Badger Childhood Cancer Network

Badger Childhood Cancer Network is a nonprofit built specifically for families of children and teens diagnosed with cancer or a life-threatening blood disorder. Families can come from anywhere, but the child must be a patient at American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin to receive services. At any given time they are supporting around 500 families across newly diagnosed kids, those in ongoing treatment, and those who have relapsed.

Their biggest program is direct emergency financial assistance. They know that in the first year after a childhood cancer diagnosis, families lose an average of 40% of their income. So they step in and help cover rent and mortgage, utility bills, phone bills, car payments, car repairs, gas, and groceries. This program runs on referrals from hospital social workers, so ask your social worker at American Family Children's Hospital to connect you.

When your child is first diagnosed, the family receives a New Diagnosis Bag right at the hospital. It is a large duffel packed with an informational folder for parents, age-appropriate resources for the patient, comfort items, toys, games, craft supplies, a toiletry kit, and a gas card to help offset those first trips back and forth.

Each fall, BCCN runs an Adopt-a-Family program where community donors are matched with the families who need it most. Parents submit a wish list of needs for each family member and donors go shopping for them. It is warm, personal, and real.

Their Parent to Parent program matches newly diagnosed parents with experienced parents who have walked a similar path. Matches are made based on cancer type, the child's age, and treatment type. Parents connect by phone, text, or in person and BCCN follows up to make sure the connection is working.

They also run free quarterly family parties in spring, summer, fall, and during the holidays, plus a June Kids Fishing Day. Siblings are always welcome, so the whole family gets a chance to be around people who actually get it.

The Hero Bead Program lets kids and teens collect a unique bead for every treatment milestone, blood draw, round of chemo, or birthday on treatment. Over time it becomes a visible, tangible record of everything they have survived.

Reach out through their contact page at badgerchildhoodcancer.org/contact-us or call 📞 608-231-8006.

Badger Childhood Cancer Network es una organizacion creada especificamente para familias de ninos y jovenes con cancer o trastornos graves de la sangre. Las familias pueden venir de cualquier lugar, pero el nino debe ser paciente del American Family Children's Hospital en Madison, Wisconsin para recibir los servicios. En cualquier momento estan apoyando a unas 500 familias entre recien diagnosticados, los que estan en tratamiento continuo, y los que han tenido una recaida.

Su programa mas grande es ayuda economica de emergencia directa. Saben que en el primer ano despues de un diagnostico de cancer infantil, las familias pierden en promedio el 40% de sus ingresos. Por eso ayudan con renta o hipoteca, cuentas de luz y agua, telefono, pagos del carro, reparaciones del carro, gasolina, y despensa. Este programa funciona a traves de referencias de trabajadores sociales del hospital, asi que pidele a tu trabajador social en American Family Children's Hospital que te conecte con ellos.

Cuando tu hijo recibe el diagnostico por primera vez, la familia recibe una Bolsa de Nuevo Diagnostico en el hospital. Es una mochila grande con una carpeta informativa para los padres, recursos para el paciente segun su edad, articulos de comodidad, juguetes, juegos, materiales de manualidades, un kit de aseo y una tarjeta de gasolina.

En el otono, BCCN tiene un programa Adopt-a-Family donde donadores de la comunidad se emparejan con las familias que mas lo necesitan. Los padres mandan una lista de necesidades y deseos para cada miembro de la familia y los donadores van de compras para ellos.

Su programa Parent to Parent empareja a padres recien diagnosticados con padres con experiencia similar. Se conectan por telefono, mensaje de texto, o en persona segun lo que sea mas comodo.

Tambien ofrecen fiestas familiares gratuitas cada temporada, un dia de pesca en junio, y el programa Hero Beads donde los ninos coleccionan una cuenta especial por cada tratamiento o hito en su camino, creando un registro visible de todo lo que han superado. Los hermanos siempre son bienvenidos.

Para conectarte visita badgerchildhoodcancer.org/contact-us o llama al 📞 608-231-8006.