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Kathy Ruble and Lisa Jacobson

This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis.

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This course will help you understand and address the challenges parents and families face regarding schooling after a cancer diagnosis.

When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families can be overwhelmed learning about and managing this new and frightening reality. As they adjust to the new normal of ongoing treatment, school may be the farthest thing from their mind. However, as their oncology health care provider, you have a critical role in starting conversations about schooling. Even for your youngest patients, it is important to talk with parents and caregivers about schooling issues early and often.

This course gives you easy access to Roadmaps that help parents learn and take action so their child can access schooling supports for which they are eligible.

The modules will give you the skills and resources needed in order to support parents to use the information provided in the parent-informed Roadmaps. We hope that completing this course will help you make small changes in your everyday practice that can make a big change in how well parents can advocate for their child's schooling needs.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction and Pre-Assessment
Your first step in this course is to take the required pre-test. At the conclusion of the pre-test you'll receive a code that you will input in order to move on to the first content module. Note - the pretest is delivered via qualtrics survey software. Some users may have a spam filter setting that blocks qualtrics. If you do not see the test please check your spam filter settings.
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Understanding the Need: Uncovering the Misconceptions
A surprising finding in our research with families affected by pediatric cancer is that providers and parents have quite different perceptions about communication around school related topics such as neurocognitive impacts of cancer or its treatment. This module will introduce you to misconceptions about parent/provider communication and share identified knowledge gaps associated with the school related challenges of children affected by pediatric cancer. This information will help you understand this under-recognized need and why improving parent-provider communication about schooling related issues is critical.
Understanding and Communicating about Educationally Relevant Effects: Listening to Parents
As a provider you are aware that cancer or its treatment can confer risks for neurocognitive impacts. Such impacts and other late effects can contribute to immediate and long-term schooling challenges. This module describes some less-well-known relationships between specific treatments and late-effect risks. It provides detailed recommendations for how to foster frequent, brief conversations with parents to help ensure they are aware of school related risks. This is important because parents are a critical advocate for their child and a necessary first step is that they become aware that they may need to play this role. Your communication with parents about these issues is vital to the process.
Understanding Schooling – Available Supports: The Education Landscape
You didn’t go to medical school to teach parents about schooling challenges – but it can still be valuable to have a basic understanding of the vocabulary and processes that parents need to help support their children to succeed in school. This module provides an overview of the accommodations and services children affected by cancer are most likely to need. It clarifies what actions you can take to help as parents work with schools to determine if their child is eligible to receive them.
Using Roadmaps to Support Families: Becoming Familiar and Planning Dissemination
The previous modules have laid out the arguments for why parents need more support and they have given you important background information about schooling challenges, eligibility for services, and how to talk with parents about these issues. In this module, we provide detail the Back-to-School Roadmaps our team has created. The Roadmaps were created collaboratively with input from affected families and other stakeholders. You know from Module 2 how to have brief conversations with parents about schooling concerns – pairing those conversations with these Roadmaps can prepare parents to support their children to succeed in school. As you complete the Modules, we hope you take time to review the Roadmaps on your own and plan for how to begin having brief conversations with parents as you provide them with these tools.
Post-assessment
Your final step in this course is to take the required post-test. At the conclusion of the post-test you'll receive a code that you will input in order to complete this CME. Note - the posttest is delivered via qualtrics survey software. Some users may have a spam filter setting that blocks qualtrics. If you do not see the test please check your spam filter settings.

Good to know

Know what's good
, what to watch for
, and possible dealbreakers
Provides communication strategies for educating providers on the educational needs of children with cancer
Offers strategies for improving parent-provider communication on school-related topics
Features industry-recognized instructors with expertise in both oncology and education
Provides resources and tools for supporting families during the schooling process
Provides practical guidance for healthcare providers on supporting families

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Reviews summary

Highly recommended for providers

Learners say this is an excellent course for providers who work with school-aged children with cancer. The course provides providers with the essential knowledge and skills needed to help these children thrive both academically and socially.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role with these activities:
Contribute to the development of the Back-to-School Roadmaps
The Back-to-School Roadmaps are a valuable resource for families affected by cancer. Contributing to the development of these Roadmaps will help you learn more about the challenges that families face and how you can support them.
Browse courses on Community Involvement
Show steps
  • Contact the Roadmaps development team.
  • Volunteer to contribute your time and expertise.
  • Help to develop and review the Roadmaps.
Review the latest research on the neurocognitive effects of cancer treatment
Cancer treatment can have a significant impact on a child's neurocognitive development. Reviewing the latest research on this topic will help you better understand the challenges that families face and how you can support them.
Browse courses on Cancer Treatment
Show steps
  • Search for articles on the neurocognitive effects of cancer treatment.
  • Read and summarize the articles.
  • Share your findings with your colleagues.
Review the basics of special education law
A strong understanding of special education law is essential for providers who work with families of children with disabilities. Reviewing the basics of this law will help you ensure that you are providing families with the best possible support.
Browse courses on Special Education
Show steps
  • Read articles and books about special education law.
  • Attend workshops or webinars on special education law.
  • Take an online course on special education law.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Complete the National Cancer Institute's online training on talking to families about cancer
This training will provide you with practical tips and strategies for communicating with families about cancer. Completing this training will help you improve your communication skills and build stronger relationships with families.
Browse courses on Communication
Show steps
  • Enroll in the training on the NCI website.
  • Complete the online modules.
  • Take the post-test.
Join a support group for providers who work with families affected by cancer
Connecting with other providers who are working with families affected by cancer can provide you with support and new ideas. Support groups can also be a great way to learn about new resources and services that can help you better support families.
Browse courses on Family Support
Show steps
  • Search for support groups in your area.
  • Contact the support group leader to learn more about the group.
  • Attend a support group meeting.
Practice having conversations with families about schooling challenges
One of the best ways to improve your communication skills is to practice. Role-playing with a colleague or family member can help you feel more confident and prepared for real-life conversations.
Browse courses on Communication
Show steps
  • Identify a colleague or family member who is willing to role-play with you.
  • Develop a scenario that you can use to practice having a conversation about schooling challenges.
  • Practice the conversation multiple times.
Create a resource guide for families on schooling challenges
Creating a resource guide for families can be a great way to share information about schooling challenges and available resources. This guide can be used as a handout for families or posted on your website.
Browse courses on Family Support
Show steps
  • Gather information from reliable sources about schooling challenges and available resources.
  • Organize the information into a clear and concise format.
  • Create a visually appealing and easy-to-read guide.
  • Share the guide with families.

