KOMEN 2008 GRANT PROPOSAL REVIEWS
SUPPORT SERVICE FUND CONTINUATION PROJECT. (Screening & Treatment) Christine Haiss, Vice President, Grants Chair, and Support Service Fund Committee Member, czh@tdstelme.net. Maine Breast Cancer Coalition. Laurel Bezanson, Pat Bredenberg, Co-Presidents, 11 Bangor Mall Blvd. Suite D, PMB 362, Bangor, ME 04401-3650. $40,000. Brief The Maine Breast Cancer Coalition (MBCC) is a non-profit, grassroots, volunteer-based organization established in 1992. They are a partnership of breast cancer survivors, health care professionals, representatives from cancer-related organizations, and supporters that share a common vision in their focus on service, education and advocacy. The Support Service Fund was established in 2000 to provide financial assistance for breast health/breast cancer services to underserved Maine people. Since the fund was established, MBCC has awarded grants in all Maine counties to more than 900 low-income, uninsured, or underinsured people who don’t qualify for, or whose particular needs aren’t covered by other assistance programs. The fund has covered a wide variety of essential services or items including, but not limited to, screening and diagnostic services, treatment-related costs, prescriptions, temporary living expenses for people in treatment, prostheses, and treatmentrelated transportation costs. For information contact: MBCC, 11 Bangor Mall Blvd., Suite D, Bangor, Maine, telephone 1-800-928-2644 or visit www.mainebreastcancer.org. Program goals include continuing to provide financial assistance for breast health/breast cancerrelated services to underserved people in all counties in Maine, providing prompt, excellent, and compassionate service to all applicants to the Fund, and soliciting applicants to the Fund through collaborative efforts and outreach. They anticipate receiving 155 applications for assistance in 2008 and estimate that 5%-10% of these will be referred to other services.
THE HEALTHY YOU TRAVELING SHOW. (Education) Irving Faunce, Director of Program Operations, ifaunce@wmca.org. Western Maine Community Action, Inc. (Tri-County Health Services). Judith E. Gerry, Director of Finance & Administration, 20A Church Street, P.O. Box 200, East Wilton, ME 04234-0200. $33,815. Brief Western Maine Community Action (WMCA) Health Services is launching the third year of the Healthy You Traveling Show, a breast health community education and awareness project designed specifically to reach several underserved populations. Working with local community organizations, the Healthy You Traveling Show takes breast health messages on the road to the venues where people already gather, providing an engaging, interactive and fun educational experience. The project focuses on five important topic areas: 1.) breast self-exams; 2.) clinical breast exams as part of overall preventive health care; 3.) risk assessment based on
1
family history of breast cancer; 4.) the value of regular mammograms where clinically indicated; and, 5.) the breast-cancer risks for males. Healthy You Traveling Show outreach services are designed in collaboration with various community organizations in order to be culturally and linguistically appropriate for the target populations for whom the interventions are designed. In this third year of the project, WMCA Health Services is providing services to low-income, rural and young women, people with mental disabilities, incarcerated women, and New Americans. The main goal for year three of the Healthy You Traveling Show is to use and expand upon collaborations with community organizations in the tri-county area in order to reach more priority populations with breast cancer education and awareness services. Three objectives are: 1) work with at least 10 community organizations in the tri-county area to create and deliver breast health messages that reach particular underserved populations 2) reach at least 700 members of underserved populations with culturally and linguistically appropriate breast health information 3) develop new strategies for reaching particular underserved populations, based on work with collaborating agencies. WMCA expects to reach 300 low-income, rural, young women, 100 people living with mental illness, 175 incarcerated women, and 75 New American women from Somalia with this program. BRIDGING THE GAP. (Education & Screening) Rosemarie LeGasse’, M.Ed, rlegasse@bangory.org. Bangor Y. Rob Reeves, Executive Director, 17 Second Street, Bangor, ME 04401. $23,528. Brief Many Maine women of age 20 to 39 lack financial resources and creditable health insurance, so cannot access the health care system when they have symptoms or are at increased risk for breast cancer. Some can’t access transportation or advocacy services. Bridging The Gap (BTG) provides access to no-cost breast exams and imaging, and plans to provide services to 22 qualifying young women. The women may receive a clinical breast exam and imaging, along with additional diagnostic tests if needed. Due to the cooperative relationship with Eastern Maine Medical Center, women are not invoiced for EMMC services should additional diagnostic testing or treatment for breast cancer be required. Applicants are provided breast health education and offered transportation and advocacy/navigator services. They receive assistance with the application process and are asked to complete an evaluation form. It is anticipated 22 women will enroll in BTG, most with breast symptoms. BTG’s priorities also include breast health education for young women and several typically overlooked populations. Through intensive outreach and collaboration with other health care providers, agencies and organizations, BTG provides critical breast health care and education to
2
young women and breast health education to several overlooked populations in eastern Maine. Call Caring Connections at 941-2808 for more information. The overall goal of the Bridging The Gap program is to decrease mortality due to breast cancer. Measurable objectives include: Increasing breast cancer awareness and knowledge in targeted geographic area by providing breast health and breast cancer informational resources to 2,800 people Provide education services to at least 250 people in target populations to increase their knowledge of breast health and breast cancer Provide breast health screening, imaging and diagnostic services to 22 young women between the age of 20 and 39 who lack access due to financial status and who have breast symptoms (20 to 39 years old) or who are considered of increased risk (30 to 39 years old) Increase awareness of resources for breast health and breast cancer related services in target area by providing an informational session to four sizeable community health programs or surgical practices.
