UF Health offers comprehensive support services, including counseling, support groups and rehabilitation programs, to assist patients and their families throughout the treatment journey.
The Criser Cancer Resource Center at UF Health Shands Cancer Hospital offers a peaceful space for patients and families facing brain tumor diagnoses. Compassionate staff provide guidance, counseling, and educational sessions on coping with cancer’s challenges. Whether you need support, resources, or a quiet space, the center is here to help.
Oncology social workers are here to support patients, families and caregivers through the emotional and practical challenges of cancer diagnosis and treatment. Their goal is to help you navigate the treatment process by offering guidance, reassurance and real-world assistance every step of the way.
Pediatric oncology social workers at UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital provide comprehensive cancer support by:
If you want help in any of these areas, tell your doctor or nurse that you would like to meet with a pediatric oncology social worker.
Contact Patient & Family Resources to reach a clinical social worker: (352) 265-0224
The UF Health Cancer Institute provides comprehensive information about ongoing brain tumor research, innovative clinical trials, support groups, and specialized care programs dedicated to improving patient outcomes.
We provide interpretation services each year to thousands of patients and their families with limited English proficiency to ensure patient safety and compassionate care. Spanish medical interpreters are available Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to assist patients and families during their hospital stay. We also offer 24/7 phone translation services when our interpreters are unavailable.
Contact the Office of Patient Experience for assistance at (352) 594-5004.
UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital child life specialists (CCLS) offer compassionate support through: Play, preparation and emotional support. In doing so, child life specialists help children navigate hospital stays, medical procedures and diagnoses. They promote resilience and family-centered care by easing anxiety, fostering understanding and offering memory-making opportunities. These services are available in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. You can request a consultation by calling (352) 594-6470 or asking your medical team for a referral.
The Streetlight program at UF Health supports adolescents and young adults (ages 13-25) with cancer, cystic fibrosis, sickle cell and other chronic illnesses. Available during hospital admission, the program offers laptops, homework help, art supplies, musical instruments, video games and more. Ask your medical team or call *50917 from a hospital phone for services.
A homebound or hospitalized student is a student who has a medically diagnosed physical or psychiatric condition that is acute or catastrophic. These students can also have a chronic illness or a repeated intermittent illness due to a persisting medical problem that confines the student to home or hospital, thus restricting activities for an extended period. If hospital/homebound services are needed, the clinical social worker will coordinate with the family, the medical team and the hospital schoolteacher to refer the family.