Children’s Cancer Partners of the Carolinas (CCP) announced that Shannon Brown, MSW, LISW-CP, has been named Director of Family Programs. CCP is a 501(c)3 organization with a mission to provide comprehensive support and loving compassion to families whose children are battling cancer to improve their overall quality of life. The nonprofit serves children and families throughout SC and NC.
“Shannon is an extraordinary addition to our team,” said Laura Allen, Executive Director of CCP. “She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge related to supporting families as they journey through a health related crisis and as a childhood cancer survivor herself, she has a unique understanding of what they are going through. We are excited to have Shannon leading our family advocacy efforts to ensure access to care and connection to critical resources for the growing number of children and families served by Children’s Cancer Partners.”
Brown, a resident of Moore, SC, earned her bachelor of arts at Emory University and a Master of Social Work with a certificate in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Georgia. Much of her career has been committed to supporting and advocating for individuals battling cancer and other diseases. Brown interned with the Loran Smith Center for Cancer Support in Athens, GA, served as a Patient Resource Specialist for the American Cancer Society’s Patient Service Center and as a Clinical Social Worker at the Children’s Blood & Cancer Center of Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin, TX. A licensed social worker in both NC and SC, most recently she was a part of the social work team at Duke University Medical Center’s Pediatric Hematology Oncology Department. As CCP’s Director of Family Programs Brown’s role is to develop and oversee strong programs that fulfill the mission of the organization through meeting the needs of the families it serves.
“We are thrilled about the expertise and skill set Shannon adds to our CCP team as we continue to expand our reach across the Carolinas,” said Allen. “The needs of our families are varied and often complex. Shannon is well prepared to guide our efforts to address those needs in a very personal, professional and individualized manner.”
Started in 2001, CCP grew from a project of the Spartanburg Breakfast Optimist Club. The organization first existed to help families in Spartanburg County, SC but has now expanded its reach to encompass families throughout all of North and South Carolina.
Children are referred to CCP by social workers at their pediatric oncology treatment centers. After identifying specific needs, CCP continues to partner with them throughout their childhood cancer journey until the child reaches the age of 21. The nonprofit provides transportation, food and lodging for families who travel great distances frequently to obtain the lifesaving treatment their children need.