BREAST CANCER SCREENING PROJECT. (Screening) Jennifer McCormack, Program Coordinator, jmccormack@fchn.org. Healthy Community Coalition. Richard Batt, President and CEO, Franklin Community Health Network, 20 Church Street, Wilton, ME 04294. $38,685. Brief The Healthy Community Coalition has been awarded $38,685 by the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to implement an innovative county-wide outreach, education and screening project. The Healthy Community Coalition will produce a breast health educational DVD that will be available to all residents of Franklin county and will also conduct door-todoor visits and screening days aboard its new Mobile Health Unit, reaching women in the most remote areas of the county. The Healthy Community Coalition brings proven effective outreach and education strategies to this project that will serve women in the poor, rural geographic region of greater Franklin County (which includes all of Franklin County and several neighboring towns and townships). This project ultimately aims to increase the number of women who participate in breast cancer screenings by 300 women, but will also increase breast cancer prevention knowledge of all women and decrease the effect of barriers that prevent women from participating in breast cancer screenings, such as lack of adequate transportation, insurance, financial resources, or knowledge. The Healthy Community Coalition is an affiliate of Franklin Community Health Network. Its mission is to measurably improve the health and well being of all people in greater Franklin County using a coordinated approach of education, health promotion, and outreach. Three stated objectives are: 1. Increase the number of women age 40 and over who participate in timely breast cancer screenings by 300 women.
3
2. Provide one-quarter of eligible women in the service area with breast health education through the development and distribution of an educational DVD, phone calls, door-to-door visits and Mobile Health Unit screening events, print materials, and referrals to the Komen.org website. 3. Identify at least 50 women in highly isolated regions of the community or otherwise at unusual risk and provide them with financial and other supports so they can receive care.
BRIDGING BOOKS. (Education) Rosemarie LeGasse’, M.Ed, rlegasse@bangory.org. Bangor Y. Rob Reeves, Executive Director, 17 Second Street, Bangor, ME 04401. $18,981. Brief Almost 900 Maine women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and 170 will die of this insidious disease. Nationally, around 270,000 women were diagnosed in 2007, more than 178,400 with invasive breast cancer. None of these people expect to hear the words, “You have breast cancer.” Most women have little specific information about breast cancer. Helpful resources are available, but newly diagnosed women don’t know which are credible. A timely gift comes from Caring Connections and the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure when her surgeon hands her a Bridging Books packet. She will soon know she does not have to feel alone. Packets include a comprehensive text and basic booklets about breast cancer, lymphedema, and nutrition. The Maine Cancer Foundation donates a book of inspirational breast cancer stories. A pamphlet helps women understand their breast cancer pathology report. Enclosed is a letter, an ENCOREplus (support groups) brochure, an evaluation postcard, and a multimedia resource list. Bridging Books materials are presented in attractive, easy to carry packaging. It is anticipated Bridging Books resources will be provided to over 300 patients by more than 50 participating surgeons and other medical professionals in eight counties during the 2008 grant year. Call Caring connections at 941-2808 for more information. The overall goal of this program is to educate and empower persons newly diagnosed with breast cancer through access to breast cancer information and resources. Objectives include providing accurate and appropriate resources, maintaining and possibly increasing the number of physician sites that will distribute the Bridging Books packets, increasing the number of women who seek information about support groups, and increase the rate of return of the evaluation cards. BREAST HEALTH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. (Education and Screening) Susan M. Bouchard, BSNRN, Health Educator, CQI Coordinator, sueb@mail.sjv.net. Fish River Rural Health. Norman Fournier, Executive Director, P.O. Box 309 – 10 Carter Street, Eagle Lake, ME 04739. $29,850. Brief
4
Fish River Rural Health (FRRH), a Federally Qualified Health Center located in northern Maine, through the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure initiative, will offer comprehensive breast health education outreach program to both its patients and community population. FRRH’s resource library contains a variety of books and videos on breast health and breast cancer. During health physical exams, women have the option of viewing a breast self-exam video prior to seeing the healthcare provider and receive a breast health packet. FRRH will be holding Lunch & Learn sessions on breast health within its region. FRRH has established a breast cancer support group called The Journey, which meets on a monthly basis in Fort Kent. No-cost or low-cost mammograms are available to qualifying FRRH patients. FRRH is an active partner with Caring Connections and provides free a Bridging Books packet for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer. Activities that encourage health promotion and disease prevention prove that time invested in building a health conscious community has a farreaching effect in shaping a healthier Maine. FRRH credits the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure for their contribution to these efforts. To accomplish its goal to strengthen comprehensive breast health educational outreach, the emphasis will be on education, timely screenings and prevention. Outreach objectives will be met through FRRH’s annual health fair, resource library, community lectures, and support group, among other strategies. Resources will be provided in French for the community’s French-speaking population.
