Our Programs

At Next Step we believe that if you empower seriously ill young people with the right tools and knowledge they will begin asking "Whats Next?" instead of "Why me?"  We serve teens and young adults with life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, HIV/AIDS, sickle cell disease, and metabolic and mitochondrial disorders.

Programs are free of charge to participants, and take place in New England and across the country in partnership with local hospitals and service organizations. Support from caring people like you is what makes our work possible. Click the red donate button at right to help a seriously ill teen today.  

A key part of our impact lies in the relationships built among the youth. The only person in the world who can understand what it's like to start high school with a bald head from chemo treatments is another young person who's been there too. The power of that shared experience can be life-changing. 

Our youth co-design our curricula, resulting in programs that speak to youth in their own language and are remarkably successful at keeping them engaged and learning. Programs are intentionally kept small, and many meet multiple times throughout the year, so we can give youth the in-depth, individualized attention they need and deserve.