Due to COVID-19, not all of ASK's programs are operating as they would normally. If you have any questions about the status of any of our programs, please contact Denice Grawe, ASK's Program Manager, for up-to-date information.
We Support Our Patients.
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We know that long days spent at the hospital mean time away from family and friends. We know that there are no "do-overs" for our ASK kids and that their childhood memories are sometimes full of hospital visits instead of playdates. So, we do everything we can to make life a little easier and sweeter for our young patients.
Sometimes it's the little things. We know that fun band-aids work better than plain ones so we make sure the clinic is stocked with them. We know that toys or videos can help long clinic visits go faster. We know that the cost of coming to the hospital every day can add up, so we provide parking passes and meal tickets. Sometimes it's the big things. We're proud to say that we provide three important full-time staff members who are dedicated to supporting our patients and their families - a child life therapist, a chaplain and a child psychologist. This dedicated psycho-social team works side by side with the medical staff to make sure our kids receive the support they need. |
Child Life Therapy
During long hours spent in the clinic, ASK's child life specialist Katie Barber and her volunteers provide supportive intervention, as well as educational and therapeutic play. Children are encouraged to express themselves through play, using toys to demonstrate their feelings about medical treatments and procedures.
The program’s child life specialist and volunteers serve as the children’s advocates, helping them maintain contact with their friends back home and celebrating milestones of their childhood. |
Psychological Servicesoping with a life-threatening illness like cancer or a serious blood disorder is an overwhelming challenge for even the most courageous children and their loved ones. ASK understands the enormous strain these diseases place on families and offers psychological support by funding Dr. Jennifer Rohan, Director of Psychosocial Services. Services include psychological assessment and diagnosis, individual and family psychotherapy, and pain and symptom management.
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Chaplain SupportOne of ASK’s first initiatives after organizing years ago was to fund a full-time chaplain dedicated exclusively to the spiritual support of the patients and families. It proudly continues in that mission to this day. Chaplain Rich Catlett is available to each and every family in an effort to assist them to identify and draw from their available sources of spiritual and emotional support be they of a religious nature or not. He provides care on the hospital in-patient units, the ASK outpatient clinic, the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit, as well as for our bereaved families. He also particularly enjoys opportunities to see the kids and their families in social and educational programs, getting to know the kids on their good days so as to be a more effective support during the bad ones.
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Making Life Better Fund
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A childhood cancer diagnosis can be devastating for families financially as well as emotionally. A household with two working parents can become a household where only one parent can work. A single-parent household can become one with no guaranteed steady income. Out of pocket medical expenses can overwhelm an otherwise financially secure family. ASK is here to help.
We offer limited assistance for families with a child in active treatment at the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU. Qualified families may apply for help paying non-medical (housing, utilities, transportation) bills. We always encourage families to check in with their hospital social worker, too, to see what other organizations may be able to offer help. |
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Welcome Home
Welcome Home is a program that we offer in partnership with the Home Building Association of Richmond (HBAR). We know that while your child is in treatment, all of your time and resources are focused on his/her care and things like home repairs can often fall to the wayside. We also know that some homes need to be modified or cleaned to meet the medical needs of a child in treatment.
If your child is on active treatment and your home is in need of repairs, we may be able to help. The number of families we can help is based on the types of services needed and the availability of HBAR members to donate their time and talents. Please contact the ASK office for more information.
If your child is on active treatment and your home is in need of repairs, we may be able to help. The number of families we can help is based on the types of services needed and the availability of HBAR members to donate their time and talents. Please contact the ASK office for more information.
ASK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic
ASK is proud to partner with the Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU to support the ASK Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the new Children's Pavilion. This is the region's main service provider for pediatric cancer services. Opened in March 2016, the ASK Clinic includes exam rooms, an infusion center, a dedicated pharmacy for chemotherapy and special infusion medicines, and space to just have fun with our child life specialists during treatment.
Just for Fun Events
ASK plans Just for Fun Events throughout the year to give families a change to have fun and get to know others going through the same experience.
