2008 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 2008 MCC Annual Meeting, the following organizations were presented with 2008 MCC Spirit of Collaboration awards in recognition of their exceptional work leading collaborative efforts on behalf of the MCC Initiative.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Reducing Youth Smoking Project Addressing: Lung Cancer/Tobacco
Collaborative partners in the project:
American Lung Association of Michigan
Berrien County Health Department
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Cancer Services
Chippewa County Health Department
Dickinson-Iron District Health Department
Genesee County Health Department
Health Department of Northwest Michigan
Ingham County Health Department
Luce-Mackinaw Tobacco Reduction Coalition
Marquette County Health Department
Michigan Department of Community Health Tobacco Section
Public Health Delta-Menominee Counties
Tobacco-Free Michigan
Tobacco Free Partners – Grand Rapids
Western Upper Peninsula District Health Department
Project description: For the 2007-2008 school year, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) funded a tobacco prevention campaign aimed at 16,000 Michigan students enrolled in 26 high schools throughout the state. The program allowed students to participate in counter-marketing awareness campaigns and peer advocacy efforts.
Students chose a variety of student-led activities to promote smokefree environments. Local health departments managed the projects and surveyed the students about their perceptions, behaviors, and attitudes toward smoking and tobacco at the beginning and end of the grant period. Tobacco-Free Michigan and the American Lung Association partnered with BCBSM to provide training for students and coordination for purchasing local media. Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) Tobacco Section provided technical assistance to local health department grantees.
250 students have become Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) leaders. Two counties — Houghton and Gogebic — have passed smokefree worksites and public places regulations. Tobacco prevention advertising saturation of media markets in grant communities led to a significant increase in smoke-free policies and calls to the MDCH Quitline. Further evaluation will conducted at the end of this project.
Campaign for Smokefree Air – Steering Committee Addressing: Lung Cancer/Tobacco
Collaborative partners in the project:
Mac Brantley – American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
Ron Davis – Henry Ford Health System
Colin Ford – Michigan State Medical Society
Jason Harder – American Heart Association
Curtis Hertel Jr. – Michigan Department of Community Health
Karen Holcomb-Merrill – Tobacco-Free Michigan
Katherine Knoll – American Heart Association
Chris Mitchell – Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Emily Palsrok – John Bailey and Associates
Matt Phelan – American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
Kim Ross - Pfizer
Peter Ruddell – Wiener Associates
Susan Schechter – American Lung Association
Judy Stewart – American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
Raj Wiener – Wiener Associates
Project description: The Campaign for Smokefree Air (CSA) is a grassroots coalition of more than 260 organizations led by the American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc., American Heart Association, American Lung Association of Michigan, and the Michigan State Medical Society. CSA is supporting comprehensive legislation to make Michigan workplaces smokefree, including restaurants, bars, and casinos.
The Campaign for Smokefree Air has dramatically expanded its support over the last year. During this time, the campaign’s list of supporting organizations has grown from approximately 75 to more than 260 supporting organizations. In 2007 alone, the Campaign collaborated with partners and local coalitions around the state to hold eight (8) meetings with Senators in their home districts and successfully scheduled 16 Representative district meetings. These meetings were led by staff from eight (8) separate organizations and resulted in direct action by hundreds of volunteers from multiple organizations.
Michigan has been working for over a decade to pass smokefree legislation. In the past year the CSA, led by the Steering Committee, has succeeded in numerous areas that had not been obtained previously. In 2007, smokefree legislation was voted out of committee for the first time ever. The year concluded with a vote on the House floor and a one vote victory. In 2008, the Campaign has successfully passed a stronger Senate version of the bill and picked up nine votes in the State House. In 2008 alone, over 1,000 calls have been made to legislators’ offices encouraging them to support smokefree air.
Project description: St. Joseph Mercy Oakland (SJMO), a member of the Trinity Health System, implemented a free, community-wide colorectal screening program during March of 2008 in recognition of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. Radio spots, with nine radio stations, and direct mail pieces were used to heighten awareness and advertise this event in the tri-county area (Oakland, Macomb, and Wayne counties). The Oncology program worked collaboratively with its own Parish Nursing Program as well as its Community Health Promoters to reach out and provide colorectal cancer screening kits and educational materials at local churches, physician offices, and through the mail. In addition, SJMO created awareness in the community around the comprehensive programs and services for colorectal cancers at the hospital. Finally, and most importantly, SJMO collaborating partners developed and provided a means for patients who were not established with a health-care provider, regardless of their ability to pay, to be triaged appropriately into follow-up care.
More than 4,700 kits were distributed throughout the tri-county area and beyond with an approximate 25% return rate. Of those kits returned, there was an 11-12% positive test result rate. Kits have continued for months to trickle in to the SJMO Lab for processing. Currently SJMO is working with the primary care physicians and endoscopists to ensure proper follow-up for patients with suspicious findings and anticipate more detailed information in the months to come.
