AYA Social Support Learning Community – Assessing Social Support in Practice: Current Approaches, Tools, and Gaps
About This Session
In this second learning community session, we’ll take a deeper look at how AYA oncology programs currently assess patients’ social support needs, and where assessment may not be occurring consistently.
Building on findings shared by Nick Iannarino in Session 1, we’ll explore the specific approaches clinicians and administrators use to understand patients’ support systems, identify support needs, and determine when intervention may be helpful.
Dr. Julie Germann, Pediatric Psychologist at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, will lead the discussion.
The discussion will focus on Research Question 2 from a national qualitative study of 34 oncology professionals across 23 U.S. hospitals and AYA programs:
How are clinicians and administrators currently assessing AYA cancer patients’ social support needs within clinical practice (or not)?
Together, we’ll examine:
- Formal and informal assessment approaches currently being used
- Screening tools, workflows, and documentation practices
- Differences across institutions, disciplines, and care settings
What to Expect
This is a working session—not just a presentation. You’ll engage with study findings, practical tools, and peer discussion.
- Detailed Study Findings (Understanding Current Practice)
- Tool and Resource Exchange (Learning from Peers)
- Group Discussion (Identifying Common Challenges and Solutions)
Participants will have opportunities to share assessment tools, workflows, resources, and lessons learned from their own programs.
Who Should Attend
- AYA program leaders and coordinators
- Oncologists, nurses, social workers, psychologists, navigators, counselors
- Researchers studying AYA or psychosocial care
- Advocates and nonprofit leaders