Lessening Impact of Cancer on Children & Families

Children facing parents' cancer receive coping activities

When a parent gets cancer, they worry who will look after their children should they die. They struggle between looking after their children and getting treatment. Because of their cancer, parents have less energy and have difficulty helping their children with their homework. That is why at Nankind (established as the Nanny Angel Network) we recruit and train “Homework Buddies” to help kids who have a parent with cancer with their homework and assignments so they don’t get behind. At-Risk Children Coping with a Parents' Cancer Will Receive Specific Coping Activities to Help Build Their Resiliency

Background

When a parent has cancer, the whole family needs support. Many studies have shown children with a parent on their cancer journey are at increased risk of emotional and behavioral problems. If left untreated, these problems can persist into adulthood. At Nankind (established as the Nanny Angel Network), we work to reduce the psycho-social impact of cancer on families. We support children and families at every stage of the cancer journey including diagnosis, treatment, recovery, palliative care and bereavement. When children learn their parent has cancer, they become sad and scared. They are at-risk of depression and self-harm. Many of these children ask if they caused the cancer and if they can cure the cancer. They often have trouble concentrating at school and may become isolated. There are also large financial considerations for families. A parent with cancer will work less, or not at all. A divorce or separation may occur and many of our families are already headed by single parents and many are newcomers further challenging the household’s overall income and financial situation. That is why all of Nankind’s programs are free. Nankind provides programs to help support families through the cancer journey. These programs are in place to ensure children have the tools and resources they need to cope with their parents' cancer and parents have the support they need so they don’t have to choose between going for appointments and looking after their children.

The good deed

Nankind launched its Homework Club in 2020 to address challenges our families were expressing for the need for homework assistance for their children. Nankind’s Homework Club provides children with a “Homework Buddy” to guide them through their homework. The program means parents with cancer can rest and focus on recovery because they have a highly trained volunteer helping their kids with their homework. Homework Buddies are volunteers recruited by Nankind. They are carefully matched to the needs of the child, providing up to 4 hours weekly of virtual, one-to-one support. Families provide Homework Buddies with homework assigned by the classroom teacher. The Homework Club benefits children by contributing to a school routine, encouraging a positive work ethic, helping children to overcome learning obstacles and providing a safe environment for asking questions, modeling social skills within a positive learning setting.