KNOWLWEDGE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE: INCREASING THE UNDERSTANDING OF AND ACCESS TO BREAST CARE IN THE KENNEBEC VALLEY REGION. (Education & Screening) Kathleen Roy, RN, Breast Health Coordinator, Kathleen.Roy@mainegeneral.org. MaineGeneral Medical Center. Sherri Woodward, Vice-President, Patient Services, 149 North Street, Waterville, ME 04901. $30,000. Brief MaineGeneral Medical Center has received a $30,000 grant from the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. This grant will assist the MaineGeneral Medical Center’s Breast Health Program to increase awareness of the need for mammography screening services and provide screening services and diagnostic mammography to uninsured or underinsured women who would not otherwise receive them. Annual mammograms are recommended for women over the age of 40. The Breast Health Program serves all women in the Kennebec Valley region by providing education on the importance of breast health, by connecting women to free and low cost breast health services including mammograms, and by offering diagnostic and treatment services. For more information about the Breast Health Program at MaineGeneral Medical Center, call Breast Care Coordinator Kathleen Roy at 872-1868. Goals of MaineGeneral’s Breast Health Program are to:
5
1. Continue awareness of the need for and availability of low-cost or free mammogram and breast health services in the Kennebec Valley Region in all women through increased marketing and outreach. 2. Continue enrollment of women in Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, Maine Cares, and Care Partners, so they can access services. 3. Refer women who are in need of screening mammography and other breast health services to appropriate setting. 4. Provide access to free breast care to at least 70 women who are unable to pay due to insurance status. 5. Develop and implement marketing materials and programs to improve health behaviors of women whose screening mammography has lapsed. 6. Provide access for nine women who need diagnostic workups, with a target group of either underinsured or those who do not qualify for the Maine Breast & Cervical program, i.e. 20-39 year old women.
BREAST CANCER SURVIVORSHIP COACHING/NAVIGATION – A PILOT PROGRAM. (Education) Robert J. Ferguson, PhD, rferguson@emh.org. EMHS Institute for Medical Improvement. Deborah Carey Johnson, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern Maine Medical Center, 43 Whiting Hill Road, Brewer, ME 04412. $33,460. Brief EMMC proposes to extend a 2007 pilot program, engaging patients and medical care providers in the development of a post-acute treatment transition plan. Patients actively participate in the development of their individualized plan that includes a medical care component, and scheduled monthly meetings with a medical staff coach to provide education, connect them with resources and address concerns as they re-enter their world as survivors. The pilot project has resulted in the compilation of a replicable cancer survivorship coaching model. Funding for a second year of the program will serve approximately an additional 40 breast cancer patients and provide reliable outcome data for evaluation of the program effectiveness. The breast cancer survivorship project addresses the needs identified by the Komen Foundation, including educational services, support and counseling for patients and their families, addressing barriers to care, and access to community resources. Patients from central, northern and eastern Maine may include low-income, rural, ethnic, migrant, lesbian, mentally ill, and other targeted populations. Collaborators, and advisory board participants include EMMC’s CancerCare of Maine, EMMC’s Breast and Osteoporosis Center, EMHS Institute for Medical Improvement, advocates for health, and respective primary care providers of EMHS. The stated objectives of this program are: 1. To offer approximately 40 additional breast cancer survivors the following opportunities: to remain linked while increasing their independence; to help with the social and emotional transition from cancer patient to cancer survivor.
6
to receive education and skill building opportunities which address the biological, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of treatment and survivorship; to assist with access to existing resources to meet these needs. to incorporate principles of the Nurse Navigator program currently being studied through Dartmouth Medical School into a replicable Survivor Coaching Model; and to include the design and use of evidence-based decision support tools and community resources applicable to breast cancer. 2. To develop a sustainability plan to provide Continuity of Care planning for patients of CancerCare of Maine beyond the grant-funded program.
7