Feel Good Fridays Breast Cancer Awareness – Education - Collaboration American Cancer Society Pennsylvania Division – South Central Region Diane Hetes, American Cancer Society and Lori Clark Robinson Planning Committee Volunteer Funded by:

Abstract The purpose of the outreach was to begin a collaborative partnership working with the Healthy Woman Program, healthcare providers, and community systems to raise awareness and increase the breast cancer screening rate for underserved women aged 40 plus in the region. The pilot was labeled “Feel Good Fridays” because the majority of the mammogram appointments would occur on Fridays. The foundation of outreach was the pre-screening Breast Cancer Awareness and Education workshops coordinated by the American Cancer Society. By attending the workshops participants could also schedule rides to screening appointments.

Introduction Using available demographic information, two counties were identified as pilots for the outreach. The first county Dauphin, includes Harrisburg City in Pennsylvania. Within the city limits are designated fiscally distressed areas, a Federally Qualified Health Center, and a sizable population of African-American women and Latina women aged 40 plus. Secondly a rural county,Perry, was chosen because of the low use of the mammography coverage offered by Medicaid enrollees in the county. In both counties the planning collaborators identified barriers in access to screenings and researched the best practices to overcome the barriers identified.

A Look At The Numbers HEDIS Goal – 67% Compliance for 2006 Dauphin County – 60% compliant –African American & Latino women Perry County – 44% compliant –Rural, poor Caucasian women

Method Identified community’s unmet needs in regard to access to unbiased health information and care. Labeled a partnership with stakeholders from community organizations and systems to pilot a focused intervention. Discussed and facilitated planning for community outreach. Examined demographics and screening compliance data. Analyzed and recommend targeted counties and systems. Predicted and planned for barriers in accessing unbiased information and quality healthcare. Designed and recommended format and scope of Breast Health outreach including future implications. American Cancer Society’s Breast Health Guidelines As Workshop Outline. (Brochures and booklets). Supplied progressive incentive gifts to participants for each phase of awareness and screening completed. Determined value of the information and methods by face to face interviews with participants at each stage. Developed database of participants to generate yearly reminders. Proposed plans for collaborators to discuss expansion of the outreach in the following year to include more counties and community systems.

Addressing the Problems

Improve screening rates Reduce health disparities Improve health outcomes for vulnerable populations Excellent community, collaborative, outreach opportunity Benefits – Goals - Opportunities

Feel Good Friday Workshop Outline

Awareness and Education Sessions Meet, Greet, Schedule, Eat!! Urban Education Sessions – Steelton, Middletown & Harrisburg Rural Education Sessions – Newport & Duncannon Staffed by - American Cancer Society (ACS) Gateway Health Plan PA Department of Health (DOH) Cancer Information Services/NCI Pinnacle Health Systems Volunteers of America Hamilton Health Center (FHQC)

Feel Good Fridays Appointment Reminder Card Sample from 2007

Results Four Weeks – Eight Sites 356 Women Received Breast Health Education. 65 Women Scheduled Mammograms. 38 Women Transported to Screenings. Collaboration Opportunities American Cancer Society Staff and Volunteers– Education, Facilitation, and Planning PA Department of Health Cancer Control Coordinators – Kaye Weiss and Barbara Dougherty Cancer Information Services/NCI Clinical Trials - Jerilyn Baskett Pinnacle Health Systems Imaging Centers – Tracy Reed Transportation Systems Dauphin County (MATP) – William Peterson Perry County Transportation – Gary Eby Pennsylvania Association of Latino Organizations (PALO) Mental Health and Community Outreach – Bradley Gebhart Hamilton Health - Capitol Health Systems Federally Qualified Health Center Healthy Woman Contractor – Patricia Williams Gateway Health Plan Medicaid Contractor – Lori Clark Robinson Volunteers of America Community Outreach - Natashia Woods Laurel Towers Housing Housing and Redevelopment Authority of Dauphin County Resident’s Council Perry County Food Bank Faith-based Perry County Senior Centers Duncannon Senior Center Newport Senior Center

Conclusions Women in underserved populations continue to need assistance in accessing unbiased and up to date healthcare information and quality health services. Community stakeholders that form collaborations for outreach in the community are faced with barriers to collaboration. Compromise and focus help the process to move forward. Persistence by community healthcare and service organizations in helping targeted populations see that recommended screenings and routine visits to healthcare providers will prove beneficial by improving the quality of life is important. Delivery of the message in a professional yet flexible format is essential. (Underserved populations trying to meet basic needs; such as food and shelter put healthcare needs at the bottom of a long list of priorities). Motivating community participants to comply and learn about healthcare guidelines by offering progressive incentives for attendance at workshops and scheduling screenings increases participation. Facilitation of community collaborations that allow the opportunity for stakeholders to directly participate in planning, implementation, and to share resources will benefit the community, as well as, the collaborators. Diane Hetes American Cancer Society Pennsylvania Division – South Central Region Ext. 3016