In the course of the year 1995-96 ICCCPO had 18 member organizations, an increase of 6 member nations this year.

Members of the board of directors ICCCPO:
Kurt Hansen, Chairman (Denmark)
Mark Chesler, Vice Chariman (U.S.A.)
Barbro Eriksson, Secretary (Sweden)
Pia Bonini, Treasurer (Italy)
Marianne Naafs-Wilstra, First Member-at-Large (NL)
Gerlind Bode, Second Member-at-Large (Germany)
Christine Wandzura, First Deputy Member (Canada)
Guadelupe Alejandre, Sec. Dpty Member (Mexico)

Information
In the course of the year, ICCCPO issued three newsletters which were distributed to approximately 300 organizations worldwide. Editors in charge of the newsletter are Gerlind Bode, Marianne Naafs-Wilstra, and Marilyn Wyatt. This English language newsletter has also been translated and made available in Spanish and Italian, thanks to the voluntary work of Hortensía Díaz Asper and Pia Bonini*. The new ICCCPO pamphlet has been distributed world-wide among pertinent information about ICCCPO. The book entitled Kemo Kasper has been translated into several languages and disseminated among interested countries.
(*including Susan Cappelo for the Italian version)

The ICCCPO's bibliography is currently being written by Candlelighters Canada and contains publications from parents' organizations world-wide. When completed, it will identify which materials will be suitable for translation into the most commonly used languages. The Board is very exited by the wide-range of use this bibliography will receive in assisting many other parent' groups to identify and use the broad scope of materials listed within.

Membership:
At the Annual General Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa, the names of 12 organizations will be put forward to consider for membership into the ICCCPO. At this time, the members are comprised of organizations from: Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Norway, The Netherlands, Morocco, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, United States of America, and Yugoslavia.

Meetings of the ICCCPO:
During the last year, ICCCPO organized several private meetings to establish contacts with different organizations and caretakers all over the world with a view to disseminating information about the ICCCPO.

This initiative has been met with considerable interest as can be seen from the large number of requests for the newsletters and further information, as well as the contact established between board members and other member countries. 

The ICCCPO convened twice in 1996. First in Aarhus, Denmark, May 16, 1996 in connection with the Annual General Assembly which witnessed 26 attendants from 18 countries. At this time the Assembly welcomed members from Greece, Latvia, Norway, and South Africa. Switzerland and Yugoslavia. There were no changes to the Board of Directors made at this meeting.

Again in 1996 the ICCCPO met in Vienna, Austria on September 30 to October 2, in connection with SIOP. The Vienna convention attracted considerable interest and was attended by approximately 60 delegates representing both parent groups and caretaker organizations. ICCCPO participated in the sessions of the Psychosocial Working Group of SIOP and thus is involved in preparing the "Guidelines for Psychosocial Care of the Terminally Ill Child and Its Family."

Other Meetings:
Milan, Italy: Milan International School for Pediatric Hematology/Oncology "MISPHO" Pia Bonini, Treasurer, and Mark Chesler, Vice Chair, attended as representatives of ICCCPO to this meeting of professionals from Latin America. Pia is planning on attending this meeting again in 1997 in order to conduct a workshop at this organization.

Zimbabwe, Africa: Sadie Cutland, Member-at-Large, visited this country to network with the parents and educated this area about the ICCCPO and the role of parents' group in the health and well-being of children with cancer and their families.

Groningen, The Netherlands: WHO Summer School for Oncology: Marianne Naafs-Wilstra, Member-at Large attended the summer school session and presented to a class of 35 medical students from around the world on the subject of the role of parents and parent support groups and the ICCCPO in a paper entitled "parents of Children with Cancer: A vital part of the Team". Marianne looks forward to presenting again in this school in 1997.

Peru, South America, SLOAP - Society of Latin American Countries Pediatric Oncologists: ICCCPO's past president Jesús Maria Gonzales Marín, attended this meeting which was co-organized by the ICCCPO and represented and distributed 350 copies of the newsletter, 760 copies of the Aspanion newsletter and 300 copies of two Spanish books. This meeting marked the occasion of the first time the pediatric oncology nurses and the Peruvian parents met in a formal stetting and the ICCCPO was well represented by Jesús who plans to return to South America in 1997 to follow-up on this work.

Calgary, Canada: The "Childhood Cancer and the Family - Forward to the Future" conference chaired by Christine Wandzura of Canada, was attended by delegates from countries on five continents, including ICCCPO officers Kurt Hansen from Denmark and Mark Chesler from the United State. Information about the ICCCPO was placed in the conference bags and Kurt addressed the proceedings, welcoming delegates and advising them of the ICCCPO.

Athens, Greece: Lambrakis Marathon in Athens was attended by Ulrike Baum of Germany, who represented the ICCCPO during this marathon to raise funds and awareness for children with cancer in Greece. Ms Baum received considerable media attention and was successful in raising the profile and awareness of the ICCCPO in this area.

Gerlind Bode of Germany met with parents from former East Block countries in Minsk and Rostov as well as invited group representatives to a meeting in Germany on the issue of how to establish and maintain houses for parents, in which they can stay during the time of treatment in hospital. Gerlind's work will continue with these countries to ensure that they are receiving support and information, learn more about parent houses and are liked with other groups and programs to assist them in this work.

SIOP - International Society of Pediatric Oncology: During the SIOP meetings in Vienna, the importance of the presence of parents at these proceedings was recognized as a vital part during the Opening Ceremony and during deliberations. In recognition of the vital role parents play in their child's treatment, recover, or palliation the ICCCPO is eager and dedicated in working hand-in-hand with this appropriately and respectfully using today's best science.

Networking:
This remains the most fundamental area in which the ICCCPO will be promoting and taking a leadership role. Many regions world-wide have established and are maintaining networking partnerships such as the cooperation enjoyed by the Nordic countries (Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark) who meet once a year. The Netherlands and Belgium, as well as Canada and the United states of America, also have excelled networking relationships and are encouraged by the work of ICCCPO.

Financial:
The finances of the ICCCPO are sound with a balance of $19,238 USD The support of the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation serving as the Secretariat and the contributions of several of the organizations of the Executive Committee members has also allowed the limiting of expenses incurred by the ICCCPO.

Future Directions:
The next step which the ICCCPO wishes to take will have been identified and will be subscribed to during the South African General Assembly meeting. Some of the areas identified have been the need for a comprehensive Strategic Plan, a Communication Plan, the need to Link with Oncology Professionals world-wide and a model to Organize and Maintain Parent Support Groups. Many more issues which need attention are being identified and will be handled on a priority basis. Much work to be done in these areas and the ICCCPO is up to the challenge.

Conclusion:
The board finds that the work of disseminating information on ICCCPO has progressed well and has met with considerable success and interest. The structure of the ICCCPO will be under review as will all facts of the organization during the investigation and preparation of a Strategic Plan which will encompass the identification of program goals and objectives, funding and future directions of this organization. The Board looks forward to the challenges and the continued fulfillment of our mission. 

Respectfully submitted to the member nations of the International Confederation of Childhood Cancer Parent Organizations.