Career center

Learners who complete Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Pediatric Oncology Nurse
As a Pediatric Oncology Nurse, you will provide care to children with cancer and their families. This course will help you understand the unique challenges that these children face, including the impact of cancer and its treatment on their education. You will learn how to support families in advocating for their child's schooling needs and how to communicate effectively with parents about these issues.
School Social Worker
As a School Social Worker, you will work with children and families to address the social, emotional, and behavioral challenges that can impact their education. This course will help you understand the specific challenges that children with cancer face and how to support them in accessing the school-based services they need.
Special Education Teacher
As a Special Education Teacher, you will work with children with disabilities to help them reach their full academic potential. This course will help you understand the unique learning needs of children with cancer and how to develop and implement effective individualized education programs for them.
Guidance Counselor
As a Guidance Counselor, you will work with students to help them make informed decisions about their education and career. This course will help you understand the challenges that children with cancer face and how to support them in developing realistic goals and plans for their future.
Educational Advocate
As an Educational Advocate, you will work with families to ensure that their children with disabilities receive the educational services they need. This course will help you understand the legal framework for special education and how to advocate effectively for the rights of children with cancer.
Pediatric Neuropsychologist
As a Pediatric Neuropsychologist, you will assess and treat children with neurodevelopmental disorders. This course will help you understand the neurocognitive impacts of cancer and its treatment and how to develop effective interventions to address these challenges.
Pediatric Oncologist
As a Pediatric Oncologist, you will provide medical care to children with cancer. This course will help you understand the impact of cancer and its treatment on a child's education and how to support families in making decisions about their child's schooling.
Child Life Specialist
As a Child Life Specialist, you will work with children and families to help them cope with the challenges of hospitalization and medical treatment. This course will help you understand the unique needs of children with cancer and how to provide them with support and comfort.
Family Therapist
As a Family Therapist, you will work with families to help them cope with the challenges of having a child with cancer. This course will help you understand the impact of cancer on family relationships and how to provide support and counseling to families.
Hospice Social Worker
As a Hospice Social Worker, you will work with families to provide support and care during the end-of-life process. This course will help you understand the unique needs of families with children with cancer and how to provide them with compassionate care and support.
Pediatric Palliative Care Physician
As a Pediatric Palliative Care Physician, you will provide medical care to children with life-limiting illnesses. This course will help you understand the challenges of providing care to children with cancer and how to support families in making decisions about their child's care.
Pediatric Chaplain
As a Pediatric Chaplain, you will provide spiritual support to children and families in the hospital setting. This course will help you understand the unique needs of children with cancer and how to provide them with comfort and support.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
As a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, you will provide primary care to children. This course will help you understand the unique needs of children with cancer and how to provide them with comprehensive care.
Pediatric Rehabilitation Specialist
As a Pediatric Rehabilitation Specialist, you will work with children with disabilities to help them improve their physical, cognitive, and social skills. This course will help you understand the unique needs of children with cancer and how to develop and implement effective rehabilitation plans for them.
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
As a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, you will work with children with disabilities to help them improve their fine motor skills and coordination. This course will help you understand the unique needs of children with cancer and how to develop and implement effective occupational therapy interventions for them.

Reading list

We've selected 12 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Kids with Cancer Still Need School: The Providers Role.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which is the federal law that governs the education of children with disabilities. It is written by the U.S. Department of Education and is based on the latest laws and regulations.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the educational rights of children with cancer. It is written by the American Cancer Society and is based on the latest laws and regulations.
Provides a comprehensive guide to childhood cancer for parents. It covers all aspects of the disease, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term care. It valuable resource for parents of children with cancer.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the legal rights of children with disabilities, including those with cancer. It is written by a leading expert in the field and is based on the latest laws and regulations.
Provides a comprehensive guide to childhood leukemia for parents. It covers all aspects of the disease, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term care. It valuable resource for parents of children with leukemia.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the health of children with cancer for parents. It covers all aspects of the disease, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term care. It valuable resource for parents of children with cancer.
Provides a comprehensive guide to lymphoma in children and adolescents. It covers all aspects of the disease, from diagnosis and treatment to long-term care. It valuable resource for parents, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
Provides a comprehensive guide to special education resources for parents and teachers. It is written by a leading expert in the field and is based on the latest research.
Provides a comprehensive guide to special education advocacy for parents and teachers. It is written by a leading expert in the field and is based on the latest research.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the special education process for parents and teachers. It is written by a leading expert in the field and is based on the latest research.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the special education Code of Federal Regulations for parents and teachers. It is written by the U.S. Department of Education and is based on the latest laws and regulations.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the special education advocate's manual for parents and teachers. It is written by a leading expert in the field and is based on the latest research.

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