Founded in 1981 by Sheila Kussner, OC, OQ, and a small group of dedicated volunteers. The staff and more than 400 volunteers provide services to respond to the emotional and practical needs of men and women who are coping with the stress of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment.
Services: One-on-one support; hospital visits; support groups; library with books, audio/videotapes, dvds, pamphlets and music; patient education lectures, workshops and information kits; resource centre: wigs, scarves, turbans, Look Good....Feel Better (cosmetic workshop); palliative care and bereavement support; "Come As You Are": special programming for young adults with cancer; Wellness Centre: a free-standing facility offering a nutrition program, a fully equipped exercise room and physical activities program, and complementary therapies such as yoga, relaxation training, art and choir.
Research: With the recruitment of Research Director Dr. Tanya Fitzpatrick, Hope & Cope is strengthening its research connections with McGill University, particularly in the fields of Social Work, Oncology and Physical and Occupational Therapy.
Evaluation: In December 2009, Hope & Cope received a $350,000 grant from the Jean-Louis Levesque Foundation. This grant will be used to fund Levesque Research Scholarships – a training program for master’s level and pre-doctoral students in the fields of social work, sociology and psychology. Under the supervision of Dr. Fitzpatrick, students will initiate and complete projects testing the effectiveness of Hope & Cope’s programs in alleviating the stressful impact of cancer.
Presentations: Separate & Joined – Suzanne O’Brien, May 2010 CAPO conference <available in the this site's document repository>
Executive Director: Suzanne O’Brien Research Director: Dr. Tanya Fitzpatrick 3755 Côte-Sainte-Catherine Rd. Pavilion E, Room E-730.1 Phone: 514 340-8255 Fax: 514 340-8605 http://jgh.ca/en/HopeCope
Context Hope & Cope, a psychosocial support organization, is an adjunct to the Jewish General Hospital's oncology department. The staff and volunteers at Hope & Cope work closely with the health care professionals at the Segal Cancer Centre, including the nurse navigators who coordinate patient care. Volunteers provide support and guidance at the oncology clinic, radiation oncology and the palliative care unit. Hope & Cope works in tandem with the Oncology and Aging Program, the Cancer Nutrition-Rehabilitation Program, the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program, and the Louise Granofsky Psychosocial Oncology Program. In addition, Hope & Cope staff have a presence at medical rounds and hematology-oncology rounds. Staff and volunteers responsible for Hope & Cope’s library, which has an extensive collection, consult with their counterparts at the JGH Medical Library on a regular basis.
