2009 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 2009 MCC Annual Meeting, the following organizations were presented with 2009 MCC Spirit of Collaboration awards in recognition of their exceptional work leading collaborative efforts on behalf of the MCC and comprehensive cancer control in Michigan.
Body & Soul Addressing: Healthy Lifestyles
Project description: Body & Soul is a nationwide, evidence-based health and wellness program tailored for African American churches. The program works with church leaders to provide educational materials and resources for encouraging members to eat more fruits and vegetables and to be more active.
In partnership with the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Community Outreach, 11 churches in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti conducted Breast Cancer and Men’s Health Forums.
Approximately 10 Detroit churches received support from both the American Cancer Society (ACS) and Ford Hospital Your Journey to Wellness to establish a health ministry focusing on awareness of heart disease, cancer, stress reduction, and physical activity.
This past year, all 11 of the National Progressive Baptist Churches in Michigan were trained on Body & Soul.
There are now 22 churches in Flint that fully implement Body & Soul.
With the help of HUGG Black Nurses of Saginaw, two churches in Saginaw have been trained on Body & Soul.
Spectrum Health, Omni Health, and ACS formed a grassroots initiative in Grand Rapids to reach the underserved.
Because there are 21 trained churches in Grand Rapids, the Body & Soul program was identified as the best vehicle to share the initiative’s programs and resources with the African American community and the underserved.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, in collaboration with Body & Soul of Flint and Grand Rapids, partnered to increase physical activity and health awareness via a shared walking program, general health screening, and MI Child training.
Keep Your Rear in the Clear: The Detroit Colossal Colon Educational Event Addressing: Colorectal Cancer
Project description: The Colorectal Cancer Awareness Network (CRAN) of Southeastern Michigan
— a community network consisting of members from local hospitals,
health departments, insurance providers, and other individuals with a
vested interest in colorectal cancer — brought the Colossal Colon or "CoCo" to the Detroit Science Center for one week in March 2009 during national Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. CoCo, a project of The Colon Club, is a 40-foot long and 4-foot tall replica of the human colon designed to educate the public, raise awareness, and diminish the stigma associated with colon cancer and other colorectal diseases.
During the event, educational activities were developed to enhance the visual messages provided by CoCo, particularly for youth. Nutritional messages were provided through an age-tailored card game and food models from the local university students. A Resource Guidebook was also created specifically for this exhibit that included resources for colorectal screening and prevention, along with activities for youth. In addition, visitors could view a DVD created by the American Cancer Society explaining the various screening methods for colorectal cancer.
Over 3,000 community members visited CoCo during the one-week exhibit. Feedback from CRAN members, visitors, volunteers, and Detroit Science Center staff was overwhelmingly positive. Many visitors spoke about the personal impact of the event, including needing to talk to their health care providers about getting screened, having family health history discussions, or increasing their fruit/vegetable intake and physical activity levels.
The Power of Collaboration: Enhancing Existing Infrastructures to Bring Breast Health Awareness and Screening to Underserved Women Addressing: Breast Cancer
Project description: The Community Network Collaborative Breast Cancer Screening Project is
a Detroit Community Network Program that brought together five
organizations to provide breast health awareness, mammography
screening, and system navigation to underserved African American women
in the City of Detroit and the surrounding area. Funded by the Komen
Detroit Race for the Cure, the collaboration is comprised of a network
of organizations serving special populations including the homebound,
developmentally disabled, blind/visually impaired, deaf/hearing
impaired, homeless, nursing home residents, grandparents raising
grandchildren, and others. Partner organizations provide breast
education to women from these special populations with case managers
following up to facilitate mammography transportation and provide
navigation for further diagnostic work when needed.
Of the over 300
women who have participated in breast health education interventions to
date, 53 have since had screening mammography, 51 were negative for
breast cancer, and one was positive and is receiving follow-up. One
participant was ultimately diagnosed with lung cancer and is in
treatment. An additional 35 women have scheduled mammograms, and 21
women refused to schedule mammograms and requested not to be contacted
again. The remaining women (over 200) were either compliant or still
being contacted to encourage screening. This project demonstrates that
repeated “high touch”contact is required for many of the women served by these organizations.
2009 Spirit of Collaboration Awards — Honorable Mention
The Consortium also recognized the efforts of the following organizations with the presentation of 2009 MCC Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Awards for their leadership of exemplary collaborative projects on behalf of the MCC and comprehensive cancer control efforts in Michigan.
Hats & High Tea for Breast Cancer Awareness Addressing: Breast Cancer
Project description: The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center’s (UMCCC) Community Outreach Program and the Ann Arbor Chapter of The Links Inc. partnered to host Hats and High Tea for Breast Cancer Awareness. The event took place on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2008 to honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The objectives of the event were to:
raise awareness about breast cancer in African American women;
empower women to be proactive about breast health; and
provide an opportunity for community members to ask questions about breast cancer.
The day opened with common “high tea” refreshments, including scones, cheeses, finger sandwiches, tea, and desserts. The first portion of the program was an etiquette workshop presented by Links members. The second portion of the program consisted of a breast cancer education panel with a UMCCC oncologist and certified genetic counselor. The program ended with an interactive question-and-answer period. Approximately 90 women attended, and survey results indicated that the event increased participants’ knowledge and attitudes about their breast health.
Men's Health Initiative Addressing: Prostate Cancer, Tobacco Control/Lung Cancer
Project description: Building on Karmanos' 60-year history of education and outreach, the
Men's Health Initiative was formed to provide general medical care to
uninsured and underinsured men in targeted Detroit zip codes.
The focus
of the Initiative was to educate men on cancer risks, symptoms,
screening, and overall men’s health. Educational programs led by staff and trained volunteers focused on cancers with the highest incidence and mortality rates for men: prostate, lung and pancreatic. Program components included prevention, signs and symptoms for all three cancers and information on screening for prostate cancer. Small businesses frequented by men (barbershops, hardware stores, union halls, churches, and other community organizations) were additional places of literature distribution and presentations.
Eight educational sessions and eight health fairs were held throughout the year in Detroit. At these events, coupons for free prostate examinations and prostate specific antigen testing were distributed, with 32 men receiving prostate cancer screening tests. Also included was a follow-up program for men with abnormal prostate screenings to ensure additional tests and/or treatments would be accessible. Karmanos urologists agreed to provide free follow-up care to anyone with abnormal results.