ABOUT OUR CHICAGO YOUTH EMPOWER “LEARNING ABOUT CANCER” DAY PROGRAM
Pickles Group’s successful activity-based peer support model for kids affected by a parent’s cancer is offered in-person in Chicago via our Youth Empower “Learning About Cancer” Day Program.
Our Chief Clinical Program Officer, Kelsey Mora, LCPC, CCLS, is an expert in supporting families through illness and designed this unique program.
Kids and teens in 1st-12th grade build relationships with friends who get them in a safe, supportive, fun environment. They also learn about cancer in a developmentally appropriate way, an experience that’s proven to decrease stress, anxiety, and worry for kids whose parents have cancer.
This engaging day experience is interactive, play, and art-based.
The day is facilitated by our skilled Youth Facilitators who have backgrounds in child development, education, Child Life, social work, and other youth-focused areas.
Kelsey breaks down the focus of each session in our program that supports kids' needs through their parent's cancer via the video below.
💚 Shared experiences: What do we have in common? What brings us together? Recognize that youth are not alone in their parent illness experience
💚 Let's learn together: What is cancer? What is treatment? What is my parent going through, and how can I better communicate with them about it? Talking about being a kid whose parent has cancer in a safe space.
💚 How it feels and what can we do about it: Express and normalize feelings. How do I experience change? What coping skills can I use to deal with these feelings?
💚 Hope, Wishes, Community, and Gratitude! Kids leave the program with positivity and friendships that will help them throughout their parent's experience.
Spring Day Program Cohort: Sunday, October 8 from 2-6pm CT
Event Type: In-person program for youth. The location is in Chicago’s North Shore. Travel stipends are available for qualifying families. Dinner will be provided.
Who Can Attend: New and existing Pickles youth navigating a parent or guardian’s cancer diagnosis. We serve kids and teens in 1st - 12th grade. All are welcome. This program is well-suited for youth who would benefit from peer connection and a better understanding of cancer.
Registration: If you are a new Pickles Family, please complete our youth registration form no later than Sunday, September 24 to reserve your spot in our Fall cohort.
Please select the “Chicago North In-Person” program on your registration form.
Existing Pickles families will receive a separate link to register their child(ren).