EDUCATION SERVICES
The Brett Torino Foundation Education Services, a program of Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, has developed a number of education services designed to meet the educational needs of every child diagnosed with a life-threatening or chronic illness in Southern Nevada. In addition to supporting diagnosed children, the program also offers resources and assistance to their siblings, as well as to school age children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer, recognizing the unique challenges they may face.
The program provides a way for chronically ill children to continue their education while receiving treatment, ensuring they can return to school with equal opportunities and any accommodations required by law. This approach also extends to their siblings, offering them support and ensuring they have the tools needed to pursue their own success in education and future goals.
Introduced in 2021, NVCCF’s LEARNING POD is a service of The Brett Torino Foundation Education Services, a program of Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Under the leadership of a licensed Nevada teacher, this program offers a variety of ways to help students, including both in-person and online learning options ensuring that students receive personalized support tailored to their individual needs.
The “Pod” was originally created to support children who are in current treatment, experiencing effects from treatment, immune compromised, and unable to return to in-person or hybrid learning due to their diagnosis. It has now been able to expand to assist all the school-aged children who are clients of NVCCF. Please call 702.735.8434 for more information on this and other support services.
Named after its donor, the Brett Torino Foundation Education Services, a program of Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation, offers tutoring, advocacy, transition services and more. Through these programs, licensed professional staff members work to ensure that each child is given the opportunity and support to succeed in their education.
How the Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation Helps:
- Provide tutoring for school age critically ill children, their siblings, and for children whose parents are diagnosed with cancer
- Offer tutoring at several locations throughout the Las Vegas valley for students in need of supplementary instruction
- Attend school meetings to provide teachers and administrative staff with the facts on diagnosis and treatment and ensure accommodations and interventions are implemented and followed
- Support students as they re-enter the school setting during or after treatment and diagnosis by providing an in-class program designed to educate peers and teachers on the facts of diagnosis and treatment, the importance of embracing differences, and messages of anti-bullying
- Hold teacher and administrator workshops educating on the effects of diagnosis and treatment of those who are critically ill, giving them tools to better support these children assigned to their school and/or class
- Support parents with diagnosed children in establishing accommodations for their children
- Guide diagnosed children and their siblings through the college application and scholarship process, ensuring access to higher education is within reach
- Educate parents and children alike in all the supports available to them through CCSD
PROCESS FOR RECEIVING EDUCATION SUPPORT SERVICES
First, clients will receive an initial psycho-social assessment, with an NVCCF licensed social worker, to identify the child’s and family’s needs related to diagnosis, including financial and clinical support. At this time families are asked to bring the clients most recent report card, infinite campus information, and, if applicable, a copy of the client’s transcript, 504 plan, and /or IEP to the meeting.
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All educational needs identified during the assessment will be given to the Education Services Supervisor through an internal referral. Upon the review of the referral and assessment, the Education Services Supervisor will complete a follow up call with the family and provide an educational strategy designed to meet the educational needs of the student and family. The educational strategy may include the implementation of accommodations through a 504 plan or IEP and tutoring.
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After suggested recommendations have been provided, parents may be required to schedule a meeting with their child’s school to address the needs of their child and the parents’ concerns related to the successful transition to the school setting and/or effective classroom instruction. NVCCF’s Education Services Supervisor will attend such meetings and provide advocacy, including a letter from the primary medical specialist and handouts related to the child’s diagnosis and treatment.
GET STARTED WITH EDUCATION SERVICES FOR YOUR CHILD
Call NVCCF at 702.735.8434 and speak with a Project A.R.K. (aids and resources for kids) staff member who will assist in completing a referral.
These education services are made possible by the long-standing support of The Brett Torino Foundation. NVCCF also is thankful to tutors provided by the University of Nevada Las Vegas and local community members.
CONTACT A SOCIAL WORKER
Fill out the form below to contact a social worker about how NVCCF can help you and your family.
There are a number of volunteer opportunities for many events and programs.
Donations go toward improving the lives of those touched by cancer.
