Located in the Washington DC area, Candlelighters National office is recognized as the voice representing childhood cancer families and survivors on Capitol Hill. Working to support legislative issues that impact the littlest cancer patients in this country, Candlelighters is an active participant on the national policy committes listed on the ongoing collaborations and committees page (linked below).

Candlelighters represents a voice for pediatric cancer families and survivors to the general public, the medical community, government, schools, employers, and the media. CCCF works with other cancer patient advocacy groups for improved funding of pediatric cancer research and on legislative issues that impact our members.

CCCF Director with President George H.W. Bush

National Cancer Committees

CCCF currently represents families of children with cancer and survivors on the Washington DC-based national cancer committees listed below. As an active member of each committee, Executive Director of Candlelighters, Ruth Hoffman, advocates for the needs of our families.

• C-Change (co-chaired by former President George & Barbara Bush and Senator Diane Feinstein)
• National Cancer Advisory Board
• National Coalition for Cancer Research
• Alliance for Childhood Cancer
• International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations
• FDA's pediatric subcommittee of Oncology Drug Advisory Committee
• FDA Cancer Drug Development Patient Consultant Program
• International Union Against Cancer, My Child Matters Pediatric Cancer Committee 

Memberships

CCCF is a member of the following:

• The National Coalition for Cancer Research
• The FDA Council
• The International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations (ICCCPO)

Referrals

CCCF helps parents dissatisfied with their child's treatment plan find second opinions.

• Phone: 800-366-CCCF
  800-366-2223
• e-mail: staff@candlelighters.org

Collaborations

CCCF collaborates with the following organizations:

• International Union Against Cancer (UICC)
• Alex's Lemonade Stand
• Ped BT
• LAF
• The Alliance for Childhood Cancer (announcement in CCCF Newsletter)

Ongoing Advocacy Projects

How to Connect with Government

How to write to your congressional representatives.

• United States House of Representatives
• United States Senate
  Congress.org (www.congress.org/congressorg/home/)

Links to advocacy agencies

Childhood Cancer Ombudsman Program
Email: gpmonaco@hughes.net

This is a service of the Childhood Brain Tumor foundation that provides information regarding education, rehabilitation, and employment discrimination of childhood cancer survivors.
Review 4/07

Special Needs Advocate for Parents

An organization to help with education, legal and insurance problems - good newsletter articles.
Review 4/02 

Patient Advocate Foundation

A non-profit organization designed as a liaison between patients and their insurers to resolve issues.
Review 4/02

A Lion in the House

A Lion in the House (by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichart) is a documentary that follows several childhood cancer patients through phases of treatment. In association with this project, 'My Lion' provides information kits and training for youth groups that want to do community service around childhood cancer.
Review 8/07 

Advocating for Your Child

This is a 7-page article to help begin the process of advocating for your child's special needs as related to education. Principles can be applied to other situations.
Review 3/02