National Resources
Below is a list of national resources you may find helpful. If you are in the state of Texas, click here for local resources.
Addiction
Eluna
267-687-7724
The mission of Eluna is to support children and families impacted by grief or addiction. Their innovative resources and programs address the critical needs of children experiencing powerful, overwhelming, and often confusing emotions associated with the death of someone close to them or substance abuse in their family. Offers several national camps. No child should have to face these struggles alone, and their unique programs bring kids together to ease their pain and provide the tools to help restore hope.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
800-662-4357
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation.
Bereavement Resources
Bridges Center for Grieving Children
(Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital)
253-403-1966
Bridges is a family-oriented grief support center. They support families with children between the ages of 4 and 18 who are coping with a loved one’s serious diagnosis or who have experienced the death of someone they care about through peer support groups.
Brighter Days Grief Center
952-303-3873
Brighter Days Family Grief Center focuses on bringing families back together after the death or terminal diagnosis of a loved one by addressing the many psychosocial and logistical needs of each family member. Trusted by hospices, schools, and communities since 2017, Brighter Days provides the free and compassionate services Minnesota children, adults, and families deserve.
Dougy Center
503-775-5683
Dougy Center has received national and international acclaim for their peer grief support model for helping children cope before and after the death of a family member. The Dougy Center Model has been replicated in over 500 sites throughout the world and is considered a ‘gold standard’ of practice in the field of grief and loss. They provide support in a safe place where children, teens, young adults, and families who are grieving can share their experiences before and after a death.
The Gathering Place
216-595-9546
The mission of The Gathering Place is to support, educate and empower individuals and families currently coping with the impact of cancer in their lives through programs and services provided free of charge. Supports children and teens living with cancer, have a parent or guardian with cancer, and experienced a death of an adult loved one from cancer.
Good Grief
908-522-1999
Provides unlimited and free support to children, teens, young adults, and families after the death of a mother, father, sister, or brother through peer support programs, education, and advocacy.
Grief Share
800-395-5755
A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, you’ll discover what to expect in the days ahead and what’s “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability—and gain solid support each step of the way. GriefShare provides support groups as well as other resources, workshops, webinars, and events to aide in the grief process.
HealGrief® is a social support network for helping individuals and families through their grief. Their work is inspired by the core belief that no one should ever grieve alone. They provide the tools and resources to guide one’s journey with grief into healthy personal post-bereavement growth.
The Healing Center
206-523-1206
The Healing Center connects individuals, children, and families who have experienced the death of a loved one with a community navigating similar terrain. Through their support groups, they bring together folks who share an age group, type of loss, and stage in their grief.
Inheritance of Hope
914-213-8435
They serve young families facing the loss of a parent due to terminal illness with resources and relationships for each family member. Their programs include support groups, virtual support, creating legacy videos, and no-cost to families retreats.
National Alliance for Children’s Grief
866-432-1542
The National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. Through the collective voice of their members and partners, they educate, advocate, and raise awareness about childhood bereavement.
Peace Hospice Children’s Bereavement Program
406-455-3040
Program is available to grieving children, teens, and families who suffer from expected, and unexpected deaths, including heart attacks, strokes, suicide, terminal illnesses, and accidents.
Red Door Community
(Formerly known as Gilda’s Club New York City)
212-647-9700
Their Youth Program is specifically created to support children and teens facing a parent’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, or loss. They recognize the impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on an entire family. Red Door Community offers support specifically to meet the unique needs of children (ages 5-12) and teens (ages 13-17).
SLAP’D — Surviving Life After a Parent Dies
Offers an online social network for teenagers who have lost a parent.
SLAP’D aspires to provide teens who have lost a parent with an online community of support to help ensure that they are not alone, to inspire hope, and to provide them with important resources throughout the grieving process.
Wild Grief
360 358-3213
At Wild Grief, they merge peer support with the healing power of nature. By offering free, outdoor experiences for teens, young adults, families, and all-ages groups, they help more people find a place where they can remember, process, and discover a path to healing.
