Arkansas Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers Recognizes Hope Cancer Resources as the 2016 Agency of the Year 

The mission of Hope Cancer Resources is to provide compassionate, professional cancer support and education to the Northwest Arkansas region today and tomorrow. Their vision is to be recognized as the premier source for comprehensive cancer support services while enhancing quality of life.

Hope Cancer Resources employs a highly-professional staff which includes a team of nine licensed oncology social workers (4 MSW and 5 BSW), a Spanish interpreter, and three certified health education specialists. Transportation is provided to take patients to every cancer treatment as needed as well as education to help a patient during and after their treatment. Financial assistance is provided for prescription medications, nutritional supplements, gas cards, as well as everyday living expenses to alleviate some of the financial stress a patient and their family may face.

Believing emotional support is essential for healthy survivorship, Hope Cancer Resources offers services ranging from a kind word or listening ear to one-on-one, couples or family counseling sessions with a licensed oncology social worker. Hope Cancer Resources also provides support groups, with four different groups currently offered including an art group, a group for people affected by lymphedema, a group for patients living with an ostomy and another for those suffering from different blood cancers/diseases. 

In addition, Hope Cancer Resources impacts the community by providing free cancer screenings and cancer prevention education for public schools, employers and the general public. This education includes smoking cessation, tobacco prevention, promoting healthy lifestyles and other means to reduce the risk of cancer.

These statistics from 2015 show what Hope Cancer Resources is doing free of charge for the people of Northwest Arkansas:
Social Work Assessments – 2,000 patients
Emotional Support for Patients – 2,720 patients
Psychosocial Counseling – 299 patients
Prescription Assistance – $59,000 for 331 patients
Emergency Financial Assistance – $267,000 for 633 patients
Transportation – 153,924 miles for 187 patients
Smoking Cessation – 241 patients; provided $17,000 in smoking cessation prescriptions 
Cancer Prevention – education to 3,500 (mostly school aged)
Save-A-Life – financial assistance for screening and diagnostic tests for 179 people 

Hope Cancer Resources is a premier social services agency serving all of Northwest Arkansas since 2009. The agency provides essential services to people with cancer in Northwest Arkansas. The agency supports the social work profession by employing social workers, supporting social work education and acting as a host for social work events in the region. The agency expands to meet growing needs of its clients. Hope Cancer Resources is deserving of the NASW-AR Agency of the Year Award.