Removing Barriers to Education
Childhood cancer can disrupt a child’s school experience. A hospital-school liaison bridges the communication between a child’s healthcare team and school team and translates information from the healthcare providers into educational action plans.
The STRONG Approach
The STRONG program supports children and their families during and after treatment for a brain tumor. Our goal is to proactively address potential barriers to learning that might arise after a childhood cancer diagnosis.
Services Include
STRONG Hospital-School Liaison Services are flexible and individualized because children’s needs may change over the course of treatment. Our focus is to align school-based supports to the identified needs of every child. This includes:
- Navigating Home & Hospital Teaching services and other out-of-school learning programs offered by the school district.
- School re-entry planning.
- Facilitating the development of a school-based Individualized Healthcare Plan (IHP).
- Communicating educationally relevant information to the school and healthcare teams.
- Facilitating the 504 or IEP process.
- Providing technical assistance to schools to better meet children’s needs.
- Connecting patients and their families to community-based educational and extracurricular opportunities.
Meet Your School Liaison
Dr. Lisa Carey is an education specialist and researcher focused on supporting the unique educational needs of children and teens who have been treated for cancer. She is passionate about bringing together school and healthcare teams to improve school experiences and enhance learning for all students.
My role within STRONG is to ensure that everyone - the family, the healthcare team, and the school team - feel confident meeting the educational needs of kids who have experienced cancer.” - Lisa Carey, Ed.D.
Contact Information
Email address: STRONGprogram@kennedykrieger.org