Our Programs
Our programs are available free of charge for families in Southern Arizona with a child diagnosed with cancer or other hematological disorder.
Families may self refer or have their social worker make the connection.
Youth and Sibling Support Program (YSSP)
At Candlelighters we understand that the diagnosis of a child effects everyone in the family. Siblings often find themselves left out when great focus is on their ill sibling. Routines such as carpooling to sports or other extra curricular activities are often suddenly cut due to the family’s “new normal” of the need for one or both parents to be present at constant clinic visits and/or hospitalizations. Our programs aim to provide normalizing activities for all children in the family, and to provide opportunities for peer support with other siblings experiencing similar circumstances. In addition to support groups our YSSP provides (but is not limited to) the following events:
Annual Candle Lighting Ceremony
Join us as we honor and remember children with cancer and blood disorders on the front lawn of Banner University Medical Center Tucson during September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
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Halloween Party
The CCCFSA Halloween party provides a fun, supportive environment for the entire family to get together, have dinner, engage in seasonal art activities and games, and socialize with peers experiencing similar circumstances.
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Inpatient Thanksgiving Dinner
The already all encompassing challenges of a cancer diagnosis can be compounded by feelings of isolation and sadness when stuck in the hospital at holiday times. CCCFSA staff and volunteers bring a “full course” Thanksgiving meal of turkey and all the sides and trimmings for youth in the hospital, their families, and their hospital unit / clinic staff. Each year these dinners are kindly donated by a variety of local restaurants and food providers.
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Holiday Assistance Party
Holidays can be a joyful time. Yet those experiencing the traumas of ongoing medical treatments, side effects, hospitalizations, missed school and work, and financial hardship, may experience increased stress during this time. The CCCFSA Holiday Assistance party brings families together, provides gift wishes for every diagnoised child and each of their siblings, and a fun, activity filled party emphasizing a variety of local cultural traditions. Financial assistance is also provided for families in need
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Dream Night Prom for Teens
Youth and siblings alike enjoy an elegant evening of style, music and camaraderie at the Annual Dream Night Prom.
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Annual Family Camps
Candlelighters has offered an annual Weekend Family Retreat every year since 1985, in a variety of camp settings across Arizona. A second camp has been added, in the fall, in Heber, AZ.
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Educational Support and Advocacy
Students who miss school due to hospitalizations, treatments and clinic visits, side effects, and/or pain crises are in need of extra support and assistance in engaging with their teachers as appropriate. YSSP has provided laptops for youth with Sickle Cell disease, allowing them to maintain …
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Young Adult Oncology Support Group
Support group for Young Adults
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Financial Assistance and Resource Program (FARP)
The staff at CCCFSA work closely with the pediatric oncology social workers at the local treating hospital (Banner UMC Tucson) to ensure families are connected with all resources available both locally and nationally. Unfortunately, all of these community resources combined fall short in meeting the full needs of our families. The FARP program decreases this gap by way of two program components. The first is by providing financial assistance for such things as utility bills, rent or car payments, gas and grocery cards, etc. The second is by providing one on one mentoring to identify each families specific needs and ensure that the family has knowledge of any additional options available to them (e.g. local low income utility programs, etc) . Families are provided with helpful “tips” and resources found to be useful in navigating through systems that often require strong self advocacy. This is a popular topic at many of our events, when families network and provide mutual support and information.
