Okizu Foundation

Though most California children diagnosed with pediatric cancer receive adequate medical treatment, the therapeutic focus is rarely on helping these children to find respite from the rigors of cancer treatment. Okizu works closely with medical treatment centers to complement their services in order to fill this need for respite. Okizu offers these children a kindred community through which they can feel accepted, experiment with new activities without fear, and relax and have fun in a supportive environment.

It is not uncommon for siblings of cancer patients to feel a sense of vulnerability and isolation as their normal routines are disrupted and relationships are altered. Their sense of security and safety may be threatened by exposure to issues of mortality, and by witnessing their parents' sense of fear and helplessness. Siblings often experience feelings of guilt, resentment, fear, confusion, and anger. The goal of Camp Okizu's SIBS Camps is to instill campers with a sense of self-confidence that will translate to all aspects of their lives, including school and family relationships.

A family's normal emotional and social environment, as well as day-to-day life, can be greatly disrupted and their ability to cope seriously hindered by a diagnosis of pediatric cancer. The daily struggle of coping with pediatric cancer—both during treatment phase and after—can take an enormous toll on every member of the family. Marriages, sibling relationships, and the bonds between children and parents often suffer under stress, sometimes leading to separations and problematic behavior.

Our goals for all campers include relaxation from the rigors of cancer treatment; increased self-esteem; increased sense of hope for the future; development of coping skills and strategies; development of social skills; physical confidence and sense of well-being; increased feeling of independence; and improved ability to interact in group settings.

Okizu's Oncology Camp Program is available to children ages 6-17 who have or have had pediatric cancer. We welcome children in any phase of their cancer journey - treatment, maintenance, remission, etc. - as long as they are approved by their physician. A week at Oncology Camp gives children with cancer the opportunity to make friends, play games, learn new activities, and simply have fun. It is a week away from televisions and computers, where they can enjoy fresh air and sunshine. Camp Okizu enables them to feel a sense of belonging that is often missing from their daily lives.

Our SIBS Camp is available to children ages 6-17 who have a sibling who has or has had pediatric cancer. Camp Okizu is one of the few summer camps in the country where siblings of children diagnosed with cancer receive emotional and psychological support to deal with their own unique set of challenges. Through peer interaction, facilitated discussions, and confidence-building activities, campers develop the skills necessary to succeed. By helping to put focus back on these siblings, Camp Okizu reminds them of their worth and encourages them to achieve their goals.

Camp Okizu's Family Camp weekends provide families with much-needed respite from their daily struggle while improving their coping and communication skills, renewing family bonds, and improving families' strategies for dealing with ongoing medical and psychological/emotional issues. One of the most important aspects of Family Camp is the support and camaraderie experienced by each parent.

Camp Okizu's Bereaved Family Camp Weekends give families the opportunity to speak more freely about their experiences and bond with those who are coping with the death of a child. The Bereaved Teen weekends enable kids to remember the siblings they lost, share feelings, and discuss practical ideas about how to cope with their loss. The programs help them develop a network of people who understand what they have experienced, and the challenges they continue to face.

Because Oncology Camp and SIBS Camp are designed specifically for children aged 6-17 years old, many campers outgrow our programs but still feel a strong need to come together. Our Teens-N-Twenties (TNT) Weekends provide teenagers and young adults with an ongoing opportunity to strengthen their friendships and exchange support with their peers. These retreats are designed to provide opportunities for peer interaction and fun, increased sense of well-being and confidence, and respite from the challenges of coping with the ongoing effects of childhood cancer.

Unfortunately, approximately 20% of the campers who attend our SIBS Camp program are bereaved. We created the Bereaved Teen program to provide a venue for these kids to bond with each other and address the challenges and emotions specific to their situation. The Bereaved Teen Weekends enable kids to remember the siblings they lost, share feelings, and discuss practical ideas about how to cope with their l

Okizu has been providing our medically assisted Oncology Camp for 36 years, and we are now considered the premium pediatric oncology camp in the country.

Okizu collaborates with the following treatment centers: California Pacific Medical Center; John Muir Medical Center; Kaiser Permanente Medical Centers in Oakland, Roseville and Santa Clara; Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford; Sutter Medical Center; UC Davis Medical Center; and UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco. We collaborate closely with these facilities to ensure timely referrals for families coping with their children's cancer, and to allow medical professionals the opportunity to interact with patients as volunteers in a non-clinical setting.

The Okizu Family community of support has grown immensely over our years of service. Over 50% of our campers return to Camp Okizu year after year. In addition, about 25% of our volunteer camp counselors were once campers themselves; it is their way of giving back to a place that has given so much to them. Our volunteer Medical Staff includes doctors in-residence, on-call doctors, registered nurses, social workers and recreational therapists who enjoy the opportunity to work with the children outside of the hospital setting. This makes it possible for children who are currently receiving cancer treatments to attend Camp Okizu under the supervision of medical professionals.

Camp Okizu is offered free-of-charge, and we are dedicated to serving every child and family in northern California affected by childhood cancer who wishes to attend, regardless of physical condition, geographic location, ethnicity or economic background. We make every effort to keep operational costs low by utilizing the services of more than 670 volunteers each year, negotiating in-kind services and aggressively pursuing funding from a variety of sources. Our annual black-tie fundraising gala, Art Inspiring Hope, takes place every March, and we host a number of smaller fundraising events throughout the year.

Each year, Okizu serves over 3,000 individuals through our variety of programs. As the need for our programs increases, we are constantly working to secure the funding, staff, and resources needed to meet the demand.

Psychological measures of our programs' impact show that Okizu campers:
• Have better family relationships;
• Have better friendship skills;
• Work better with peers;
• Feel more independent;
• Have fewer PTSD symptoms;
• Are less anxious; and
• Report a better health-related quality of life.

Okizu benefits the community at large by helping families develop coping strategies, self-confidence and practical solutions. This translates to more families remaining intact, better school performance, and improved ability to interact with peers. At Okizu, campers learn empathy, teamwork, cooperation and the value of helping others. Many are inspired by their experiences at Camp Okizu to contribute to their community by becoming teachers, nurses, doctors, social workers, and volunteer camp counselors.

Okizu has been providing our medically assisted Oncology Camp for 36 years, and we are now considered the premium pediatric oncology camp in the country. Due to our success, we are currently in the beginning phases of becoming the national training center for oncology camps. Our programs focus heavily on youth development, strengthening families, and providing respite during times of hardship. We can think of no greater measure of success than to assist other programs to become more successful. We are very proud of the work we do, and the lives that we are able to touch.