Free, Lifetime Support for Pediatric Cancer Families

Occupational Therapy aids children in enhancing their motor, sensory, and cognitive abilities through meaningful and purposeful activities while propelling increased independence and confidence in daily activities.

Occupational Therapy focuses on empowering children facing movement, sensory processing, and cognitive skills challenges. Our goal is to nurture confidence and independence in daily activities. Occupational Therapy at the Austin Hatcher Foundation helps pediatric cancer patients enhance their motor, sensory, and mental abilities, promoting independence and confidence in everyday activities.

Neurocognitive testing assesses vital brain functions, aiding in the understanding of cognitive health and guiding treatment and educational planning. Testing typically involves tasks completed using paper, pencil, or computer in a one-on-one setting and is physically non-invasive.

Neurocognitive testing is a brain health assessment that evaluates essential functions such as memory, attention, language, and problem-solving. Our testing provides a comprehensive overview of an individual's mental abilities, which is instrumental in monitoring changes over time, assessing treatment effectiveness, and guiding educational or career decisions.

Licensed professionals at the Austin Hatcher Foundation conduct these evaluations with precision and care.

Music and art therapy improve children's emotional well-being, stress management, and self-expression

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Music Therapy

Each session is designed to be welcoming and engaging, making children feel comfortable and eager to participate. This approach opens new pathways for learning and growth through music therapy.

Our team works closely with each child, tailoring music experiences to meet their unique needs.

Music therapy has been shown to improve behavior, enhance communication skills, and support development in critical areas like social interaction, emotional expression, motor skills, and mental functioning.

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Art Therapy

Art therapy uses creativity to help individuals and families heal and grow. This allows people to express themselves in ways that words alone can't, aiding with various individual and community concerns.

A licensed clinician leads this process in a safe and supportive setting. They use various materials and techniques like drawing, painting, and sculpting to explore emotions, thoughts, and experiences through art. 

Through creative expression and Therapy, children can enhance their mental and motor skills, boost self-esteem and self-awareness, develop emotional resilience, gain insight, improve social skills, and enhance conflict resolution abilities.

Diversionary therapy provides relief through fun activities like games and crafts, fostering family connections, and teaching coping strategies. It provides a supportive space for families to connect and build resilience, teaching children healthy coping strategies and promoting physical well-being.

At the Austin Hatcher Foundation, we design fun and engaging activities tailored to each child's age and development. These activities help children grow stronger, improve their coordination, and build confidence.

This provides a supportive space for families to connect and build resilience, teaching children healthy coping strategies and promoting physical well-being.

Educational advocacy helps school children with pediatric cancer, emphasizing personalized plans, tutoring, skill development, and collaboration with school staff to address each child's unique needs.
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Educational advocacy helps school children affected by pediatric cancer, emphasizing personalized plans, tutoring, skill development, and collaboration with school staff to address each child's unique needs.

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To address these challenges, we offer a range of support services, including:

Section 504 Advocacy: Work with school personnel to help advocate for additional support via a Section 504 Plan. Some of the most common accommodations and supports include extra time and a flexible setting on school and state test exams. 

Individualized Education Programs (IEP): Help parents and educators identify and tailor learning goals and support services for students with special needs.

Student Support Plans (SSP): Offer, encourage, and advocate extra support for students struggling with academics, behavior, or social-emotional issues.

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We're here to make sure every child gets the support they need to shine in school, no matter what challenges they face.

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In addition to the education and advocacy of educational plans, we help students with:

Tutoring: Assistance with specific subjects or skills. On-site or virtually.

Organization Skills: Techniques to manage schoolwork and personal tasks.

Time Management Skills: Strategies to efficiently allocate time for studies and activities.

Social and Emotional Counseling: Supports for developing positive and lasting relationships with peers.

Conflict Resolution Strategies: Techniques to handle disagreements constructively.

Transitional Supports: Guidance for smoothly transitioning to new schools or even grade levels.

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We focus on building social and emotional skills to foster a well-rounded educational experience. Our collaboration extends to school staff, including nurses, school counselors, social workers, and administrators, ensuring comprehensive support. 

