For Schools
Dear Teachers, School Administrators and Guidance Counselors,
Welcome to Hopecam!
You are probably looking at this page because there is a child in your class or school who is homebound with a serious illness. These next few months will be very difficult for the child and their family, and the stress and isolation can take a toll on a child’s spirit. As a teacher or school administrator, you can play a vital role in maintaining a connection to normalcy, friends and school for the child during this unpredictable time. The information that follows will guide you through the process of Hopecam and how it works. You will also find tips for a successful connection and different ways of connecting. Every school is different, as is every child, so no two connections are ever alike. We will help to find a style of connecting and a schedule that works for the school and the family. 
We're Here to Help
Teachers have a lot going on in their classrooms and Hopecam is one more thing that we ask teachers to take on. Hopecam is a voluntary program and not required by any school district. Teachers voluntarily involve Hopecam in their classrooms because they understand its impact on a homebound child. We could not do this without you! Thank you for all you do.
The Hopecam staff is here to help with setting up equipment, supplying equipment and figuring out a method and style of connecting. We are located in Northern Virginia and do our best to get out to schools in person, but most of the set up can be done over the phone and through email.
Who Qualifies?
Hopecam receives referrals from hospitals, schools and individual families. We provide the equipment and work to get a connection established between a child and their school. If you would like to refer someone, please click here.
To qualify for Hopecam, a child must be:
- A senior in high school or younger.
- Projected to be homebound for a significant period of time (usually 6 months or more).
- Diagnosed with a life-threatening condition or critical illness.
Set-Up
After setting up the student with a laptop, web camera and technology, we work with administrators, teachers, guidance counselors and technology staff to get permission and set up Hopecam in the child’s classroom.
Schools generally use their own computers for Hopecam and we loan them the webcam. Network restrictions often require that the school use one of their own laptops to connect and it is helpful to involve a technology specialist with the installation of Skype and software. In special circumstances, we lend the school a laptop which they must return at the end of the school year.
Find a convenient place for the laptop and web camera to be set up. Where the equipment is placed will depend on what type of connection has been chosen. (See Tips for a Successful Connection for suggestions on different styles of connecting).
The Connection
Once the school is set up with a web camera and a Skype account, we help the family and the teacher agree on a schedule and type of connection. We always recommend that a test call is done first between the teacher and the child before inviting the rest of the class in on the call. A teacher will initiate the “call” or connection to the family at the predetermined time. Both parties must be logged into Skype for a call to work.
Use email to communicate with parents concerning any cancellations of a connection or any problems that occur. Some teachers prefer texting parents, but that is completely up to you. We ask parents to give ample warning if they have to cancel a session.
Stay in Touch
We always appreciate hearing how the connection is going and if there are any problems that arise. We hope to make this process as easy as possible for teachers and families. We are always looking to improve our program, so we appreciate feedback, suggestions and any tips that worked for your connection. Go to Contact Us or email program@hopecam.org.
Tips for a Successful Connection
1. The teacher should initiate the call.
2. Arrange the call so it is during a convenient time for both you and the family. We have some suggestions that often work for others:
- For Elementary schools, we recommend connecting during:Morning Meeting or Morning Announcement
- During a child's favorite subject, so they can watch the class in action.
- Set up the web camera in a classroom/counselor’s office/library/etc., where students can go at designated times for individual connections
- Recess/Study hall, in a supervised environment
- Some classrooms set the webcam up as a station and friends can visit during specified times.
- A teacher or administrator hosts a "Skype lunch," with students lining up to talk with the child individually, or in small groups
3. This is a voluntary program for schools and they participate because of the joy and benefits it brings to the child. Make your boundaries, schedules and classroom rules clear to the family.
4. Parents should involve school staff and the technology staff in the process early to ensure that everyone is getting the same information and knows how to use the equipment and software.
5. Remember, Hopecam is primarily a social tool. Our secondary use is educational, when feasible.
6. Start small, and expand the frequency of connections from there. Start small, with a few short calls and slowly add more time and more connections.
7. With younger kids, have a guidance counselor or social worker talk to them about illness. There are many resources to help with these conversations.
8. Talk to students about appropriate behavior while using the webcam. Frame the conversation: "This is our gift to ______ (homebound student). You will ruin it for them if I have to shut off the camera because of your behavior."
9. Always do a test call with the child first.
10. Use email to communicate with a parent and give them ample warning if you will or will not be connecting on specific day.
11. Lock the laptop and webcam in a closet or drawer at night to prevent theft.
12. Log out of Skype completely at the end of every session.
13. Communicate with the child’s homebound teacher to find creative ways to use Hopecam for educational purposes.
14. Provide kids with work ahead of time if you want them to participate in the class.
15. Call or email Hopecam if you encounter any problems.
Meet a Hopecam Child!
Natanael Justiniano
Natanael's mother will never forget the smile that lit up her son's face.
