Entire Family. Entire Lifetime. 100%-Free.

Comprehensive Support Through Specialized Therapy

At the Austin Hatcher Foundation, we know a pediatric cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family. We offer hope, healing, and assistance through personalized therapies, education, and family activities, empowering families to cope in the present and thrive in the future.

All Services

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy

Improves Physical Abilities, Sensory Deficits, Visual Perceptual Skills, Independence, Developmental Delays and Cognitive Function

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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.

Occupational Therapy helps with:
Neuro-Cognitive Testing

Neuro-Cognitive Testing

Measures Cognitive Abilities, Attention, Problem Solving, Memory, Language, IQ, Visual/Spatial Skills, Academic Skills and Social-Emotional Function

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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.

Neurocognitive testing is done for those who show signs of:
Music + Art Therapy

Music + Art Therapy

Enhances Emotional and Physical Function

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

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.

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.

Music + Art therapy help with:
Diversionary Therapy

Diversionary Therapy

Provides relief through fun activities, fosters family connections, and teaches coping strategies.

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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.

Diversionary therapy helps with the following:
Educational Advocacy

Educational Advocacy

Provides educational resources, Section 504 Plan, IEP Plan, Student Support Plan, School Readiness, Tutoring

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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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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. 

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

To address these challenges, we offer a range of support services, including:
S.T.E.A.M. Club

S.T.E.A.M. Club

Activities In Science, Tech, Engineering, Art, And Math That Follow A Theme And Meet Learning Goals.

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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!

The STEAM Club helps with:
Family Programs

Family Programs

Building Stronger Family Bonds Through Day Camps, Events for Parents, Teen + Young Adult Nights, and Special Activities for Siblings

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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.

Our Family Program offerings include:
Counseling

Counseling

Personalized Support for Trauma, Grief, Individual, and Family Healing

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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.

Mental health therapy can help with:
Industrial Arts + Shop

Industrial Arts + Shop

Treats and improves behavioral, memory and learning deficits. Uses hands-on projects to improve mental skills and build confidence.

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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.

Industrial Arts Therapy can help with:
Student Programs

Student Programs

Empowers Positive Health Behaviors and Wellness through Community-Based Healthy Lifestyle Education

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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.

Here are the main points to remember for lowering cancer risk:
Cog-Med

Cog-Med

Cog-Med, recommended upon evaluation, focuses on improving working memory and attention through brain-training exercises.

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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.

Cog-Med Therapy can help with:
Promoting sustained focus and mental agility in daily activities
Offering personalized support to maximize training benefits
Enhancing cognitive skills through interactive brain games
Boosting reading comprehension for improved learning outcomes
Supporting complex problem-solving and mathematical calculations
Improving attention for more focused learning and task completion
Enhancing working memory for better academic performance
Avoid tobacco and all tobacco products, even those without smoke
Use sun protection
Stay active
Choose healthy foods
Supporting recovery for young cancer survivors
Creating a sense of achievement
Encouraging creativity and problem-solving
Boosting practical skills with tools
Improving focus and concentration
Enhancing hand-eye coordination
Positive Change
Mind-body Connectivity
Interpersonal relationships
Problem-solving
Emotional processing
Self-reflection
Symptom management
Goal setting
Self-esteem
Teen + Young Adult Nights
Family Gatherings
Enrichment Camps (Summer camps, spring break camps, winter camps, and more)
Parents' Day/Night Out
Tutoring
Cultivating Curiosity
Sharpening Problem-Solving Skills
Developing Critical Thinking
Hands-on Learning
Creativity
Transitional Supports: Guidance for smoothly transitioning to new schools or even grade levels
Conflict Resolution Strategies: Techniques to handle disagreements constructively
Social and Emotional Counseling: Supports for developing positive and lasting relationships with peers
Time Management Skills: Strategies to efficiently allocate time for studies and activities
Organization Skills: Techniques to manage schoolwork and personal tasks
Tutoring: Assistance with specific subjects or skills. On-site or virtually
Encouraging kids to stay active aids in their physical recovery and overall well-being
Creating happy memories even in hard times, boosting joy and strength
Helping children learn to talk about their emotions and cope with challenging situations
Bringing families closer, allowing them to share and support each other
Giving kids a fun break from cancer treatment through activities like art projects and games
Improving speaking and language
Thinking and mental skills
Coordination and movement
Better communication
Expressing feelings
Expressing feelings
Making friends and socializing
Managing pain and stress
Building self-esteem
Enhancing critical skills for growth
Slower thinking speed
Increased impulsiveness
Confusion in thinking
Difficulties with reading or writing
Changes in spatial skills or visual perception
Problems with organization or planning
Attention or concentration issues
Communication difficulties
Memory loss
Better learning and social participation at school, home, and in the community
Boosting self-confidence and and promoting intrinsic motivation
Addressing challenges with sensory processing, attention, and behavior tendencies
Teaching essential self-care and household tasks for more independence
Helping children increase their age-appropriate, developmental skills
Enhancing thinking, problem-solving, and learning skills
Increasing coordination skills for more smooth, graded movements
Sharpening the ability to see and understand the world
Improving the ability to do tasks that require small, precise movements
Boosting overall fitness and energy
Sensory, Attention + Behavior Issues
Medical + Adaptive aids
Coordination skills/Problem solving/Visual Skills
Hand-eye coordination
Activities of daily life
Developmental delays
Visual perception
Promote self-esteem
Support successful learning
Feeding + Oral Function
Fine motor skills
Physical Fitness + Endurance