guidelines

Group Loop’s online support groups are for teens ages 13-19 involved in the day-to-day fight for recovery from cancer. Group Loop is here to offer the support, community and resources to help you better participate with your doctors and parents in battling cancer.

The following are some important guidelines that help make Online Support Groups a good experience:

make the commitment

Make a commitment to attend group every week that you are able. We understand that there will be situations related to your treatment and life that may interfere with participating in group. But, we have learned from previous group members that regular attendance improves the overall group experience for everyone. We encourage you to do the best you can and attend your group on a regular basis.

keep your group in the loop

If you are unable to attend a group meeting, please leave a message in the Discussion Board, send an email to the facilitator or send an email to a fellow participant. OSG participants quickly become like a “family” and look out for each other and often worry about how each other is feeling. So, if you are not able to attend group, please let us know why you are unable to attend so that we will not be concerned. Sometimes missing the group is because you are celebrating something special and sometimes it is for medical reasons—in either case, you are important to us and your well-being matters.

If you miss three meetings in a row without notifying your group, we will contact you and ask whether you want to continue your participation in the group. After that, if we haven’t heard from you, then we will assume that you have decided not to participate.

be on time

Please arrive to the Online Support Group on time. If you come late, then you may miss the flow of the conversation or feel like you are interrupting. Be aware that if you are frequently late, the facilitator or the other group members may ask you about it. This is not meant to make you feel uncomfortable, but rather to help you decide whether the group is right for you.

stay a while

We ask that you stay for the entire one and a half hour session. If for any reason you need to leave early, let the group know at the beginning of the meeting. Because you can access Group Loop’s Online Support Groups from anywhere—including the comfort of your own room—it is important that you are in a safe place where you won’t be interrupted too often.

discuss if change may or may not be good

If you think you may want to change to a different group, you should discuss it with the group. If there is a good reason for changing, such as a change in class schedule, new school activities or a change in treatment schedules, then the change may be good for you. Please understand that the demand for participation in Online Support Groups may be high and this may delay your switch into another group.