Download GCC Rural Cancer Disparities - Healthcare Georgia Foundation

Rural Disparities Reduction
Project
Georgia Cancer Coalition
Healthcare Georgia Foundation
Grantee Report
February 16, 2006
Purpose of the Grant
• The purpose of the grant was (and is) to
invest resources to enhance two rural
regions' (West Central and Southwest
Georgia) community outreach efforts for
cancer prevention, early detection and
treatment to reduce cancer disparities.
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Disparities Reduction
This is a disparities reduction project.
• Cancer disparity is defined as differences
in incidence, prevalence, mortality and
related morbidity that exist among specific
populations.
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Disparities Reduction
•The HCGF project was designed to reduce
differences in cancer screening and
detection in:
1. Rural populations
2. Minority populations
• African American
• Latino
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Focus
• The primary focus of the CHWs and CNs
is to connect with communities, and
individuals, where disparities in cancer
screening, diagnosis and treatment exist.
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CHW and CN Duties
• Raising awareness about cancer.
• Providing education and information about
cancer prevention, screening, follow-up
and treatment.
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CHW and CN Duties
• Assisting patients and their families
overcome barriers to screening and care.
• Assisting other staff members in
developing specific community activities to
influence cancer screening, prevention
and treatment.
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Counties Covered by RPE
Southwest Georgia
Cancer Coalition
(SWGCC)
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Baker
Early
Grady
West Central Georgia
Cancer Coalition
(WCGCC)
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Muscogee
Chattahoochee
Harris
Marion
Talbot
Schley
Webster
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Data Forms
• The project staff realized that data
collection is important.
• Did not want to reinvent forms, instructions
and a process.
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Data Forms
• The tracking forms and client daily logs
used by the project were modeled on the
Georgia Division of Public Health, Client
Navigation Data and Tracking forms for
the Breast and Cervical Cancer Program,
and were altered and adapted with
permission.
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Steps
• Both RPEs identified potential staff and
hired them
• Planned and hosted a successful 2 day
CHW and CN training session in
Columbus in August 2004
– WCGCC is currently conducting an updated
training session.
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Steps
• Adapted data collection forms used by the
Division of Public Health.
– Trained staff to use the forms in August 2004
– Data collection began in September 2004
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Progress
• Uniform data collection tools were adapted and
implemented.
• CHWs worked in their communities finding
people who have not been appropriately
screened for cancer and providing education
about risk, screening recommendations, how to
overcome barriers and facilitating screening and
diagnosis.
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Progress
• WCGCC is committed to retaining CHAs
as their services are invaluable in reaching
hard to reach populations.
• WCGCC considers CHAs to be integral to
meeting their mission to reduce cancer
disparities and decrease the toll of cancer
on the population of the area.
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Progress
• GCC is committed to assisting other RPEs
develop CHW or CN services.
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Progress
• The Northwest Georgia Regional Cancer
Coalition, in collaboration with the Blue
Ridge AHEC are currently training CHWs
and are using the same data forms as the
GCC group.
• The GCC and RPEs are poised to capture
federal, state or other philanthropic
resources for reducing disparities in
cancer care because of this work.
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Findings
• The WCGCC CHAs report how valuable they
think the work is working with and in their
communities.
• They demonstrate an eagerness to be engaged,
to learn and to develop more resources.
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Findings
• They are concerned about people in their own
families and communities that do not know
enough about cancer, screening, early detection,
clinical trials, available resources, effectiveness
of treatment.
• They are clear about barriers and have strong
suggestions on what needs to be changed to
improve screening rates, prevention, awareness
and early treatment.
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Findings
• Leadership, guidance, discipline and
persistence make a significant difference
in implementing a new program.
• Budget reductions make the CHA and CN
outreach program more important – not
less.
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WCGCC – Lessons Learned
• The CHAs have already been institutionalized in
a way, as natural helpers were identified and
trained to do the work.
• Women hired and trained as CHAs will continue
their work as what they have learned is now
ingrained and is a part of who they are.
• CHAs were selected, in part, because they were
already providing assistance in their community.
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WCGCC – Lessons Learned
• Focused cancer awareness education,
training and resource identification added
to the knowledge of these natural helpers.
• The model helped WCGCC reach
important outreach and client navigation
objectives.
.
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WCGCC – Lessons Learned
• WCGCC will keep the program going in
some way.
• If continuation funding is not found, will
attempt to use a volunteer model
– A volunteer model will be more difficult to
manage and effectively use.
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GCC – Lessons Learned and
Reflections
• The need for outreach and education in rural
South Georgia is compelling.
• Rural health resources are scant.
• Barriers to health access have to be identified
and overcome – barrier by barrier.
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GCC – Lessons Learned and
Reflections
• CHA and CN are good change and action agents
in the war on cancer.
• All program components require attention and
focus.
– What gets measured and attended to - gets done.
• The compendium of resources developed as a
result of this project will be useful to other RPEs.
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