2007 Spirit of Collaboration Award Winners
Every year since 2001, the Michigan Cancer Consortium has presented its highest honor — the MCC Spirit of Collaboration Award — to member organizations that have done outstanding collaborative work to significantly move comprehensive cancer control activities forward in our state. During the 2007 MCC Annual Meeting, the following organizations were presented with 2007 MCC Spirit of Collaboration awards in recognition of their exceptional work leading collaborative efforts on behalf of the MCC Initiative.
Beaumont Cancer Institute’s Minority Outreach Program Addressing: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Clinical Trials, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer – Adult Smoking, Prostate Cancer
Project description: Beaumont Cancer Institute’s Minority Outreach Program — in conjunction with several community organizations — created an innovative initiative for the metropolitan Detroit area’s large ethnic/minority populations (African American, Arab/Chaldean, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, and Asian American) with the goal of providing culturally specific/bilingual cancer education forums in an effort to decrease racial/ethnic health disparities.
In September of 2003, the 1st Annual Minority Outreach Cancer Prevention Forum was held. The initial forum addressed prevention, treatment and detection of prostate cancer in African Americans. During the next six months, requests were received from the community to provide additional information on prevention, detection and treatment on other cancers (breast, lung, colorectal, and cervical cancers) to this community. In an effort to begin to address these disparities, the 2nd Annual African-American Symposium was held in March of 2005, followed by the 1st Arab-American and Chaldean Symposium in October of 2005.
As of November of 2006, one-third of attendees from the five symposiums had undergone some type of cancer screening.
Project description: To address the disparity in breast cancer knowledge and access to appropriate resources for breast cancer screening, the Department of Community Education at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute proposed to expand the current Southwest Detroit Latina Breast Cancer Project to Downriver Wayne County and Oakland County (Pontiac).
The goals of the project were to: 1) establish a Latina Breast Cancer Support Group in Southwest Detroit; 2) continue Spanish and English breast health education and Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program recruitment and enrollment in Southwest Detroit; 3) identify potential partners in the expansion communities; 4) develop the partnership and an in-reach plan tailored to the expansion communities; and 5) prepare lay health advisors to become patient navigators.
The Latina Breast Health Project resulted in many successful outcomes: 1) six lay health advisors were trained; 2) a Breast Cancer Awareness Event, which was attended by 80 people, was held; 3) more than 800 Latinos were reached through education and outreach programs; 4) a Spanish pre/post test was created and tested for the breast cancer presentation; and 5) the project has been expanded to Downriver Wayne County and Pontiac and is establishing a Latina Breast Cancer Support Group because one does not exist in Metro Detroit.
Project description: In December 2006, the MCC Board of Directors approved appointment of an Ad-Hoc Lung Cancer Early Detection Workgroup to review the current science regarding early detection of lung cancer using CT (computer tomography) scans. An internationally recognized lung cancer expert, who is a member of the MCC Board, volunteered to co-chair the committee.
The MCC Lung Cancer Early Detection Workgroup convened statewide experts from radiology, medical oncology, the Michigan Association of Health Plans, epidemiology, the Michigan Academy of Family Practice, nursing, and public health to discuss the current science and consider the development of position statements for health care providers and consumers.
This collaboration resulted in the development of two evidence-based position statements — one for health care providers and one for consumers. The position statements provide a reliable and evidence-based resource to address questions and concerns resulting from the ELCAP (Early Lung Cancer Action Project) research publication. These position statements are posted on the MCC Web site (www.michigancancer.org/WhatWeDo/
positionstatements-lungcancerscrng.cfm) and available to the public as free downloads 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Project description: The Montcalm County Breast Health Project was established after a local factory was scheduled to close, thereby resulting in a loss of approximately 3,000 jobs that increased the number of uninsured low-income women in the community.
To address this large increase in the number of uninsured women, the Mid-Michigan District Health Department — in collaboration with the Montcalm Community College Nursing Program — developed a community outreach plan to reach the underserved and uninsured women of rural Montcalm County. The plan provided community outreach educational presentations to at-risk women by the nursing students.
Five free breast screening clinics, funded by Susan G. Komen for the Cure —
Grand Rapids Affiliate, were established at various physician offices in the county. Spectrum Health donated 40 mammograms and the radiological interpretation for the women seen in the clinics. United Lifestyles received funding for a breast cancer support group, and referrals and health information were provided to patients seen in the clinics.
The project had many accomplishments, including providing community outreach education to more than 300 women. Also, 44 women were seen in the five breast screening clinics, and more than 20 additional women were referred into existing breast and cervical cancer screening programs.
As a result of this successful collaboration, the project has received continuation funding to expand the clinics to 12 per year. Spectrum Health has donated 50 mammograms and with the additional funding, the project was able to purchase an additional 50 mammograms.
Project description: In an effort to reduce any perceived barriers to breast cancer screening, Molina Healthcare of Michigan developed and implemented — in collaboration with Karmanos Cancer Institute Mobile Mammography Unit and the Wellness Plan Clinics — the “Pamper Party for Breast Health” in April 2006.
The goals of this project were to: 1) identify women missing mammogram screening and improve the rate of Molina members screened; 2) reduce the barrier of access to service by bringing the mammography unit to the health center where primary health services are received; 3) continually educate members on the importance of self care as it relates to the three keys of early detection; and 4) educate members on activities of daily living that will lead to an improved sense of well-being and improved health.
