Wendy Hall and Amy Roberts have served our community as onsite Licensed Clinical Social Workers ever since joining RBOI in 2011. “It’s our goal to meet every new patient as soon as possible,” Wendy says. “I feel it’s imperative that people help walk people through very stressful (and they can be catastrophic) times in their life. I also get calls from people that feel alone and haven’t had a mammography for years, if at all. They don’t have insurance and wonder what to do.” Wendy joined RBOI following 22 years at Hospice as a palliative care social worker.
Becoming a certified oncology social worker was the natural next step. Her knowledge of support networks lets her match people in need to services. “I get referrals from social service agencies, from food banks,” she says. “People talk to others about their circumstances. They may say, ‘I’m not able to work now because I’m in cancer treatment.’ And somebody knows about us and will make contact.” Like Wendy, Amy Roberts meets with and counsels cancer patients and their families and caregivers. “I run support groups and help navigate through insurance and health systems and become an advocate on their behalf,” she says. She directs people to practical resources that help with transportation and housing, and also teaches stress reduction techniques. Amy conducts meditations and teaches mindfulness for health classes at RBOI.
Years ago she had been a working single mom experiencing burnout. A social worker oncology talk taught her mindful techniques that she now shares with others. “Learning these little mental resources or these mindful ways to exist amongst the chaos changed everything for me. That’s why it’s such a neat little hack that we can weave into every day that actually helps for your work relationships, your home relationships,” she says. Such strategies include taking walks outside, meditating in the car (even if only at a stoplight), eating healthy foods, keeping tokens of appreciation, reviewing impactful moments of the day, giving one’s concerns to a higher power, and more.
How We Help
Some activities are ongoing, while others occur at different times during the year. Call us for more information.
• Art of Aging
(Marion Cultural Alliance)
• Breast cancer educational group
(RBOI Lecanto)
• Cancer Alliance of
Marion County
• Cancer Resource Room
• C.L.I.M.B.
(Children’s Lives Include Moments
of Bravery)
• Citrus Aid Cancer Foundation
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