POGO ensures that all children, youth with cancer, survivors of childhood cancer, and their families in Ontario are given equal access to state-of-the-art cancer care. At POGO (Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario) we give kids with cancer and their families the support they need – not just during the difficult time around therapy, but for years after – when they can face complications from the very treatments that saved their lives. Each year in Ontario, 400 children are diagnosed with cancer and about 4,000 families are currently going through active treatment or follow up care. Many of these families are accessing POGO’s financial assistance program for the unexpected out-of-pocket costs associated with a childhood cancer diagnosis. While 82% of children survive, many will face significant late effects from their disease and treatment. Survivors of brain tumours and other cancers may face learning challenges later in life. POGO counsellors across the province work with these young people to help them match their abilities with their aspirations and take the necessary steps to move on to college or university. POGO also maintains an aggressive research agenda through the POGO Research Unit (PRU). We are asking the types of questions that will benefit these young cancer patients, their families and survivors - in Ontario and around the world – today and well into the future. POGO is committed to putting equity at the heart of everything we do. At the heart of POGO’s mission is our commitment to work in collaboration across Ontario and beyond to ensure everyone affected by childhood cancer has access to the best care and support. We believe diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to deliver on this mission, and that to achieve our vision of excellence requires an environment in which everyone feels welcomed and valued, including our team, and those we serve and with whom we work. We are taking action to:
- Have our organization reflect the diverse community we serve
- Empower people from all backgrounds to do their best work in support of our mission
- Reduce barriers to our programs and services
- Be a positive voice to address inequities in the broader childhood cancer system
- Educate ourselves on issues of systemic racism, diversity, equity and inclusion to help us be positive agents of change
