CHILDREN WITH CANCER--FACILITATING SCHOOL RE-ENTRY

THE LONG-TERM OBJECTIVE OF THIS RESEARCH IS TO DEVELOP MATERIALS TO ASSIST EDUCATORS, PARENTS, STUDENTS, AND MEDICAL TEAMS IN HELPING THE STUDENT WITH CANCER RETURN TO SCHOOL SUCCESSFULLY AS PART OF HIS/HER TOTAL REHABILITATION. THE SPECIFIC AIMS OF PHASE I ARE TO: (1) IDENTIFY THE KEY THEMES, ISSUES, GOALS, AND OBJECTIVES OF THE MATERIALS; (2) IDENTIFY THE APPROPRIATE FORMATS TO COMMUNICATE THIS CONTENT; (3) ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF DISSEMINATION AVENUES FOR THE MATERIALS; AND (4) CREATE A MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT PLAN. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE A LITERATURE REVIEW, INTERVIEWS WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER CENTER STAFF AND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE NATION, FOCUS GROUP INTERVIEWS WITH TARGET AUDIENCE MEMBERS, AND EXPLORATORY DISCUSSIONS WITH POTENTIAL DISSEMINATION AGENCIES. IN CARRYING OUT THESE ACTIVITIES, PROJECT STAFF WILL CONSULT REGULARLY WITH A NATIONAL ADVISORY BOARD OF EXPERTS AND A LOCAL TEAM COMPOSED OF EDUCATORS AND STAFF FROM CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AT STANFORD. PHASE I RESULTS WILL INCLUDE AN ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY/LIST OF FILMS, A POSITION PAPER OUTLINING PHASE II PRODUCTS, AND A MATERIALS DEVELOPMENT/FORMATIVE EVALUATION PLAN. THE MATERIALS DEVELOPED IN PHASE II WILL BE TECHNOLOGICALLY INNOVATIVE IN CONTENTS, FORMATS, AND AUDIENCES IN AN AREA WHERE THERE ARE CURRENTLY FEW MATERIALS DESPITE A VERY SIGNIFICANT NEED.