learn, Inspire, Gather, Heal Together
How is the emoji wall used in groups for children/teens?
The kids/teens are invited to put their name tag next to a feeling on our emoji wall at the start of each group, and then are invited share their cancer impact and their emotion of the day
Why are special events a good entry point for families?
They are not therapeutic, but rather the focus is on fun and community. Participants who may be hesitant to bring their kids to WH or feel their kids are "too young" to understand a diagnosis can feel a part of the community, and this often serves as a gateway to other C&F programs!
A participant says, "My child doesn't know about the cancer." What is a possible next step?
Refer to Lexie!
"That is something that our Child Life Specialist can help you with and through by providing resources, books and language to use at home.
There is a lot of value in children being informed about their own or their family member's diagnosis. In sessions, our CLS can provide parent education and support."
Fact check: Does a mandated reporter need proof that abuse occurred before making a report?
No, reasonable suspicion/ cause is generally sufficient.