SJMO plans to offer the program again next year by building upon lessons learned from the 2008 program.
Michigan Health & Hospital Association Campaign for Smoke-Free Hospitals: It’s a Matter of Life and Health Addressing: Lung Cancer/Tobacco
Collaborative partners in the project:
Michigan Department of Community Health
Michigan Health & Hospital Association and Member Hospitals
Dr. Tom Peterson – Spectrum Health and DeVos Children’s Hospital
Linda Thomas – University of Michigan Health System
Laura Van Heest – Saint Mary’s Health Care
Project description:In 2006, the Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) Board of Trustees adopted a resolution encouraging all 146 nonprofit community hospitals to voluntarily become smoke-free throughout their hospital campuses by January 1, 2008. Following the adoption of the MHA resolution, the partners came together to provide training on the implementation, enforcement, and sustainability of smoke-free hospital campus policies. Those trainings continued into 2008 to help hospitals that have gone smoke-free address issues that have arisen and to provide assistance to additional hospitals wanting to adopt policies. At present, individual site visits and conference calls with hospitals that need additional assistance are being conducted.
As of May 2008, more than 85 percent of MHA-members have implemented smoke-free policies for their entire campuses. The benefits of smoke-free hospital campuses include:
protection from the dangers of secondhand smoke;
decreased smoking by employees and patients;
increased employee productivity; and
reduced health care costs for both employees and patients.
The MHA sees this initiative as paving the way for additional efforts to reduce smoking and improve health in local communities by teaching businesses and others in public venues to implement smoke-free campus policies and reduce smoking rates.
Pink Saturdays Addressing: Breast Cancer
Collaborative partners in the project:
Advanced Radiology Services PC – Kalamazoo Division
Allegan General Hospital
Borgess Health
Bronson Center for Women
Bronson Vicksburg Hospital
Community Hospital - Watervliet
Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services Department - Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program
Lakeview Community Hospital – Paw Paw
Michigan State University/Kalamazoo Center for Medical Studies
Premier Radiology
Southwest Michigan Radiology
Susan G. Komen for the Cure – Southwest Michigan Affiliate
West Michigan Cancer Center
Project description: “Pink Saturdays” is a dynamic initiative that offered free mammograms to uninsured or underinsured women in eight Southwest Michigan counties during the month of October 2007. The West Michigan Cancer Center and the Southwest Michigan Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure partnered with community health care providers, including Kalamazoo County Health and Community Services’ Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, and exceeded its goal of providing 600 free mammograms during Breast Cancer Awareness Month when a totalof 699 area women scheduled appointments at participating area health care facilities.
Nine area healthcare providers participated in the 2007 initiative. The 2008 goal is to partner with all twenty-seven facilities in the region’s eight counties to provide 2,000 women with mammograms. The organizations behind Pink Saturdays are also looking into ways to provide diagnostic mammograms for women who already have breast cancer symptoms. The Pink Saturdays committee credits volunteers — including many radiologists — for making the event possible. More than 100 volunteers donated approximately 2,000 hours in October to ensure the success of the Pink Saturdays program.
The energy of this project was so infectious that the number of collaborating health care partners will double for 2008! In addition, a cancer center in Iowa is planning to implement its own version of Pink Saturdays this fall using the Southwest Michigan program as a model.
2008 Spirit of Collaboration Awards — Honorable Mention
The Consortium also recognized the efforts of the following organizations with the presentation of 2008 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.
Colorectal Cancer Awareness Network of Washtenaw County Addressing: Colorectal Cancer
Collaborative partners in the project:
Blue Care Network of Michigan
Charles Reinhart Company Realtors
Huron Gastroenterology Associates
Pfizer Oncology
Saint Joseph Mercy Health System
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Project description: The second annual Colorectal Cancer: No More Excuses...Get the Facts! free public informational colorectal cancer awareness and prevention program was held on Tuesday March 11, 2008 in Ann Arbor. The event featured a panel of speakers that represented a variety of cultures genders, ages, and cancer backgrounds, including:
A local newspaper columnist who had just celebrated his 50th birthday and was happy to share his colonoscopy experience with the audience.
Two gastroenterologists spoke - one female and over 50 the other male and under 50.
A 5-time female African American cancer survivor (all cancers related to late stage colon cancer) spoke on the importance of getting the initial screening tests done on time (which she had neglected to do).
A young African American woman shared her story as a caregiver to her husband who lost his battle with colon cancer at age 34 (his went undiagnosed even though he had insurance and was at higher risk because of a family history of cancer).
A vocal advocate of screening awareness was a male colorectal cancer survivor who's cancer was caught early through a scheduled colonoscopy and treated immediately.
