Family Support

Families with children battling cancer deserve our support

A cancer diagnosis changes everything, and no family is fully prepared to handle it alone. Families should not have to lose their job, health, home, or enter into bankruptcy to care for their child or a parent of young children after a cancer diagnosis.

Hidden Burden

The average cancer journey lasts about 18 months to two years. Patients and families receive services while in the hospital, but a minimum of approximately 60% of their time is spent at home, leaving them without comprehensive support. This gap in care puts the burden of navigating this journey directly on parents and caregivers, which can significantly impact financial health:

56%

Have to quit their jobs, are laid off, or take time off work

25%

lose 40% of their income

30%

Experience food and housing insecurity after six months

There are no recognized support systems in place for families that do not qualify for government aid, driving significant stress, deterioration of their health, and financial sacrifices as their children go through treatment, and less than .001% of funds go towards helping these families in need.

Who We Serve

Here to Serve is dedicated to supporting families with a child battling pediatric cancer, as well as young parents battling cancer. We prioritize aiding families who are financially at risk:

High Risk (70%)

Families or single parents who earn less than $100,000/year and $1 more than 138% of the poverty threshold, which denies government programs that assist with housing, food, childcare, medical insurance, and more

Moderate Risk (20%)

Intact families with financial means above $100,000/year but below $200,000/year, with two working spouses

Low Risk (10%)

Intact families who earn more than $200,000/year, with two working spouses

No Risk (0%)

Intact families who earn more than $200,000 with one spouse at home

If your child has recently been diagnosed with cancer, or you are a young parent with a recent diagnosis.

Our Services

We offer comprehensive support to young families going through cancer. From the moment of diagnosis to the end of treatment, we provide physical, financial, and emotional assistance, along with resources for caregivers and families. We:

Learn more

Our Resources

Care Communities

Care Communities are made up of friends, relatives, neighbors and community members who want to assist the family in tangible ways. On average, a child or young adult will spend more than a year receiving treatment after a cancer diagnosis. Our goal is to create a stable environment for patients and families throughout the treatment period.

Our Family Care Coordinators set up and manage online care communities, mobilizing the support of friends, family, and neighbors, as well as raising funds and keeping family and friends updated about the cancer journey and its impact on the family as a whole.

Family Care Coordinators

Our Here to Serve Family Care Coordinators provide a done-for-you personalized array of services to each family with an understanding of impending needs helping mobilize and manage volunteers and resources. Family Care Coordinators set up the family’s online care community platform leveraging social media to fill it with family, friends, neighbors, and loved ones who wish to help. This enables the loving support of parents to stay focused on their family’s immediate needs.

Additional Resources

Your help supports many facets of Here to Serve as an organization. Did you know that hospital social workers generally have no database of resources for families who are NOT on government assistance? Most social workers are focused on government programs and helping only those who qualify for them. They may provide a couple of foundations to families on private insurance to help with finances, but little more.