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"This weekend has given me the INSPIRATION to CONQUER this illness and make a life worth living." -Next Step Participant
There are few, if any, resources available to help this population at this transitional time. With this critical and urgent need in mind, Bill Kubicek took the initial steps toward creating a grassroots nonprofit organization that would service this need. In 2002, Next Step was founded in Boston with the support and guidance of actor and philanthropist Paul Newman.
Next Step retreats and workshops—all hosted at no cost to the young people served—are currently and successfully providing resources, support and hope. Our programs provide a place where these young survivors can feel safe enough to laugh, share experiences, and create a sense of community with peers who truly understand their unique challenges. For over three years, Next Step has been developing and delivering these programs in partnership with some of the nation’s finest hospitals and health agencies: Children’s Hospital in Boston, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Planet Cancer of Austin Texas, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Center, and several others. Our programs for adolescents have been cited as models by The National Hemophilia Foundation and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America. And our founder, Bill Kubicek, is frequently invited to speak at conferences across the country.
Next Step continues to look ahead. Next Step Outreach is currently working with Planet Cancer and The Lance Armstrong Foundation to design and facilitate model programs that can be replicated across the country. At the same time, plans are being developed for a state-of-the-art retreat center in Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. This Survivor’s Center will house a resource library, meeting rooms, kitchen facilities, and dormitories as well as activity rooms and space for socializing. The facility will act as a central meeting place for our Next Step community and will provide a space where we can conduct our workshops, house our administrative offices, and support the expanding Next Step Outreach program.
The initial responses of the agencies and participants served by Next Step confirm that our programs and long-range goals are urgently needed. But there is still so much to be done. 2006 will be the year of building capacity and expanding our reach. Keep stepping with us.
Next Step Network
Since 2002, Next Step has been developing and delivering programs in partnership with some of the nation’s leading hospitals and health agencies. Our programs are powerful vehicles of support for young adult survivors: a place where they can feel safe enough to laugh, share experiences, and build a community with peers who have truly walked in their shoes. Next Step creates exciting and dynamic social and recreational programs that are seamlessly blended into more formal educational and community building components of a retreat. Each retreat or workshop is carefully designed with specific goals in mind to deliver a program that is both impactful and meaningful for the populations that we serve.
"Finally there has been some PROGRESS to UNITE the young adults of this world living with such difficulties." -Next Step Participant
Core Components
Each of our programs contains elements of three core components: Educational & Life Skills, Adventure-Community Building, and Recreation & Social (Read: Fun). Next Step provides the vehicle and tools to translate specific content goals into an educational program that is exciting, engaging and accessible to everyone (Read: Fun). We offer particular expertise in the field of adaptive adventure programming and community building. Our experience has shown that creating an informal “camp-like” (Read: Fun) environment fosters a casual and social setting for teens and young adults. Helping participants establish a peer support network and connection is vital to the sustained impact of our programs, and to foster this in a safe and supportive environment is incredibly powerful. (And fun)
Our Blood Disease Programs
Adult survivors of a chronic illness, such as Sickle Cell Disease or Hemophilia, are continually learning to cope and make adjustments to “everyday” challenges as a result of the effects of their illness. The programs that we develop for this population are workshop based supported by recreational and social activities. A typical program or retreat might include more emphasis on vital life-skills such as interviewing or resume writing.
Our Cancer Survivor Programs
Adult survivors of an acute illness, such as cancer, are coping with the effects of disruptive trauma in their lives. Many times, these survivors feel isolated or unsupported. The goals of the programs that we develop for this population are networking-based. A typical program or retreat might include more time for socializing or voicing shared experiences and resources.
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Sidebar Schedule:
Next Step Sickle Cell Retreat, Thompson Island
Friday
6:30 pm Arrival on Thompson Island
7:15 pm Dinner, Ice Breakers, Get Cozy
9:00 pm Intro Jazz Night (Goals and Guidelines)
10:00 pm Games, socializing, gym
Saturday
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Workshop: Working the Job Application
11:15 am High Element Challenge: Alpine Tower /Picnic Lunch
3:00 pm Treasure Box/Airplane Project
6:00 pm Dinner
7:00 pm Workshop: Interview Do’s and Don’ts
8:45 pm Hollywood Squares
9:30 pm High Stakes Bingo, Movies, Games
Sunday
8:00 am Breakfast with Kong/Clean and Pack
9:30 am Hip Hop Dance Troup/Airplane Launch
11:00 am Workshop: College and Jobs:The Interview
12:30 pm Lunch
1:15 pm Closing Photo and See Ya Ceremony
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Sidebar Schedule:
Next Step AYA Cancer Survivor Retreat
Friday
6:30 pm Arrival
7:00 pm Dinner, Ice Breakers
9:00 pm Welcome & Orientation
10:00 pm Games, socializing, relax by the fire
Saturday
8:30 am Breakfast
9:30 am Getting to Know You
10:15 am Workshop: Who is AYA in Boston
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Art Project (Painting)
2:30 pm Tower Challenge
4:30 pm Take a Break
9:30 pm Mega-Disco-Kong-Pizza Challenge
Sunday
7:30 am Breakfast with Kong
9:30 am Workshop: Relaxation and Mind/Body
11:00 am Workshop: Resource Sharing
12:00 pm Lunch
1:15 pm Closing Photo and Slide Show
Next Step Retreat Center
Plans are currently being developed to build a state-of-the-art Next Step Survivor’s Center near Boston’s Longwood Medical Area. This renovated brownstone will support Next Step and its programs by serving as a central community center, state-of-the-art facility for our local workshops and retreats, and national headquarters for our administrative offices and Next Step Outreach.
Each aspect of this facility is being carefully designed to build our community through group activities. Our model has been developed from years of experience at numerous facilities around the country and has taken the best of all of them.
"MIRACLES happen, especially in this group" - Next Step Participant
The Next Step Survivor’s Center would consist of:
Next Step Outreach
The goal of Next Step Outreach is to expose new hospitals and community organizations to Next Step programs and then help them facilitate their own ongoing retreats with the goal of building a self sufficient program by year four. Our staff walks each organization through the process of finding community support and recruitment. Next Step then designs a custom program based on that organization’s unique needs, assists in finding an appropriate site, and delivers a prototype retreat. Next Step continues to support the organization by consulting on continued reunion events and training local staff. Next Step Outreach has already formed partnerships with several organizations including The National Hemophilia Foundation, the Minnie Pearl Cancer Center and others. Next Step and Planet Cancer of Austin Texas—with support from The Lance Armstrong Foundation—are entering year two of a five-year expansion plan with the aim of introducing every comprehensive cancer center in the country to Next Step/Planet Cancer programming by 2010.
