PAWS (Providing Assistance With School) Program
The PAWS Program at the Kentucky Children's Hospital DanceBlue Hematology and Oncology Clinic is the link between your family, school and healthcare team.
Our goal is to clearly communicate and set up educational plans. These plans help ensure our patients’ academic success and a smooth return to school. We aim to bring calm to you and your family amid the chaos of an unexpected illness.
How the PAWS Program works
Patients under the care of the UK Pediatric Hematology and Oncology team can receive services from the PAWS Program. Your child’s social worker can refer them to our program.
We serve cancer patients who are in kindergarten through 12th grade. We also can consult with college-age students and families with preschool students.
When your child is referred to the PAWS Program, we will assign them a school intervention specialist. This specialist will work closely with your child’s school, your family and your medical team. The goal of these services is to reduce negative educational issues that can arise due to diagnosis, treatment plan and frequent absences.
Our services
We tailor our services based on your child’s unique needs. Here’s what we offer:
- Faculty in-service: We work with school staff to help them understand your child’s diagnosis, treatment and how it may affect learning and school life. We also share recommendations to support your child’s success in school.
- Peer in-service: We educate classmates on your child’s diagnosis, treatment plan and how to be a good friend during this difficult time.
- School meetings: A school intervention specialist can attend school meetings (IEP, 504, etc.). They can offer insight on the educational impact of your child’s diagnosis and treatment plan.
- Coordinate home-hospital instruction: A school intervention specialist will work with your child’s medical team and school district. They will ensure proper documentation is submitted so that homebound services can begin.
- Identify online resources/programs: You can find online resources under the “Resources” section on this page. Additionally, the school intervention specialist partners with your child’s school district to find helpful resources and programs that can support learning during treatment and reduce any gaps caused by time away from school.
- Neuropsychological evaluation: Certain types of cancer and treatment regimens can cause cognitive change and developmental delays. If you notice changes or delays in your child, discuss your concerns with the school intervention specialist. We may refer your child for a neuropsychological evaluation to determine if cognitive deficits exist.
- Consultation: The school intervention specialist is available to meet with families as needed.
The origins of the PAWS Program
The PAWS Program was started in August 2014 through the generous support of two nonprofit organizations: Cowboy Up for a Cure and DanceBlue. DanceBlue is a year-round fundraiser benefitting kids with cancer. It is organized by UK students; the effort culminates in a 24-hour, no-sitting, no-sleeping dance marathon.
Contact us
For more information on available services or if you have questions, please contact:
Rachael Seals, EdD, MAT
School intervention specialist
Phone: 859-562-0411
Email: resn222@uky.edu
Erika Abernathy
School intervention specialist
Phone: 859-218-3223
Email: erika.abernathy@uky.edu
Resources
- Educational resources (American Childhood Cancer Organization)
- Types of childhood cancer and infographics (American Childhood Cancer Organization)
- Free resources (American Childhood Cancer Organization)
- Going to school during and after cancer treatment (American Cancer Society)
- School after cancer treatment (Health Link)
- Mental health after cancer treatment (Health Link)
- ABCya: Offers hundreds of fun, interactive games that reinforce math, reading and language skills for students in pre-K through sixth grade. It’s organized by grade level and subject, making it easy to find age-appropriate content.
- Reading A-Z: Provides leveled books, lesson plans and reading resources that support literacy development from kindergarten through sixth grade. It's ideal for differentiated instruction and remote reading practice. Teachers can assign texts and track progress, while parents can support reading at home with printable and digital books. Ask your school or teacher to learn if you have an account to access the program remotely. There is a free 30-day trial period.
- ABC Mouse: Subscription-based, early-learning platform designed for children ages 2-8. It offers a full online curriculum in reading, math, science and art. It’s especially effective for preschool and early elementary students. There is a free 30-day trial period.
- Prodigy: Free, curriculum-aligned math game for first through eighth grade that uses role-playing elements to keep kids engaged while solving math problems. Teachers and parents can track progress and customize learning goals. Create a free account or select a membership.
- PBS Kids and PBS Parents
- PBS Kids: Offers educational games, videos and activities based on popular PBS characters that teach foundational skills in reading, math, science and social studies.
- PBS Parents: Provides free learning resources, including math, science, social-emotional health and literacy. It’s designed for young learners and is ad-free, safe and age-appropriate. It is ideal for supplementing learning with trusted content from shows like “Sesame Street” and “Arthur.”
- StarFall: Focuses on early literacy and basic math skills and offers interactive books, phonics games and songs for pre-K through third grade. It is excellent for early readers and English language learners. The Starfall Parent-Teacher Center also provides free instructional resources by grade-level, subject and resource type.
- Khan Academy: Free, comprehensive learning platform offering instructional videos and practice exercises in math, science, grammar, history and more for K–12 students. Its personalized learning dashboard allows students to learn at their own pace. Teachers and parents can assign lessons and monitor progress.
- Kahoot: Game-based learning platform that allows teachers and students to create or play interactive quizzes and surveys. It’s great for review, engagement and assessment in live or asynchronous settings.
- Quizlet: Lets students study with flashcards, games and quizzes on a wide range of topics and grade levels. It supports self-paced learning and test preparation, and teachers can create custom study sets. It is ideal for reinforcing vocabulary, concepts and memorization in any subject. Select your own subject and type of learning experience (i.e. learn, study or practice), or search your teachers’ sets.
