Phönikks foundation

Phönikks foundation
legal form	charitable foundation
founding	1989
founder	Christl Rehmenklau-Bremer
Seat	Hamburg
motto	Families live - with cancer
purpose	Psychosocial help for children affected by cancer, young parents and relatives
people	Beatrice Züll (managing director), Anja Knoop, Gabriele Escherisch
Foundation capital	2,350,000 euros
Employees	9
Volunteers	5
Website	www.phoenikks.de

The non-profit foundation phönikks - Families live - with cancer is a legal foundation under civil law based in Hamburg .

Story and purpose

The foundation was established on February 1, 1989 by Christl Rehmenklau-Bremer. Her focus is on psychosocial help and aftercare for children, adolescents, young adults, young parents and their relatives with cancer. The phönikks foundation operates a counseling center that offers free help to both sick people and their family members. Together with those affected, the phönikks therapists develop possible solutions to change stressful living conditions and to stabilize the situation of those affected. The offer includes individual talks, group offers, sibling days, parents' evenings and art projects as part of the psycho-oncological work . Psychotherapists are also available to assist those affected. The assistance is free of charge. The foundation does not receive any public grants and is financed exclusively from donations . After a founding phase of three years, the foundation “Psychosocial Help for Children with Cancer and Their Relatives” was approved on February 1, 1989. The first advisory team made up of social pedagogues begins work. As a model institution , the financing is secured for two years by the German Cancer Aid. At the request of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) , the statutes were extended in 1991 so that young adult cancer patients can also benefit from the care offered. The funding of the German Cancer Aid is running out, the foundation must in future be financed exclusively from donations. In 1993 the counseling concept was realigned, which is now based on a psychological - psychotherapeutic treatment profile. The team of therapists now consists of certified psychologists. In 1999, the German Cancer Aid approved research funding for an evaluation and quality assurance study. The first parents' evenings and sibling days take place in cooperation with the UKE. The largest group of clients are families in which one parent has cancer. In 2001 the name was changed to the current name.

In 2004 phönikks carried out a quality of life study in children and adults, which also documented the stress of the mourners. The evaluation study has been completed and shows an increase in quality of life and long-term effects. The Hamburg Senate and the health insurance companies reject financial support.

The spatial and financial situation of the foundation does not allow any further expansion despite growing waiting lists for therapy places.

In 2012, phönikks and the BürgerStiftung Hamburg moved into a foundation house in downtown Hamburg and the employees started their work in the new premises.

In 2013, music therapy will be introduced for children between the ages of two and six. The music helps the little ones to cope with stressful issues and life situations.

In 2015 Christl Bremer hands over the management to Beatrice Züll.