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Express, Create, Heal
Reimagining Mental Health Support.
Through creative expression and compassionate connection, Express, Create, Heal equips children with tools to navigate big emotions, and empowers those who care for them, with the training to provide trauma-informed, whole-person support. From hospital rooms to healing circles, we’re building a future where emotional health is part of every child’s care.
Children battling cancer often carry many silent burdens...
...survivor’s guilt, anxiety, body image challenges, and the pain of losing their sense of “normal” to name a few. Express, Create, Heal (ECH) was created to give these children a voice, a space, and a community.
Designed in collaboration with pediatric oncology and mental health professionals, this program is facilitated by rigorously trained volunteers and delivered at no cost to families.
We provide evidence-based, developmentally tailored emotional support programs in hospital rooms, clinics, and community spaces nationwide.
By meeting children where they are—emotionally, physically, and developmentally—we help ensure that mental health resources and education are not just available, but truly accessible.
Express, Create, Heal is not just making an impact — it’s being recognized for redefining what mental health support looks like for children and families facing childhood cancer.
Express, Create, Heal is gaining national recognition as an innovative model for pediatric mental health support, with recent honors including selection to the Clinton Global Initiative’s 2024 Fellowship cohort and the 2024 Seed Prize Award from the Ashoka Ambition Accelerator. Our growing impact is powered by the generous support of partners reflecting the deepening trust in our mission and expanding our reach to deliver healing-centered care where it’s needed most.
Before and After: A Measurable Difference
When families first arrive at an Express, Create, Heal program, many are navigating the emotional fallout of childhood cancer without a clear roadmap. Parents aren’t always sure how to talk about big emotions or where to find support. But even after a single program, they report meaningful change: more openness, more connection, and a clearer path forward.
Emotional Expression:
Before and After ECH
After participating in Express, Create, Heal, parents reported a significant increase in their child’s ability to express emotions, rising from 3.77 to 4.62 out of 5.
Access to Mental Health Resources:
Before and After ECH
Families shared that their access to mental health resources jumped from 2.77 to 4.69 out of 5 after attending the program, reflecting a major shift in support and understanding.
4.7
Parents gave the workshop activities an average rating of 4.7 out of 5, reflecting their trust in the program’s ability to support their child’s emotional growth and healing.
92.3%
of parents said participating in Express, Create, Heal improved their understanding of their child’s mental health and how to better support their emotional needs.
100%
of parents agreed that Express, Create, Heal improved their child’s overall quality of life by providing meaningful emotional support during a challenging time.
"Mental health is such a huge component of the oncology world. The ability to connect with others who have fought is so important to life after cancer."
-Parent testimonial
Personalized Support, Designed for Every Child
Every child’s journey through illness is different —
which is why Express, Create, Heal is intentionally structured around age, identity, and lived experience.
Age-Appropriate Grouping
Children are grouped by age to ensure content is developmentally appropriate and engaging:
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3–5 years
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6–8 years
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9–11 years
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12–14 years
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15–18 years
Tailored by Experience
Workshops are customized for:
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Fighters – Children currently in treatment
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Survivors – Children in remission
or post-treatment -
Siblings – Often overlooked, but deeply affected
Each group receives specialized activities to reflect their unique emotional needs.
Flexible Program Delivery
Programs are delivered
in three key ways:
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In hospitals, through small group sessions facilitated on-site
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With nonprofit partners, in community spaces or during events
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Virtually, to expand access for families regardless of location or treatment status
Programs Built to Empower
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Intro to Mental Health Workshop (60 minutes):
A creative, play-based introduction to emotions, regulation tools, and self-expression for childhood cancer fighters, survivors and siblings. -
Expanded Mental Health Series (120 minutes):
A deeper dive for children into emotional literacy, identity, and resilience for childhood cancer fighters, survivors and siblings. -
Body Image & Self-Confidence Workshop (90 minutes):
Focused programming for childhood cancer fighters and survivors that supports healthy self-image and empowerment.
Where Play Meets Purpose
Express, Create, Heal blends creative arts, movement, and mindfulness into engaging workshops designed for children aged 3 to 18, including patients, siblings, and survivors. Activities and programs were written collaboratively with our medical advisory committee and are trauma-informed, inclusive, and structured around emotional learning goals.
Each session is led by trained volunteers who not only guide the activities, but also facilitate meaningful conversations to help children process emotions, build resilience, and connect with others through shared experiences.
Sample Workshop Activities Include:
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"Our kids don’t just recover from major trauma overnight… including survivors in these types of workshops is highly valuable."
-Parent Testimonial
Real Impact, Real Healing
From toddlers to teens—and the professionals who care for them—the results speak for themselves.
100%
of teens said the workshop effectively introduced mental health topics
Real Kids, Real Results
100%
of teens said they learned something meaningful
Proud, Supported, Joyful
top emotions that younger children used to describe themselves after the workshop
Healthcare Professionals Agree
100%
said the program improved children’s overall quality of life
Children returned more
open, expressive, emotionally grounded.
“Phenomenal, accessible, and advantageous”
— Cook Children’s Hospital, citing improved coping, emotional regulation, and patient positivity
Expanding Access, One Partnership at a Time
Since 2022, we’ve served nearly 500 children through partnerships with:
Join Us at Our Next Caregiver Connect
Caring for a child with a serious illness comes with questions, emotions, and challenges that don’t always have easy answers. You don’t have to navigate it alone.
Caregiver Connect is a free, virtual drop-in session hosted by our licensed mental health specialist. It’s a supportive space for parents, guardians, and caregivers to ask questions, share stories, and learn tools for navigating the emotional side of pediatric illness.
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Monthly Sessions
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Held on Zoom
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Led by a mental health professional
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Open discussion, no commitment required
Whether you're seeking advice, community, or simply someone who understands—you're welcome here.
Professional Training Program
Bridging the gap between medical treatment and mental health support.
Training Outcomes:
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100% of participants said the training changed how they approach patient care
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Rated 5/5 for relevance, equity, and immediate application
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Built for busy providers—with flexible, actionable modules designed for impact
Train on Your Schedule
Our self-paced, virtual training makes it easy to deepen your knowledge anytime, anywhere. Ideal for busy professionals and teams.
Need Something Tailored?
We offer custom trainings for hospitals, schools, and nonprofit teams. Let’s build something that fits your community’s needs.
Our impact doesn’t end with children.
It extends to the adults supporting them.
Express, Create, Heal’s Professional Training is designed for healthcare providers, nonprofit professionals, social workers, and educators working with pediatric patients approved by the National Association of Social Workers for Continued Education Credit. Built in collaboration with mental health experts and pediatric care providers, this 7-module course equips professionals with the knowledge and tools to deliver whole-person, trauma-informed care.
Our course covers:
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Pediatric Cancer 101 - Understand diagnoses, treatments, and long-term impacts.
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Mental Health in Pediatric Care - Learn how PTSD, anxiety, and depression affect young patients and their families
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Risk & Resilience - Explore trauma-informed care and equity considerations.
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Barriers to Care - Identify challenges like cost, stigma, and access—and how to help.
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During Treatment - Support autonomy, emotional needs, and normalcy.
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After Treatment - Address survivorship, transitions, and lasting effects.
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Supporting Siblings - Understand emotional isolation and strategies for inclusion.
Who It’s For:
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Child life specialists
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Pediatric social workers
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Nurses and physicians
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Nonprofit or community organization staff and volunteers
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Educators and school-based mental health staff