Camp Resources
Camp Angel – hosted by Angel Foundation
Servicing all of Minnesota. Office located in Mendota Heights
Summer day camp experience provides three days of “serious and silly” for children, preteens, and teens who have or have had a loved one or caregiver with cancer.
- Camp Erin is a weekend camp program for children and teens grieving the death of a significant person in their lives.
- Children and teens ages 6-17 attend a transformational weekend camp that combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support, free of charge for all families.
also virtual camp options
- Camp Kesem serves youth ages 6-18 who have lost a parent to cancer, have a parent undergoing cancer treatment, or a parent that is a cancer survivor.
- It is a free overnight summer sleepaway camp (meaning that campers stay overnight at camp), typically 5 nights, 6 days long for youth impacted by a parent’s cancer.
Camp LIVIN – hosted by the LIVIN Foundation
Camp is located in Maple Lake, MN
- Camp LIVIN is a weekend retreat, held annually the fourth weekend in August. It was established in 2019 to help families and individuals that have been impacted by a loss to suicide.
- Camp cost is a $50 non-refundable registration fee per family of 5. Financial assistance is available.
- Camp LIVIN is most appropriate for families who have suffered a loss from suicide more than 6 months ago.
- There will be recreational activities, therapeutic exercises, and grief support provided. All participation is voluntary. Transportation is not provided.
- Camp Mariposa is a year-round addiction prevention and mentoring program for youth affected by the substance use of a family member.
- Children and teens attend transformational weekend camps every other month for a year or more.
- Youth ages 9-12 participate in fun, traditional camp activities combined with education and support sessions led by mental health professionals.
Experience Camps
Rutledge, GA
Vista, CA
Equinunk, PA
Smithfield, ME
Decatur, MI
Thurmont, MD
- Provides children and teens whose parent, sibling or primary caregiver has died, with free, one-week overnight summer camp programs that build confidence, encourage laughter and allow them to navigate their grief through friendship, teamwork, athletics, and the common bond of loss.
- Provides bus transportation to camp from airports and other locations
Hope Loves Company Camp
609-730-1144
Camp HLC is typically a three-day, overnight retreat for children and young adults, ages 6-21, who have or have had a loved one battling ALS. Families are invited as well. It is an opportunity to have fun, be challenged through team building exercises, and meet peers who are going through a similar experience. Camp is free for their ALS families by Hope Loves Company. All meals and activities are included. Camps in New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Georgia, and California
Cancer Resources
Airbnb
CSC Airbnb helpline: 877.793.0498
Cancer Support Community and Gilda’s Clubs have formed a partnership with Airbnb to provide free housing for cancer patients and caregivers when traveling for treatment.
Angel Foundation
(612) 627-9000
- Adult & Family Programs are offered to Minnesota families with children, preteens, and teens who have a caregiver that has cancer.
- Our Financial Cancer Care Workshop requires receiving treatment for your cancer diagnosis within the last 2 years.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF)
- Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) is changing the lives of children with cancer by funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer.
- ALSF is a resouce for siblings with cancer.
- Provides young cancer survivors who are parents of small children with a safe space for individual and familial healing, recovery, and reconnection.
- Offers virtual support groups
For adults. Cancer and Careers empowers and educates people with cancer to thrive in their workplace by providing expert advice, interactive tools and educational events.
For adults. Free and confidential one-on-one support to cancer patients and their families.
Cancer Support Community Greater Philadelphia
215-879-7733 Philadelphia location
215-441-3290 Warminster location
Our Children and Teens Programs (CTP) offer social and emotional support and activities to kids and teens at our Warminster and Philadelphia locations, as well as onsite at locations out in the community, including several local middle and high schools.
Provides support to children/teenagers with cancer, children/teenagers of someone who has cancer, siblings of someone who has cancer, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, neighbors, or friends of someone with cancer, and children/teenagers who have lost someone to cancer.
