|
(Aids and Resources for Kids)
Project A.R.K. consists of licensed and
non-licensed professionals who provide professional services to
all children and families diagnosed with a childhood chronic
illness. NCCF has the only two Nevada-based Association of
Pediatric Oncology Social Workers.
Pediatric Medical Social Worker:
A Social worker is assigned to every family upon receiving a
referral. Our referrals come from numerous areas, including both
local and out of state hospital personnel, outpatient medical
clinics, social workers, child-life specialists, family and
friends of the child diagnosed and at times self-referrals. We
don't turn away referrals without providing resources.
Social workers are problem solvers for the
non-medical issues related to childhood chronic illnesses. Medical
social workers are experts at crisis intervention, helping
patients and families adapt to a medical diagnosis, and ensuring
that families" basic needs are met. The social worker is
instrumental in helping them navigate the health care system,
facilitating communication, encouraging participation in the care
of their child and building on each family's unique strength.
Social workers use therapeutic interventions to
enhance adaptation to illness through continuum of care,
negotiation skills, and promotion of family self-determination.
Because social workers have legal and ethical responsibility to
advocate for the appropriate care of children. Social workers
collaborate with community organizations to obtain appropriate
resources for patient and families. Their role involves promoting
family rights within the healthcare system and community to ensure
access to quality of care, confidentiality and critical resources.
Social workers are active in reinforcing informed consent,
inclusion of patient/parents in treatment decisions, and promoting
the needs of culturally diverse, socially, intellectually and or
physically challenged patients.
The social worker first meets with the family to
assess the patient's and family's coping style and what support
systems are available to help the patient and family get through
the childhood chronic illness experience.
Counselor
Our counselor has a doctorate degree in psychology and is a
licensed counselor. Our counselor is knowledgeable in medical
diagnostic and treatment information. She has expertise in
disability rights, cultural values, and theories of child
development, system theory, medical ethics and codes of conduct,
child protection and legal responsibilities. She has done
extensive research on quality of life issues and continues to
participate within research to improve quality of life during
treatment and survivorship. She provides counseling to help the
family adapt to the new illness. She continues to assist patients
and families with re-entry to school, ongoing counseling, and
assists with the complex issues of survivorship.
Patient Service Coordinators (PSC)
Our PSC's work in conjunction with our social workers and
counselor to ensure follow-through on resources. Our PCS's manage
meetings (ensuring that key players are present to create
appropriate care plans), participate within initiating resources,
advocacy and support services. Our lead PCS manages programs such
as the flashes of hope.
As members of the interdisciplinary care team,
our social workers, counselor and patient service coordinators
help with integrating the patient and families emotional and
social needs with medical and nursing interventions. When that is
not possible, families are supported in dealing with the
progression of the illness.
|
