National Virtual Youth Empower Learning About Cancer Program

ABOUT OUR NATIONAL VIRTUAL YOUTH EMPOWER “LEARNING ABOUT CANCER” PROGRAM

Pickles Group’s successful activity-based peer support model for kids affected by a parent’s cancer is now offered nationally through our Youth Empower virtual program.

Our Chief Clinical Program Officer, Kelsey Mora, LCPC, CCLS, is an expert in supporting families through illness and designed this unique program.

Our 5-Week Winter 2023 Cohort Launches on Sunday, February 5 and takes place every Sunday through March 5.

Youth build relationships with friends who get them in a safe, supportive, fun environment online. They also learn about cancer in a developmentally appropriate way, an experience that’s proven to decrease stress, anxiety, and worry for kids whose parents have cancer.

These engaging virtual group meetings are interactive, play, and art-based.

Meetings are facilitated by our skilled Youth Facilitators who have backgrounds in child development, education, Child Life, social work, and other youth-focused areas.

Kelsey breaks down the focus of each session in our program that supports kids’ needs through their parent’s cancer via the video below.

💚 Week 1 – Getting started and getting to know each other.

💚 Week 2 – Shared experiences. What do we have in common? What brings us together?

💚 Week 3 – Learn together. What is cancer? What is treatment? What is my parent going through, and how can I better communicate with them about it?

💚 Week 4 – How it feels and what can we do about it? Kids start to express their emotions and learn valuable coping skills.

💚 Week 5 – Hope, gratitude, and see you soon! Kids leave the program with positivity and friendships that will hopefully help them throughout their parent’s experience.

Program dates are: Sunday, February 5; Sunday, February 12; Sunday, February 19; Sunday, February 26; Sunday, March 5. Youth should plan to attend all five unique sessions to experience the full benefit of the program.

Location: Virtual (Zoom) from 10am-11:30am Pacific, 12:00pm-1:30pm Central, 1:00pm-2:30pm Eastern,

Event Type: Online Youth Peer Group Meetings

Who Can Attend: New and existing Pickles youth navigating a parent or guardian’s cancer diagnosis. We serve kids and teens ages 6-18. All are welcome. This program is well-suited for youth who would benefit from peer connecting and a better understanding of cancer.

Registration: Please complete our in-person youth registration form if you are a new Pickles family no later than Friday, January 27 to receive program information for the February 5, 2023 start date.

Please select the “National Virtual Youth Empower Program” on your registration form.

Existing Pickles families will receive a separate link if they are interested in registering their child(ren).