Provides hope and healing to the cancer community by ensuring anyone facing cancer can have a survivor by their side. Our 500+ trained volunteers walk alongside those facing cancer as they navigate treatment and the life changes that come with a cancer diagnosis.
Search their link to find 175 locations nationwide
For Adults. Through its week-long adventure camps, regional meetups, and education programming, Epic Experience empowers adult cancer survivors, thrivers, and caregivers to live beyond cancer.
For Adults. First Descents offers young adult cancer fighters and survivors, ages 18-39, a free outdoor adventure experience.
The Gathering Place
216-595-9546
Supports children and teens living with cancer, have a parent or guardian with cancer, and experienced a death of an adult loved one from cancer.
Gilda’s Club Chicago
312-464-9900
Gilda’s Club is a place where men, women, and children whose lives have been impacted by cancer, as well as their families and friends, can feel they are part of a welcoming community of support.
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
616-453-8300
- Designed for kids and teens impacted by grief or cancer, whether they are living with cancer themselves, know someone living with cancer or know someone who died due to any cause.
- Provides specialized cancer and grief support for youth ages 3-18 years and childcare for children under 3 years.
Gilda’s Club Kansas City – Kid Support Program
816-531-5444
Kid Support is designed to: Provide young people with age-appropriate information about cancer and its treatment, address common cancer-related misconceptions, promote children’s discussions about what they are feeling and experiencing, teach children coping skills and promote family communication about cancer.
Gilda’s Club Kentuckiana
502-583-0075 (Grinstead location)
502-371-3040 (W Broadway location)
Offers youth programs.
Gilda’s Club Madison
608-828-8880
Club is located Middleton. Servicing Madison, Middleton, & surrounding areas in Wisconsin.
Created to support children and teens facing a parent’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, or loss. We recognize the impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on an entire family.
Gilda’s Club Metro Detroit
248-577-0800
Our children and teen programs offer ongoing support for those who have been diagnosed with cancer, have a loved one living with cancer, or grieving the loss of a loved one to cancer.
Gilda’s Club Quad Cities
563-326-7504
Provides support to kids and teens who have been diagnosed with cancer, have a parent or loved one who is living with cancer, and are grieving the death of a loved one from cancer.
Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee
615-329-1124
Designed specifically for children and teens ages 5-17 who have a loved one living with cancer, have a diagnosis of cancer themselves, or are grieving the loss of a loved one.
Gilda’s Club Twin Cities
612-227-2147
- Designed especially for kids and teens living with cancer themselves or who have cancer in the family, and is built upon the five pillars of our program model: support, healthy lifestyle, education, social opportunities, and information and referral.
- We utilize age-appropriate support and educational activities, and we believe in support for the whole family, the whole time.
- Offers two virtual parenting support groups. One for parents who have been newly diagnosed with cancer and one for parents who are living with metastatic cancer.
Gilda’s Club Westchester
914-644-8844
Located in White Plains, NY
Ongoing support for children and teens who are living a life affected by cancer – their own diagnosis, that of loved one, or the loss of a loved one- through age-appropriate support groups, individual counseling sessions, social events, camps and workshops.
For Adults. Imerman Angels carefully matches and individually pairs a person touched by cancer (a cancer fighter or survivor) with someone who has fought and survived the same type of cancer (a Mentor Angel).
Jack & Jill Late-Stage Cancer Foundation
- ‘JAJF’s mission is to treat families to WOW! Experiences®, by giving children who will lose their Mom or Dad to cancer a timeout to create indispensable memories as a family while they can.
- Provides a trip for families with a mother or father diagnosed with late-stage, limited-life expectancy cancer.
- Families must be referred by/nominated by their oncologist. There are no self-referrals.
- Offers a broad range of free programs and services to support children affected by a parent’s cancer.
- Their flagship program, Camp Kesem, is a free week-long, sleep-away summer camp with chapters throughout the United States.
KidsCan!
919-684-4497
Available in Raleigh & Durham through Duke Health, Duke Cancer Center programs. Currently virtual so may be available to a further geographic range.