The target population for the project was women 40 to 69 years old who had not had a mammogram screening during the years 2005 and 2006.
On the day of the event, each member was registered and seen by a physician who performed a clinical breast exam. The member was then escorted to the mobile mammography van for a mammogram. After the mammogram, each participate received individualized pampering — including a mini massage, nail painting, nutritious foods, and a gift bag — as well as health information.
The most significant achievement of this event was the number of first timers who received a mammogram. Thirty-two (32) percent of women ages 55-58 screened had never had a mammogram performed. In addition, 13 percent of the participants had an abnormal screen that required additional follow up care.
2007 Spirit of Collaboration Awards — Honorable Mention
The Consortium also recognized the efforts of the following organizations with the presentation of 2007 MCC Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Awards for their leadership of exemplary collaborative projects on behalf of the MCC Initiative and comprehensive cancer control efforts in Michigan.
Crawford/Roscommon Cancer Screening Project Addressing: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Prostate Cancer
Project description: On April 12, 2007, the Crawford / Roscommon Cancer Screening Project offered a free cancer screening event for the rarely and never screened population ages 35-64 from Crawford and Roscommon counties who were uninsured or underinsured. During the event, women were scheduled for free mammography at Mercy Hospital – Grayling. District Health Department #10 also enrolled eligible people from Crawford County into the Michigan Colorectal Cancer Screening Program.
The Crawford / Roscommon Cancer Screening Project provided free cancer screening to 25 people who otherwise may not have received these services.
Project description: Health Department of Northwest Michigan (HDNM), a four-county district health department serving Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet, and Otsego counties, is a regional Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program (BCCCP) coordinating agency and additionally serves Grand Traverse County Health Department and Benzie-Leelanau District Health Department.
In response to a 20-percent decrease in BCCCP funding for FY06 and FY07, HDNM partnered with the Northern Health Plan (NHP), the Grand Traverse Regional Health Care Coalition (GTRHCC), and the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) to purchase additional caseload. In FY07, the partnership transitioned from the purchasing of caseload from MDCH to expanding coverage through NHP and GTRHCC.
This collaborative project resulted in a 30-percent increase in the number of women served through the HDNM BCCCP beyond MDCH-funded allocation in FY06.
There is expected to be a 30-percent or higher increase in the number of women served above BCCCP allocation for FY07. In addition, there is a projected 70-percent increase in the number of women served through BCCCP partnership in FY08.
Sisters Network – Greater Metropolitan Detroit Chapter
Project description: The Gift of Life Walk is an outreach educational intervention focused on the minority community. Committed volunteers and organizations agree to collaborate with Sisters Network to coordinate the promotion of breast health services in the African-American community. This collaboration allows breast cancer survivors to partner with volunteers and canvas a specific geographic area to: conduct face-to-face interviews; distribute breast health education brochures, a resource list, and pink ribbons; and administer a survey with questions geared toward promoting breast screening engagement. The community has an opportunity to meet survivors, hear their stories, and experience their triumph over breast cancer.
The goal of the project is to empower women to take control of their health care, expecting that the information provided will encourage them to be vigilant about breast cancer screening and not fearful of the process. Women not receiving mammograms due to a lack of insurance are being referred to the Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program.
Project description: On April 12, 2007, the Lake/Osceola Cancer Screening Project offered a free cancer screening event for the rarely and never screened population from Lake and Osceola Counties ages 64 and under who are uninsured or underinsured.
The event resulted in 19 people receiving cancer screening services who otherwise may not have because they lacked health insurance to cover the services or the resources to pay for these screenings themselves.
An important lesson learned from this collaboration is that a single agency or group could not solely orchestrate such an event. Each agency or partner had specific roles, and each collaborating group graciously volunteered the necessary time and resources to make this event a success.
National Institutes of Health – National Human Genome Research Institute
Oakwood Healthcare System Foundation
Office of the U.S. Surgeon General
St. Robert’s Church
Southeastern Michigan Community Alliance
Wayne County Community College
Project description: Dr. Julie Zenger-Hain, co-chair of the Michigan Cancer Genetics Alliance and director of Clinical Cytogentics at Oakwood Healthcare System, initiated and led an intersectoral approach to promote the importance of family health history (including breast and colon cancer) for chronic disease prevention and health promotion. The program is funded by grants from the Oakwood Healthcare System Foundation.
For Oakwood employees, the importance of family health history was promoted throughout the fall of 2006 via: employee benefit enrollment fairs; daily communications (i.e., system wide e-mail, trivia, departmental sessions); U.S. Surgeon General’s My Family Health Portrait bookmarks included with personnel paychecks; a highly visible Michigan Department of Community Health family health history display with handouts in the hospital’s lobby; and a Grand Rounds Presentation by the deputy director of CDC’s National Office of Public Health Genomics. Additionally, Oakwood employees were given several opportunities to meet with Oakwood genetic counselors to discuss individual concerns regarding family health history.
Likewise, similar educational initiatives and genetic counseling opportunities were conducted at multiple organizations in the community.
As a result of Oakwood’s Family Health History Campaign, ongoing relationships have been established to promote family health history in this community.
The most significant achievements may very well not be able to be documented, but may likely be the number of families that were able to discuss important information regarding their health with family, collect and document their other family members' health conditions, and share this information with their health care providers for risk assessment and recommendations, leading to a greater health for all.