{"id":63999,"date":"2021-10-04T08:14:36","date_gmt":"2021-10-04T15:14:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/?p=63999"},"modified":"2021-10-07T08:47:48","modified_gmt":"2021-10-07T15:47:48","slug":"community-is-stronger-than-cancer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/in.nau.edu\/news\/community-is-stronger-than-cancer\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Community is stronger than cancer’"},"content":{"rendered":"

Everyone has been impacted by cancer in one way or another. In the midst of a difficult experience, sometimes it helps to know you\u2019re not alone. Offering psychosocial support to those affected\u2014whether they be a patient, caregiver or loved one\u2014is the goal for a nonprofit organization new to northern Arizona called Cancer Support Community Arizona (CSCAZ).<\/p>\n

CSCAZ is the state\u2019s only nonprofit that provides free support services, programming and resources to people impacted by any cancer at any stage. The organization will celebrate the grand opening of its new Flagstaff location on Oct. 8 -9. The office was planned to open in 2020, but the opening was put on hold due to the pandemic, while outreach continued virtually. Of the nearly 14,400 remote visits from patients, survivors, families, and caregivers in 2020, approximately 20 percent were from northern Arizona.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith Coconino County reporting<\/a> cancer as the No. 1 cause of death for residents in the area, we are eager to open our doors to meet the psychosocial and emotional needs of everyone in northern Arizona who is impacted by cancer,\u201d said Cindy Payne<\/strong>, a faculty member in the College of Education and executive director of Cancer Support Community Northern Arizona. \u201cHaving a physical presence in Flagstaff allows us to expand our services to families and caregivers across northern Arizona.\u201d<\/p>\n

After retiring from full-time work at NAU after 30 years, Payne continues to teach part-time in the Department of Education Psychology. Wanting to stay busy, she applied for the executive director position for CSCAZ\u2019s location in northern Arizona.<\/p>\n

\u201cI felt a tap on my shoulder to step into the opportunity to serve the northern Arizona community,\u201d Payne said.\u00a0\u201cA cancer diagnosis can paralyze both the patient and their family and loved ones, and our organization\u00a0steps into that paralysis with life-affirming support groups, educational workshops, social community connections, healthy lifestyles components and resources and referrals, helping the impacted family begin to breathe again and work through the challenges that cancer offers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Payne also saw this as an opportunity for NAU to partner not only by opening its doors to the university community but also connecting with programs that require internships of their students to provide valuable experience in a nonprofit setting. Students have the opportunity to serve as interns and support group facilitators, as well as assist with the backend operations of opening a new location.<\/p>\n

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Student intern, Kaitlyn McWilliams<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

When senior Kaitlyn McWilliams<\/strong> needed an internship placement for her social work program, she knew she wanted to work with hospice, medical, or aging populations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the pandemic, these placements were limited, but the intern supervisor said, \u2018I think I have a place for you that would combine all of these populations,\u2019\u201d McWilliams said. \u201cI came to interview at CSCAZ and already felt welcome and at home.\u201d<\/p>\n

At a young age, McWilliams knew she wanted to work with people. At a sixth-grade science fair, she designed a project to test if people could judge a real smile from a fake one. Out of all the participants, she was the only one to get a perfect score. Finding social work felt like she had found her calling, and she knew \u00a0it was the right fit from the moment she started the program.<\/p>\n

McWilliams and Mary Hald<\/strong>, another student intern from NAU\u2019s social work program, have been focused on preparatory work like getting to know folks in the agency, touching base with participants, and promoting the grand opening. Soon they will start to travel throughout northern Arizona to share more information about CSCAZ\u2019s services and programs. After the grand opening, they will host classes, complete intake assessments, and listen to people\u2019s stories.<\/p>\n

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Student intern, Mary Hald<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cThis internship is setting me up for success because I have a chance to practice the skills I have been learning in the classroom,\u201d Hald said. \u201cIt\u2019s essential for social work students to practice in a real-life context because that is where we learn and gain experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hald was quickly introduced to grant writing, a skill she says will be incredibly important for her career, especially if she works with a nonprofit. Her plan is to become a therapist for children affected by cancer, so the placement with CSCAZ aligned perfectly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOur main tagline says it all: \u2018Community is stronger than cancer,\u2019\u201d she said. After receiving support from CSCAZ, about 96 percent of participants felt closer to community and less isolated, an incredibly important marker of success for the organization.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\u201cA cancer diagnosis can be devastating, as everyone who is affected, from a patient to a caregiver, experiences feelings of fear, anxiety and helplessness,\u201d said Debbie DiCarlo, chief executive officer of CSCAZ. \u201cWhile medical providers deliver life-saving physical treatments, Cancer Support Community Arizona supports the emotional and social needs that accompany a cancer diagnosis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The full schedule of grand opening events<\/a> at CSCAZ\u2019s new Flagstaff location (914 N. San Francisco Street) includes:<\/p>\n

Friday, Oct. 8<\/strong><\/p>\n