Psychosocial help and support

PSYCHOSOCIAL ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT

We help with our HEART

 

Fighting cancer is extremely difficult and exhausting, both for the child and the family. Simply learning about the diagnosis is a type of life-changing shock for the whole family.

Uncertainty, change in daily routine, facing the hospital environment, pain and fear, lack of comprehension of the illness and other side effects - these challenges require almost superhuman mental stability. Due to this, emotional and psychosocial support to children and their families is our priority, right after proper treatment.

Our psychosocial support programme is a result of years of experience in working with sick children and their families. While focusing on their emotional, mental, physical, and social needs, we try not to overlook what we deem precious - that behind those needs are human beings caught in a difficult situation, in great need of a warm-hearted understanding. Every day we try to infuse them with strength in times of doubt, consolation in times of sadness, joyful moments when happiness is what they crave.

The psychosocial support programme entails continuous support to a child from the moment of learning about the diagnosis, through every stage of the disease. Through creative workshops we organise at the haemato-oncology departments and the Parents’ House, we try to normalise the children’s daily life disturbed by a malignant disease.

We provide support to parents on daily basis through counselling and informal conversations “over a cup of coffee”, and occupational therapy workshops with our psychologist and social worker. Parents and children can choose from individual and group therapy, as well as psychotherapy.

However, being acutely aware of the fact that support to sick children and their families almost always implies specific material assistance, we have established the Socially Vulnerable Families Fund, as well as the Procurement of Medicines Fund. Access to these funds is regulated by the Rulebook on allocation of funds and is available to all our beneficiaries who are full members of the Association.

In addition, during treatment and as part of the psychosocial support programme, we offer physiotherapy to children with cancer, having previously consulted with the medical staff at the haemato-oncology departments; assistance with relocation of children for treatment abroad; translation of documents, and individual and group counselling.

As we are forever looking to expand our portfolio of psychosocial services, in 2017 we launched the Moja kosa, tvoja kosa (My hair, your hair) project, which involves making of medical, human hair wigs for children in Bosnia and Herzegovina affected by temporary or permanent hair loss due to treatment or disease. This project aims to psychologically strengthen the children and young people shocked by hair loss, increase their self-confidence and make their return to school and home after treatment easier, so they do not feel as being different and marginalised.

 

SUPPORT OUR PSYCHOSOCIAL PROGRAMS

 

OUR PROJECTS

 

Year Ongoing projects Donor / Partner
ongoing Psychosocial support to children with cancer or treated for cancer, and to their parents Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of the Sarajevo Canton
ongoing Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents FBiH Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
ongoing My hair, your hair Swiss Development Coordination/Swiss Embassy in BiH
ongoing Psychosocial support to sick children and their families - engagement of a psychologist Nedim Čopra, Switzerland
Year Implemented projects Donor / Partner
2016. Psychosocial support to children with cancer International Atomic Energy Agency(IAEA),Vienna
2016. Psychosocial support to sick children and their families - engagement of a psychologist A.E.A.L. Association
2015. Psychosocial support to sick children and their families - engagement of a psychologist A.E.A.L. Association
2016. Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents FBiH Ministry of Labour and Social Policy
2016. Psychosocial support to children with cancer or treated for cancer, and to their parents Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of the Sarajevo Canton
2015. Psychosocial support to children with cancer or treated for cancer, and to their parents Ministry of Labour, Social Policy, Displaced Persons, and Refugees of the Sarajevo Canton
2014. It hurts less when we are with them Centar Municipality
2015. Let’s make them happy - Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents IN Foundation - Foundation for improvement of social inclusion of children and youth in BiH
2014. Let’s make them happy - Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents IN Foundation - Foundation for improvement of social inclusion of children and youth in BiH
2013. Let’s make them happy - Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents IN Foundation - Foundation for improvement of social inclusion of children and youth in BiH
2012. Let’s make them happy - Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents IN Foundation - Foundation for improvement of social inclusion of children and youth in BiH
2013.  Let’s make them happy - Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents The NATO Charity Bazar
2012 Psychosocial support to children with cancer and to their parents Johnson&Johnson
2012 Psychosocial support to sick children and their families - engagement of a psychologist Merck Sharp & Dohme IDEA AG

 

For detailed information on our psychosocial assistance and support programme, please contact:

Jasna Vatreš, social worker jasna.vatres@srcezadjecu.ba

Aldina Selimagić-Šljivo, psychologist aldina.sljivo@srcezadjecu.ba

Nermina Ćuzović, Project Coordinator nermina.cuzovic@srcezadjecu.ba