connect over cancer

CONNECT OVER CANCER

For kids and teens navigating a parent or guardian’s cancer.

Ages 6-18 | Virtual
Meets Weekly for 5 Weeks | Sundays, 3:00-4:30pm CT
Connect Over Cancer is offered 4 times a year: Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer
Winter Cohort: January 25 - February 22, 2026
FREE
All are welcome

Connect Over Cancer is a proven activity-based peer support model for kids affected by a parent or guardian’s cancer. Kids and teens build relationships with peers who get them in a safe, supportive, fun environment online. 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.

These engaging, virtual group meetings are interactive, play, and art-based. Parents receive weekly prompts to help facilitate connection and conversation at home.

As part of a Connect Over Cancer group, your child will
💚 develop and practice coping skills
💚 create connections with peers who share their lived experience
💚 receive honest, age appropriate information about cancer

All groups are led by skilled Youth Facilitators who have backgrounds in areas such as Child Life, Social Work, and Nursing. They use a curriculum designed by our Chief Clinical Program Officer, Kelsey Mora, LCPC, CCLS, an expert in supporting families through illness and grief.

Please note:
We recommend families navigating a parent or guardian’s cancer start finding support with our 5-week virtual Connect Over Cancer program.

Winter 2026 enrollment deadline: Friday, December 19, 2026

meeting dates

Weekly for 5 Weeks | Sundays, 3:00-4:30pm CT

Winter 2026
 January 25
February 1
February 8
February 15
February 22

Fall 2025
September 28
October 5
October 12
October 19
October 26

weekly program themes

💚 Week 1 - Getting started and getting to know each other.

💚 Week 2 - Shared experiences. What do we have in common? What brings us together?

💚 Week 3 - Learn together. What is cancer? What is treatment? What is my parent going through, and how can I better communicate with them about it?

💚 Week 4 - How it feels and what can we do about it? Kids start to express their emotions and learn valuable coping skills they can use in life beyond their parent’s cancer, too.

💚 Week 5 - Hope, gratitude, and see you soon! Kids leave the program with positivity and friendships that will help them throughout their parent's experience.

registration tips

New Pickles Families

Please complete our Youth Registration Form by December 19, 2025 to receive program information and supplies for the Sunday, January 25, 2026 start date.

Please select the “Yes” for “Would you like your child to attend our 5-week Winter Virtual 'Connect Over Cancer' Program that starts January 25, 2026?” on the youth registration form section.

Existing Pickles Families

You will receive a separate link if they are interested in registering their child(ren).

Parents Say…

“For the first time in this process since my husband's diagnosis, my daughter has a support system and new friends that truly understand what she is going through. This has been a game-changer in her attitude and overall demeanor.”

“This group will make your child understand they aren’t alone. No pressure to share, but they can listen to others and know they aren’t alone.”

“<My child> seems to be talking about how their dad is feeling each day, with more ease and not just avoiding it completely.”

Pickles Kids Say…

“I liked being with kids my age and just having a safe space to talk <about stuff>.”

“I liked everything but what I loved most was hanging out with everyone knowing that I'm not alone.”

“ I learned that I don't have to carry everything in my backpack by myself. It's much easier if others could help me as well. As well as identifying that not EVERYTHING I'm worrying about is my responsibility.”

  • Connect Over Cancer meets every Sunday for 5 weeks from 1-2:30pm Pacific, 2-3:30pm Mountain, 3-4:30pm Central and 4-5:30pm Eastern.

  • The meetings are conducted virtually via Zoom.

  • There are 5 meetings total, for each Connect Over Cancer cohort. Youth should plan to attend every week to experience the full benefit of the program.

  • All Pickles Group programs are open to children ages 6-18 or in 1st-12th grade.

  • Meetings are facilitated by our skilled volunteer Youth Facilitators who have backgrounds in child development, education, Child Life, social work, and other youth-focused areas. They use a curriculum developed by Pickles Group Chief Clinical Officer, Kelsey Mora, CCLS, LCPC.

  • Each group varies - but there usually around 18-20 youth in one group at a given time.

  • All Pickles Group programs are 100% free! 

  • Before the session, help your child get set up in a quiet, private, and comfortable space. For younger kids, we recommend an adult stay for the first 5–10 minutes to assist with tech and ensure they're settled. Kids often feel most at ease sharing when they have space away from their parent or guardian. Parents receive prompts to support continued connection and conversation at home.

  • The groups are closed - meaning that the same, small, consistent group of Youth Facilitators and participants are at every meeting.

If you have additional questions about our programs, we are happy to talk to your family.
Please email Cam Dews, Pickles Group Program Director, at cameryn@picklesgroup.org.

FAQs