Hospital Based Programs-

Arts and Crafts

Several times a week, Children's Cancer Connection volunteers visit the clinic at Blank Children’s Hospital to facilitate arts and crafts with the kids!  These children could be patients waiting to see a doctor or have a procedure or brothers and sisters waiting for their sibling.  Either way, these volunteers reduce boredom and anxiety for the kids!  

End of Treatment Parties

When a child reaches the end of his or her treatment, it is a milestone to be celebrated!  Children's Cancer Connection helps families celebrate this important moment with a party including cake and surprises! 

Beads for Bravery

The Beads for Bravery program provides children with beads that are symbolic of specific occurrences or milestones they reach during treatment.  These beads then become a tangible record of all the child has overcome, as well as a great tool for the child to use when sharing their cancer journey with others.  Two examples of beads include a remission bead and a cat scan bead.

Poke Box

Every time an oncology patient at Blank Children’s Hospital receives a “poke” or other painful procedure, they are invited to come select a toy from the “poke box” provided by Children's Cancer Connection.  These toys can help make the procedure a little less ouchy, and help children focus on the toy and not the upcoming “poke.”

Family Resource Notebooks

Children's Cancer Connection provides every newly diagnosed child at Blank Children’s Hospital and The University of Iowa Children’s Hospital a fun bag with a few items inside to keep them busy during those first long visits with the doctors.  The bag also includes a binder for parents that includes a wealth of information to help them through their cancer journey, including places for them to keep track of meds and protocols and a resource section with information on the various groups that provide services to families touched by childhood cancer.