Parenting with Cancer Webinar Series
Unpacking Cancer from the Backpack–Bringing Your Child’s School into the Conversation
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 11 am PT | 12 pm MT | 1 pm CT | 2 pm ET
As families figure out their fall routines, parents with cancer may find themselves sorting through more than just permission forms and homework. They likely have questions about whether or not to disclose their cancer diagnosis with their kids’ daycare or school, how much to share if they do and how to access extra resources and support within the school. They may also be struggling with children who are suddenly anxious about drop-off and separation.
This presentation will address all of these concerns and more, identifying specific strategies for kids in preschool through high school. There will be an open Q&A at the end for your specific questions.
This webinar is for cancer patients and their families alongside healthcare providers, teachers, and school administrators who support these families.
Webinar Presenters
Carissa Hodgson, LCSW, OSW-C is the Director of Programs and Community Outreach at Bright Spot Network, which provides a program of support to parents with cancer who have young children. She has nearly 20 years of clinical and program experience working with families facing cancer. Her professional passion is supporting kids and families who are navigating cancer, shaped largely by her father having lung cancer when she was a child and her step-father’s diagnosis of liver cancer when she was a young adult. Carissa has been a member of the Association of Oncology Social Work since 2015 and presently sits as co-chair of the Youth, Families and Cancer Special Interest Group. Carissa is also a Long Term Lecturer at the Sandra Rosenbaum School of Social Work at UW Madison.
Natalie Grubbs, Ph.D., LPC, CPCS is a licensed professional counselor, counselor educator, and speaker specializing in helping individuals and families navigate life's most challenging transitions. A former school counselor, she serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Counselor Education program at Georgia State University, where she prepares future school counselors and mental health professionals.
Natalie is also a two-time blood cancer survivor and stem cell transplant recipient. Her personal experience has deepened her passion for supporting others facing illness, caregiving, and the emotional impact of cancer. Through her counseling practice, teaching, and advocacy, she strives to help mothers find resilience, connection, and hope—even in the midst of uncertainty.
