CLIMB ProgramCLIMB: Children's Lives Include Moments of Bravery
For your children. For you. Helping kids and families cope with cancer.

What is CLIMB? CLIMB is a program for children who have a parent or primary caregiver going through cancer. Coborn Cancer Center offers a six-week series of 90-minute group sessions where children talk and complete activities by specially trained facilitators. The goal is to help children identify and express the complex feelings they may experience during this difficult time.

CLIMB was developed by The Children’s Treehouse Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to the emotional support of children who have parents or grandparents with cancer.

Who is eligible?
Children between the ages of 6-11 years old are eligible to enroll in the CLIMB program. This group is open to children or grandchildren of patients at Coborn Cancer Center, as well as the community.

What is the cost of the CLIMB program?
This service is offered free of charge because we believe so completely that stronger families make stronger survivors.

Why is this program important to children?
Children bond very quickly with other children going through a similar experience. They learn that being sad, frightened, and even angry is part of the cancer experience. The sessions help children to moderate feelings without having to “stuff” them or feel overwhelmed by them. They are given their own notebook to capture their progress, which they can share with their family at home.

What is the goal of CLIMB? Children will learn: that cancer is “not their fault” they are not alone coping strategies about cancer and treatment options how to express their feelings how to manage anger to communicate better with the parent or grandparent with cancer

Visit our Classes & Events database for program dates and times.

Read a Spotlight on Health feature story about the CLIMB program.

For more information or to enroll a child in the CLIMB program, please contact LaNae Harms-Okins, L.S.W. at (320) 229-5199, ext. 70128

CLIMB Program Facilitators

“The most rewarding part of the CLIMB Program is helping children find a healthy outlet for their feelings, and the best part of it all is that we have fun doing it!” LaNae is a social worker for Coborn Cancer Center. She received her training for the CLIMB Program in Denver, CO, through the Children’s Treehouse Foundation. Since 2008, she has partnered with Janelle to create and offer the CLIMB Program to children and grandchildren of cancer patients in the St. Cloud area. LaNae holds a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and a minor in Human Relations from St. Cloud State University; she is also a licensed social worker through the state of Minnesota. She is married and lives with her husband and two cats in St. Joseph, Minnesota.

LaNae Harms-Okins

Tips for Talking to Kids about Cancer

• Don’t keep it a secret. Kids sense when there is something wrong in the household, and they might conjure up their own ideas of what is wrong.
• Before speaking with the child, give yourself time to deal with the news. Then have a plan for what you want to say.
• Use the word cancer rather than saying someone is “sick.” That differentiates it from other illnesses, such as a cold.
• In an age-appropriate manner; explain what cancer is (some call it “bad cells”), what your treatment will be like, and what to expect when it comes to hair loss, fatigue and other changes in your behavior and body.
• Reassure them that they cannot catch it, it is not their fault and they will be taken care of.
• Allow them to help you and be a part of your treatment in an age-appropriate way. Consider taking them to chemotherapy with you or introducing them to your doctors.
• Offer a venue – such as drawing, writing or play-acting — for the child to express feelings.
• Always leave yourself open to more questions.
• Share the news with others in the child’s life (daycare providers, teachers, etc.) so they can be sensitive to the child’s behavior.

Sources: Jeanne Currey, RN and Ellen McVicker, author of Butterfly Kisses and Wishes on Wings.