Uplift – The Lonon Foundation

About UPLIFT

UPLIFT is a free monthly program by The Lonon Foundation for ages 5-17 and runs from August-May.

UPLIFT monthly activities focus on play and mindfulness, and help children build friendships with those who share similar experiences. UPLIFT’s activities and materials empower families by giving them the tools to cope with the stress, fear, confusion, and anxieties related to a parent’s cancer diagnosis.

Support from a Certified Child Life Specialist

Ongoing support, including regularly scheduled personal and one-on-one check-ins, connections to local resources, and, age-appropriate activity plans.

Personalized, mindfulness-themed Welcome Boxes

All children receive Welcome Boxes. These personalized, mindfulness-themed packages providing developmentally appropriate materials and activities to help children cope.

Virtual UPLIFT events

Virtual events promote coping and resilience and allow children to participate at their homes from anywhere in the state. All materials and instructions are delivered to families to participate.

In-person UPLIFT events

In-person events provide protected family time with other families--to play, share their experiences, and know that they are not alone. Events are held throughout the Lowcountry.

A Play-based Approach

Our UPLIFT program is designed and implemented by a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) to ensure that program content is developmentally appropriate and founded in theories of play and coping. Our CCLS is trained to provide support to children, adolescents, and their families through difficult life events and to help them cope with the stress and uncertainty of illness, injury, disability, and loss.

The CCLS, with the support of student volunteers, implements a variety of therapeutic modalities including play, visual, auditory, and tactile self-expression activities, and stress reduction techniques using a family-centered care model.

All student volunteers complete Darkness to Light training as well as additional training on how to work with children going through traumatic experiences.

Want to learn more about what a Child Life Specialist does? Read more.

Sign Up

To join the UPLIFT program, fill out our UPLIFT Program Enrollment Form.

To enroll your child in UPLIFT, please complete this form. Once our team receives the form, a Child Life Specialist will contact you.

Volunteer

Learn how you can become an UPLIFT volunteer!

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