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We also ensure that parents and caregivers are integral partners in their child's education

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The STEAM Club is a program for any child affected by pediatric cancer (survivors, current patients, siblings) that blends science, technology, engineering, art, and math for creative and interactive learning.

The STEAM Club at Austin Hatcher Foundation is an after-school program that provides educational opportunities based on Tennessee state standards in Science, Technology, Engineering, Agriculture, and Math. AHF's STEAM Curriculum Coordinator makes sure activities follow a theme and records are kept to make sure children are following a curriculum and achieving mastery of standards. As a form of Diversionary Therapy, or the use of recreation or play as an addition to treatment, STEAM activities are a great resource the Austin Hatcher Foundation offers through all family program events. And like all services at AHF, STEAM Clubs are 100%-free, offered to affected patients and their siblings!

AHF Family Programs provide children and teens an opportunity to connect with others who are going through/ have been through similar experiences as they hang out with our experienced staff. Our family programs range from week-long camps, Teen Nights, Parents Day Out, Young Adult Nights, day camps, and more, and they get creative! Diversionary therapy is disguised through fun games, therapy, and crafts! Kids and teens also get to take part in STEM activities, working on fine motor and critical thinking skills.

Families and individuals gain confidence and social skills in our programs while forming lasting, meaningful connections. We provide educational and fun experiences that children might not have access to otherwise. These programs also give parents and caregivers a much-needed break.

Our Family Programs are open to any child who has been affected by pediatric cancer, whether it was themselves (patient, survivor) or a sibling.

Families can find strength and support during challenging times by participating in these activities.

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Support services offered for families. Licensed professionals provide therapy for families, focusing on resilience, relationships, and problem-solving. Comprehensive care is ensured through collaboration with community providers.

Counseling support services are offered for the entire family, tailored to each unique family’s needs. Whether it’s grief counseling, marriage counseling, individual counseling, or group counseling, AHF’s licensed professionals provide counseling for any family affected by childhood cancer, focusing on resilience, relationships, and problem-solving. Comprehensive care is ensured through collaboration with community providers.

Licensed professionals who can evaluate, diagnose, and help individuals, families, and groups provide these services. The mental health team works closely with other community providers to ensure the best care for everyone seen.

This is a STEM-based, educational therapy program that allows children to apply the freedom of movement as a form of rehabilitation. Tightening a bolt or successfully threading a needle gives the child a feeling of accomplishment all while exercising fine motor skills important for cognition, working memory, and impulse control – all factors affected by childhood cancer.

In this program, children work with materials such as wood and metal. They use various tools to create objects, from simple hand tools to more advanced power tools. They also learn about small engine repair. It's an excellent way for them to learn new skills, feel a sense of achievement, and support their recovery journey.

Our Healthy Lifestyle division educates kids on making healthy choices. This reduces their risk of getting cancer in the future. We focus on four critical areas: eating well, not using tobacco/vaping, being active/exercising, and protecting yourself from the sun. These areas are linked to about 65% of adult cancer cases.

One of our main programs is "Fueling Potential: Racing to Win,” a program for kids from Kindergarten to 5th grade. We compare our bodies to race cars to teach four key lessons. Kids learn about choosing healthy foods, exercising to stay strong, avoiding tobacco/vaping for better health, and using sun protection. Our certified teachers run this program in schools and at community events. It's a fun and effective way to learn.

Our program empowers children with knowledge about healthy habits to reduce future health risks.

Cog-med therapy enhances working memory and attention, showing benefits after a few weeks of training.

Research shows that participants have better focus, can remember more information for complex tasks like math problems, and see improvements in reading comprehension.

This therapy may be recommended for families during feedback sessions, particularly if working memory issues are noted.

Combining brain science with video game design and expert support, Cog-Med offers lasting benefits to people of all ages, including children as young as four.

With dedication, participants can achieve significant improvements in their daily lives. We are committed to providing Cog-Med services, focusing on the best possible patient outcomes.