Based on survey results returned from approximately 25% of the 100 attendees, the Colorectal Cancer Awareness Network of Washtenaw County learned that 1) Their message was presented in a clear and appropriate format; 2) Even though many of the audience members had some prior knowledge of colorectal cancer screening options, they still learned at least one additional piece of useful information from the presenters; 3) The information that was shared gave the audience members confidence to speak more openly about colorectal cancer prevention with family friends and their medical providers; and 4) The audience members were willing to attend further informational programs dealing with colorectal cancer issues.
Grand Rapids Coalition for Breast Health Addressing: Breast Cancer
Collaborative partners in the project:
American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
Gerber Memorial Health Services
Gilda’s Club Grand Rapids
Grand Rapids Clinical Oncology Program
Kent County Health Department
The Lacks Cancer Center at Saint Mary’s
Metropolitan Health Hospital
Planned Parenthood of West and Northern Michigan
Sister-to-Sister Support Group
Spectrum Health
Spectrum Health – Betty Ford Breast Care
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grand Rapids
Women’s Health Boutique
Project description: The Grand Rapids Coalition for Breast Health aims to increase awareness of breast health and to promote involvement of the community regarding local, state, and national breast cancer issues as well at to educate women of West Michigan about the importance of early detection.
The Grand Rapids Coalition for Breast Health member organizations meet on a monthly basis for the purposes of networking, educational updates, agency updates, advocacy updates, and planning an annual educational event attended by nearly 200 persons each year. Previous educational events addressed:
Cutting Edge Advances in Breast Cancer (2003)
Fad Diets and Supplements for Breast Health (2004)
Breast Health: The Year in Medicine from Atkins to Zinc (2005)
Living Well Before and After Breast Health (2006)
What’s New and What's Changing in Breast Health Care (2007)
The Grand Rapids Coalition for Breast Health has hosted both national and local speakers at their annual educational events and considers them highly successful in that they:
facilitate identification and linkage of community resources;
bring a primary educational event to this community on an annual basis; and
increase community awareness in regard to the ongoing needs of good breast health.
Michigan Multicultural Tobacco Prevention Network Addressing: Lung Cancer/Tobacco
Collaborative partners in the project:
Arab American and Chaldean Council (ACC)
Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS)
The Asian Center
Faith Access to Community Economic Development (FACED)
Latino Family Services
South Eastern Michigan Indians, Inc. (SEMII)
Project description: The Michigan Multicultural Tobacco Prevention Network (MCN) was established to promote awareness regarding the dangers of tobacco use/abuse and secondhand smoke among communities of color. It is comprised of six lead agencies that represent the five major ethnic/racial populations in Michigan: African Americans, Arab and Chaldean Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanic/Latino Americans, and Native Americans. This network is funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Achievements of this collaboration include:
Completed a Smoke-Free Home Campaign within respective ethnic communities. The goal of the Smoke-Free Homes Campaign was to educate families about the dangers of secondhand smoke to children in their homes and obtain a commitment from these families to make and keep their homes smoke-free.
Completed focus group in spring of 2007 within respective ethnic communities in order to collect information related to tobacco use treatment strategies.
Developed and distributed statewide the “Increasing Awareness of Smoking Cessation Needs among Michigan’s Multicultural Populations” report — an outcome of the focus groups conducted in the spring of 2007.
Provided education and information to ethnic-specific businesses and restaurants related to establishment of Smoke-free policies.
Facilitated both Poster Sessions and Oral Presentations on the MCN Smoke Free Home Pledge at three National conferences.
Provided a panel discussion on the findings of the focus groups conducted within respective ethnic communities in order to collect information related to tobacco use treatment strategies.
Educated local, state, and federal elected officials about the impact of tobacco use and secondhand smoke on the five major ethnic groups in Michigan disparately affected.
Survivorship Series Addressing: Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Lung Cancer/Tobacco, Prostate Cancer
Collaborative partners in the project:
American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
Cancer Services
MidMichigan Medical Center - Midland
Project description: Due to the lack of programming that addressed all the challenges a cancer survivor faces once their initial treatment is complete and they are in surveillance mode, MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland, American Cancer Society (ACS), Great Lakes Division, Inc., and Cancer Services joined forces to develop a five-part series for cancer survivors that is based on the National Cancer Institute's Facing Forward Series.
A topic was presented each month that focused on the five key challenges a cancer survivor faces post treatment, and each program was facilitated by either a MidMichigan employee, ACS employee, or Cancer Services employee. There was a panel of experts that spoke on the topic followed by a question and answer session with attendees.
The program is being refined and will be offered two times per year in Midland, and the MidMichigan affiliates have also taken this template and will be offering the program in Gratiot, Clare, and Gladwin counties within the next year.