The Austin Hatcher Foundation Overview

The nation’s only 100%-free, whatever-it-takes-to-empower-families-to-thrive pediatric cancer foundation.

Our Mission

The Austin Hatcher Foundation for Pediatric Cancer’s mission is to erase the effects of pediatric cancer and optimize each child’s quality of life through essential specialized intervention beginning at the time of diagnosis and continuing throughout survivorship.

Our Vision

Our vision is for every child diagnosed with cancer, and their family, to reach their full potential.

Our doors are always open All services are offered for FREE for the entire lifetime of the family.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation’s Education Advancement Center focuses on diagnosing and treating the educational and functional deficits associated with pediatric cancer and its life-saving treatments.

The Psychosocial Services provide children and families with the tools to cope in the present and thrive in the future after childhood cancer.

Imagine your child is diagnosed with cancer.

How would that affect your life as you know it?

Would your priorities shift? Would your world stop? What strain would this put on your job? On your marriage? How are the other siblings coping?

For too many families, this is their story. In fact, nearly 16,000 families in the U.S. begin this journey every year. Millions of dollars have been committed to a cure. Great minds have dedicated decades of research to finding effective treatments, and thousands of kids are experiencing recovery and survivorship.

Unfortunately, the effects of childhood cancer reach beyond the diagnosed child and throughout survivorship.

The Austin Hatcher Foundation was designed to specifically address issues that result from the after effects of cancer treatments. The foundation provides cognitive testing and individual programs designed to teach children to overcome these long term effects of cancer at no cost to hospitals or families.

PsychoOncology Division

The Psycho-Oncology Division is focused on restoring the emotional, educational, and social development of the child and the child’s family after a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Services are tailored to the individual’s needs and are offered beginning at diagnosis and provided throughout the child’s and family’s lifespan at no cost to the families.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY Occupational Therapy focuses on helping children with physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities be as independent as possible in all areas of their lives.

MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY

ART THERAPY

Our Mental Health Services focus on the emotional well-being of each family member who has been affected by pediatric cancer.

Art-based therapy enriches the lives of the individuals and families through active art-making.

MUSIC THERAPY Music Therapy consists of using music therapeutically to address physical, psychological, cognitive, behavioral, and social functioning.

NEURO-COGNITIVE TESTING

FAMILY SERVICES

Neuro-Cognitive Testing is a comprehensive evaluation of the patient’s brain function or cognitive status by specific neurologic domains.

Family programs strengthen resilience by building a community among individuals and families who share similar experiences.

Driving Simulation

Automobile Builds

Wood Working

Industrial Arts Therapy

Industrial Arts Therapy is an educational program which features fabrication of objects in wood or metal using a variety of hand, power, or machine tools. Our program also includes small engine repair and automobile maintenance programs.

Healthy Lifestyle Education The Healthy Lifestyle division is to equip children with the knowledge necessary to make healthy lifestyle choices while reducing their risk of cancer tomorrow.

The division addresses four key risk factors that contribute to 65% of all adult cancer diagnosis. The four risk factors addressed are nutrition, tobacco prevention, exercise, and sun safety (skin cancer prevention).

Diversionary Therapy

Diversionary Therapy provides families faced with pediatric cancer with specialized activities that promote the involvement of leisure, recreation, and play by reducing barriers.

Family Testimonies “The Austin Hatcher Foundation has helped us pick up and put back together the pieces of our lives that were broken by pediatric cancer. Because of this organization, I still have my marriage. I have a son who is thriving athletically and academically in high school and a daughter who is learning to be a happy, successful teen.”

“Thanks to the Austin Hatcher Foundation and the services they offer, we’ve been able to make longer lasting memories” “From the time my son was diagnosed with Leukemia, the Austin Hatcher Foundation has welcomed our entire family as part of their family. Whether it be for emotional support, neurocognitive testing, or fun activities, all is done with a sense of warmth and care. AHF has been such an important part of our healing.”

Contact us: 1705 S. Holtzclaw Avenue Chattanooga, Tennessee 37404 423.243.3471 info@hatcherfoundation.org

VISIT HATCHERFOUNDATION.ORG TO LEARN MORE