A Lion in the House - Resources for Families

It is often difficult for families to access support services that are available in the community. Their child’s treatment demands, the need for childcare and transportation, and financial constraints are barriers to parents that would otherwise attend a support group.

Five community partners in Austin’s A Lion in the House Initiative collaborated to conceptualize and plan a new support group for young adults transitioning from pediatric care to adult care and facing challenges unique to their situation. The community partners also developed the concept and plan for a support group for parents with children and for parents with adolescents dealing with cancer.

The objective in all three proposed support groups is to offer support services to these underserved populations by way of a telephone support group. The groups will be free, easily accessible, and facilitated by health care professionals (i.e. social worker, nurse, LPB) with oncology experience.

A proposal for funding has been submitted for this innovative approach. KLRU applauds these five community partners for their creativity and determination to make a difference in the lives of underserved families:

Other Resources for Families

Local Childhood Cancer Information Line
June 21 & June 22, 8-10 pm
The stunning, heartbreaking and heartwarming footage captured in the documentary A Lion in the House will evoke questions. To help answer viewers’ questions about childhood cancer and related local resources, KLRU is setting up a local telephone information line with professionals ready to take calls during the airing of the program. Lines will be open on June 21 and June 22, 8-10 p.m. Watch the screen for the phone number.
Childhood Cancer Frequently Asked Questions
Local Childhood Cancer Resources/Referrals
Local Hotlines
State & National Childhood Cancer Informational Websites

Resources for Care Providers

A Local Online Resource Database
Central Texas does not currently have a central database listing resources related to pediatric and adolescent cancer. During the work of the local initiative on childhood cancer, the diverse professionals working with families expressed concern for parents struggling to find local services for their children and family members. In May 2006, the initiative launched an effort to gather this information, specific to pediatric and adolescent cancer, and make it available through an online, searchable database. The Children’s Hospital of Austin will establish and maintain the database on the Children’s Hospital website. Agencies and organizations serving families touched by childhood cancer may submit information for the database on this form.
Nurses and social workers can apply for 4 contact hours of continuing education related to A LION IN THE HOUSE on childhood cancer!
- Go to www.HMAssoc.org, click on Lion button.
- Print out post test ,evaluation form and application.
- Fill out the paperwork and send to HMA.
- Fee: $10/HMA members, $20/others.
- A certificate will be mailed after the test is graded.
- Course Title: A Lion in the House
- Questions/comments about the continuing educaiton credits to:
  Sharon Adkins, MSN, RN
  Director
  Center for Parish Nursing & Health Ministries
  Health Ministries Association, Inc.
  B-0102 MCN (2642)
  1161 21st Ave. South
  Nashville, TN 37232-2642
  Phone: 615-343-2019
  Fax: 615-936-7400
  www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/parishnursing