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March News

Today marks the first day of Social Work Month. The purpose of Social Work Month is to help the public understand all the good social workers do for society. "Social workers are everywhere. We work in medical clinics, hospitals, local nonprofits, schools, jails, private counseling facilities, government agencies, nursing homes and many other places. Social workers strive to meet the needs of every client and support their overall well-being. We recognize the dignity and worth of all people. Everybody can benefit from the services of a social worker at some point in their lives," Claire Rinehart, LMSW, Hope Cancer Resources Social Worker. 

Patient Services Team March 2017We are very fortunate to have ten social workers on the Hope Cancer Resources team. Whether they're creating a new support group, booking a hotel room for the family of a patient who's going out of state for treatment, or meeting one-on-one with a patient who just received an unexpected diagnosis, our social workers have dedicated their lives to helping patients and families better navigate their cancer journey.

The field of social work is not for the faint of heart, especially in agencies that deal with children or the ill.
"In this field, burnout is a reality because of the constant trauma that you can be exposed to day-to-day," Tania Martinez, BSW, Hope Cancer Resources Social Worker. Oncology social work is especially difficult in that these social workers encounter distressful and often heart-wrenching stories from cancer patients both young and old every day. "Cancer is really rough, and sometimes it's hard to see the toll that cancer takes on families and patients," Sarah Bryson, LCSW, Hope Cancer Resources Social Worker. Our organization is fortunate to not only have social workers who provide support to the patients we serve, but also to each other and the rest of our staff. "Support from our team – having colleagues available to talk through the challenges – is so helpful during the really tough days," Lauren Dallas, LCSW, Hope Cancer Resources Social Worker. 

Our social workers spend the majority of their time working with patients at Highlands Oncology Group in Rogers or Fayetteville and Landmark Cancer Center in Rogers. When patients have their first cancer-related appointment at one of the clinics, one of our social workers will meet with them to assess their needs. "Having a support system is really important when going through something that is life changing," Kaci Cole, LSW, Hope Cancer Resources Social Worker. There are numerous ways we can help patients, from the time they are initially diagnosed to years after their treatment ends, and we offer these services at no cost. 

This past year, our social workers provided more assistance to more people than ever before:

  • New Patients Assessed – 2,453
  • Financial Assistance for Prescriptions – $68,281 for 354 patients
  • Financial Assistance – $280,960 for 702 patients
  • Gas Cards – $43,415 given to 443 patients
  • Supportive Emotional Sessions – 330 patients ($15,882 value)
  • Counseling – 334 patients ($41,250 value)
  • Five Support Groups – 339 patients ($20,340 value) 
  • Total Emotional Support Provided – 3,247 patients ($194,820 value)

Our social workers truly do provide support for the journey during one of the most difficult times in their clients' lives.

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Click here to learn more about Social Work Month 2017.