Infinite Strength
203-812-0549
They provide financial assistance and emotional support to underserved single mothers living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, in order to help them have a better quality of life. And to provide hope to both mother and child that they do not have to go on this journey alone.
Livestrong
855-220-7777
- Provides free support to cancer survivors, caregivers and loved ones.
- Has a curriculum designed to help educators, parents and caregivers teach children about cancer in a way that is inspiring and empowering. Livestrong at School offers age-appropriate lessons for grades K-12 to help children understand the cancer journey.
For adults. Luminaries delivers step-by-step toolkits to help cancer Survivors respond to challenges and thrive.
Parenting At a Challenging Time (PACT)
617-724-7272
- Offers guidance to parents with cancer receiving treatment at the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center who are concerned about the impact their cancer diagnosis and treatment may have on their children.
- You do not need to have insurance or request authorization from your insurance company before your appointment, because this service is provided to you at no charge.
Pickles Group
[email protected]
- Provides free peer-to-peer support and resources to kids and teens impacted by their parent or guardian’s cancer
- Servicing school-aged kids and teens enrolled in 1st through 12th grade, generally between the ages of 6-18
- Offers free Pickles family support kits, parent webinars, and resources
Red Door Community
(Formerly known as Gilda’s Club New York City)
212-647-9700
- Created to support children and teens facing a parent’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, or loss. We recognize the impact that a cancer diagnosis can have on an entire family.
- Offers support specifically to meet the unique needs of children (ages 5-12) and teens (ages 13-17).
For adults. Stupid Cancer provides educational and supportive resources to those impacted by adolescent and young adult cancer.
For adults. Dedicated to helping survivors, caregivers, and healthcare professionals navigate cancer survivorship issues by connecting them to experts, information, and resources.
For adults. Twist Out Cancer provides psychosocial support to previvors, survivors, and caregivers through creative arts programming which serves as a mechanism for healing.
Ulman Foundation
410-964-0202
Provides support for young cancer patients through support groups, resources, and education.
Chronic or Serious Illness Resources
Turning Point
913-574-0913
913-574-0900
- Provides free support for individuals with illness and their support people including programs focused on children and teens impacted by adult illnesses
- Patients do NOT have to receive care through Kansas Health System
Community Resources
Disability Inclusion Resource Guide
This guide offers various resources for staff, board members, current and potential grantees, and other community partners to expand our knowledge of the disability justice movement. Through enhancing our collective awareness of disability, we can begin to embed an inclusive and justice-oriented framework into our culture.
Cenikor Foundation has created a new program to help assist gaps in the surrounding community. Cenikor Foundation will be implementing Project Community Awareness, Intervention, and Mobilization (Community AIM). The purpose of this program is to prevent the onset and reduce the progression of substance misuse and its related problems.
Financial Assistance Resources
- LIVIN Foundation’s grant program provides help, hope and hugs to families and individuals in need. This could be due to a loss by suicide, or current mental health treatment or suicide prevention measures needed. Examples could include; funeral, household expenses, general care (including groceries, yard care, childcare), rent or tuition premiums.
- Approved and awarded grants from the LIVIN Foundation will be sent directly to the vendor for the request (not the individual). Grant applications accepted year-round, with requests being reviewed by the LIVIN Foundation Grant Committee, within the 4th quarter of each year.
Healthcare Assistance Resources
Dollar For
915-873-7793
They provide assistance with medical bills.
Fresh Start – Surgical Gifts
760-944-7774
Fresh Start provides children and teens with physical & cosmetic deformities caused by birth defects, accidents, disease or abuse through the gift of reconstructive and plastic surgery. Whether it’s a cleft lip palate or scar created by abuse or burns, they can help perform these surgeries and many more. Every child receives the highest quality medical care, regardless of the family’s ability to pay. Accepting applications from across the US, families never receive a bill for treatment.
Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation
The Mission of the Louise H. Batz Patient Safety Foundation is to help prevent medical errors by ensuring patients and families have the KNOWLEDGE they need to promote a safe hospital experience for their loved ones, and to support innovative advancements in patient safety.
Illness Resources
Direct-MS was formed in 1998 by families affected by Multiple Sclerosis with the goal of providing information and strategies that could help reduce symptoms and even slow or halt disease progression.
Hope Loves Company
609-730-1144
They provide educational and emotional support to children and young adults who had or have a loved one battling Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease. They offer children: Hugs of Hope care packages, free books, Camp HLC, a Young Ambassador program, Annual Scholarship and more.
MS Hope
403-973-1044
Our goal is to provide the science-based strategies that have enabled me to live a drug-free, healthy life for more than 25 years since my diagnosis. Below you will find information on the key components of MS Hope, along with useful guidelines and links to the research explaining the science behind the strategies.
Legacy Building Resources
Inheritance of Hope
914-213-8435
Inheritance of Hope’s mission is to inspire hope in young families facing the loss of a parent. The 501(c)(3) charity was founded by Kristen and Deric Milligan following several years of coping with the challenges of raising three young children while battling Kristen’s terminal liver cancer diagnosis. Inheritance of Hope is a faith-based organization – welcoming families of all faiths and backgrounds while serving under the core beliefs of the Christian faith.
Memories Live
646-245-1698
Memories Live uses the power of film to help people facing life-limiting illnesses preserve their images, stories & wisdom.
Legal Resources
Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC)
866-843-2572
Cancer Legal Resource Center (CLRC) is a program of the Disability Rights Legal Center (DRLC), a 501C-3 non-profit, public interest advocacy organization that champions the civil rights of people with disabilities as well as those affected by cancer and other serious illness.
LGTBQIA+ BIPOC Resources
The African American Breast Cancer Alliance (AABCA)
African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Inc. builds awareness, networking, resources, and support for Black women and men impacted by breast cancer.
Amplifying Black Voices Across Cancer
Amplifying Black Voices Across Cancer aims to amplify and share Black voices, stories, and experiences in order to shed light on disparities and lived experiences of what it means to be Black with cancer and to move forward together towards true equity within cancer research and beyond.
A support group for people who identity as members of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) and are living with a cancer diagnosis or have a loved one living with a cancer diagnosis.
Healing Garden Cancer Support Center
This BIPOC cancer support group will address the specific needs and experiences of the BIPOC community navigating a cancer diagnosis and provide the space for collective support, empowerment, and community building.
The National LGBT Cancer Network works to improve the lives of LGBT cancer survivors and those at risk through education, training, and advocacy.
The National LGBT Cancer Project
The National LGBT Cancer Project has an online support group community, Out with Cancer, that is committed to improving the health of LGBT cancer survivors with peer to peer support, patient navigation, education, and advocacy.
Medication Resources
Rx for Miracles
833-511-9500
A HIPAA-compliant prescription assistance program and how it may be of help to patients seeking assistance and information in affording their prescription medications. We are also a national partner with Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, and as such a donation is made to the nearest CMN Hospital for each prescription processed through the program.
Mental Health Resources
- LIVIN Foundation’s grant program provides help, hope and hugs to families and individuals in need. This could be due to a loss by suicide, or current mental health treatment or suicide prevention measures needed. Examples could include; funeral, household expenses, general care (including groceries, yard care, childcare), rent or tuition premiums.
- Approved and awarded grants from the LIVIN Foundation will be sent directly to the vendor for the request (not the individual). Grant applications accepted year-round, with requests being reviewed by the LIVIN Foundation Grant Committee, within the 4th quarter of each year.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
This is the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. No matter what problems you’re dealing with, whether or not you’re thinking about suicide, if you need someone to lean on for emotional support, call the Lifeline.
Resource Directories
Find free or reduced-cost resources like food, housing, financial assistance, health care, and more. Help starts here.
Comprehensive list of resources for cancer patients like financial resources, support groups, camps, etc.