Program to Reduce Poverty Improves Childhood Cancer Treatment

Cash Transfers⁤ Ease Financial Burden for Families Battling Childhood cancer

Boston, MA – A groundbreaking pilot program at Dana-Farber‍ Cancer Institute is offering hope to⁤ families struggling to cope with the financial strain ⁣of childhood cancer. Pediatric RISE (Resource Intervention to Support Equity) provides direct cash transfers to low-income families, ‍aiming to alleviate the⁣ stress of basic needs ⁤during a child’s cancer treatment.

Initial results, presented at the 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition in San Diego, suggest that‍ RISE is both feasible ⁢and highly valuable to these families.

“One in three children diagnosed⁣ with cancer lives in a⁤ low-income household worried about meeting basic needs while thier child undergoes treatment,” says Dr. Kira Bona, a pediatric oncologist at Dana-Farber/Boston children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Centre and principal investigator of the study.”That’s a staggering statistic.”

Pediatric RISE addresses this disparity ⁢by providing twice-monthly cash payments to eligible families for ⁣three months. The amount is based on the Child Tax Credit and the number of dependents in ‍the household.

Twenty families ⁣participated in the pilot program, all with children receiving treatment at dana-Farber. The majority were non-white or Hispanic,publicly insured,and living in single-parent households. The median household income was $27,250.

“Families found the program incredibly helpful, reporting reduced stress as it⁣ allowed them to meet essential needs like housing and ⁢food,”‍ says Dr. Colleen Kelly, a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow in Dr. Bona’s lab and presenter of the findings at ASH. “It’s hard to imagine navigating a child’s cancer journey while also facing financial hardship.”

The program is designed to address concerns about⁣ cash payments. Payments are treated‍ as non-taxable gifts to avoid jeopardizing other benefits. Families also have access⁣ to a certified benefits counselor to review⁢ potential impacts on government assistance.

Payments are made⁢ through a nonprofit to separate funding from medical care, and families have the adaptability to use the money for ⁢any need, recognizing the diverse challenges they face.

“This flexibility allows ⁢families⁢ to prioritize their needs, whether it’s transportation, housing, food, or other essential expenses,”‍ explains Dr. kelly.

Encouraged by the pilot’s ⁤success, the research⁢ team is moving forward with a⁤ larger, randomized, phase 2 trial at Dana-Farber ⁣and Columbia⁢ University Irving Medical Center.

Dr. Bona envisions a future where ⁣interventions like RISE are integrated into standard supportive care for families facing childhood cancer.”We want to⁣ treat poverty the same way we develop novel drugs‍ – with rigorous scientific examination,” she says. “If RISE proves ⁤effective in a clinical trial,it could become a vital resource for families ‍in need.”

Cash Transfers Provide Breathing Room for Families ⁣Battling ⁣Childhood Cancer

Boston,MA – A novel program at Dana-Farber Cancer institute is offering ⁢financial relief to families struggling with the ⁤burden of⁢ childhood cancer. Pediatric RISE ⁤(Resource Intervention to Support Equity) provides direct cash transfers to low-income families,‍ aiming to alleviate the stress of basic needs⁢ during a child’s cancer treatment.

Initial findings presented at the ‍66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting in San Diego suggest that RISE is‍ both feasible ⁣and highly beneficial.

“One in‍ three children diagnosed with cancer lives in a low-income household worried about meeting basic needs while their child ⁣undergoes treatment,” says Dr. Kira Bona, a pediatric oncologist at dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder center and principal investigator of the study.

The pilot program provided twice-monthly cash ‍payments to 20 eligible families for three months. The amount was based on ⁣the⁤ Child Tax Credit and the number of ⁣dependents. The majority of participants were non-white or Hispanic, publicly insured, and living in single-parent households with a median income of $27,250.

“Families found the⁣ program incredibly helpful,” says Dr. Colleen ⁤Kelly, a‍ pediatric hematology/oncology fellow in Dr. Bona’s lab who presented the findings at ASH. “They reported reduced stress as it allowed them to meet essential needs like housing ‍and food.”

The program is⁣ designed to address concerns about cash ⁤payments.Payments are treated as⁢ non-taxable⁤ gifts to avoid ‍jeopardizing other benefits, ⁣and families receive guidance from a certified benefits ⁣counselor.Payments are made through a non-profit to separate funding from medical care, and families have flexibility in using the money.

encouraged by the pilot’s success,the ⁣research team is launching a⁤ larger,randomized,phase 2 trial at Dana-Farber and Columbia University Irving Medical Center.Dr. Bona hopes that interventions like RISE will become standard supportive care for families facing childhood cancer.

“we want to treat poverty⁤ the same way we develop novel drugs –⁤ with rigorous scientific examination,” she says. “If⁣ RISE proves effective in a clinical trial, it could become a vital resource ⁣for families in need.”