Advocacy Organizations
Working as representatives for the childhood cancer community through partnerships with Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and five other specialty pediatric programs, the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) aims to secure equal access for up to date diagnosis, treatment and subsidiary services for all of Ontario’s children. They also work to ensure that these children have the greatest prospects for survival with the best possible quality of life. To visit their website and find out more information, visit: http://www.pogo.ca/
The Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation works with other cancer patient advocacy groups for improved funding of pediatric cancer research and on legislative issues which impact our members. They can provide referrals to volunteers who assist families and survivors in the areas of employment, insurance, education, the military, government benefits, as well as with obtaining second medical opinions. The CCCF also acts as a voice for children and families both who have survived and are battling pediatric cancer to the public, schools, the medical community, the government, employers and the media. You can visit their website at http://www.candlelighters.org/, or call them at 1-800-366-2223.
With the health and well-being of Canadian children and youth as its #1 priority, the Canadian Pediatric Society works to advocate on behalf of this population on many levels. The CPS’s strategies and key issues can be discovered at http://www.cps.ca/English/Advocacy/index.htm.
Ontario Parent’s Advocating for Children with Cancer (OPACC) Educates, Advocates, Supports and Enables families of children with cancer. Members of OPACC consist of parents, guardians, survivors or close relatives of a child/teen diagnosed with childhood cancer. OPACC has programs and supports in place to meet the needs of families of children with cancer. Website: http://www.opacc.org/index.htm.
The Quality End-of-Life Care Coalition of Canada is a coalition of 26 national organizations interested in end-of-life care issues, and advocates for improved access to hospice palliative care services. To find out more about this organization and find valuable resources, you can visit their website at http://www.chpca.net/qelccc.htm.
Yet another organization that strongly believes in advocacy and knowledge of public policy is the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. This association can provide you with a wealth of valuable resources and information at http://www.chpca.net/public_policy_advocacy.htm.
To recieve monthly updates and sign up for their mailing list, visit: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or go to http://www.chpca.net/about_us/monthly_updates.htm to view updates online.
The International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care (IAHPC), the Worldwide Palliative Care Alliance (WPCA) and other organizations from around the world have issued a Joint Declaration and Statement of Commitment calling for the recognition of palliative care and pain treatment as human rights. This declaration will be used to promote and advocate for hospice and palliative care as a human right for World Hospice and Palliative Care Day and beyond. It may be used by civil society/non-governmental organizations(NGOs) and professional organizations or associations when approaching various levels of organizations and governments to support the advancement of palliative care and pain treatment around the globe.
For more information about hospice and palliative care as a human right and to sign the declaration, please visit: http://www.hospicecare.com/resources/pain_pallcare_hr/.
