About the Initiative
The Colorectal Cancer Awareness Network (CRAN) of Washtenaw County is a diverse group of community members, cancer survivors, worksites organizations, universities, and health care centers in Washtenaw County that joined forces in 2005.

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Impetus for the Collaboration
This group formed to raise awareness of colorectal cancer screening guidelines and to increase early detection of colorectal cancer.  It continues to grow and strengthen with each passing year and through the addition of new members from across all walks of life.

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Results
CRAN of Washtenaw County developed a 45- to 60-minute prevention and education program (road show) that includes an agenda, a Microsoft PowerPoint slide show, a quiz, an evaluation, and speaker notes.  The following eight presentations were conducted during March and April 2006:

• Eastern Michigan University (Ypsilanti);
• Business & Professional Women (Monroe);
• NSF International (Ann Arbor);
• Pfizer Inc. (Ann Arbor);
• Frenchtown Senior Center (Monroe);
• JC Penney Retirees (Monroe);
• Washtenaw County Government Retirees (Ypsilanti); and
• Brighton High School Media Center (Brighton).

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Lessons Learned
The more members — both organizations and local community members — in your group that represent your community, the more successful the initiative will be.  Also, you need to have passionate people that want to be effective and make a huge impact on their own personal community and the people around them.

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Collaborating Partners

• University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center
• St. Joseph Mercy Cancer Care Center
• M-CARE
• CareChoices
• Eastern Michigan University
• Washtenaw County Department of Public Health
• NSF International
• Huron Gastroenterology
• Healthy Asian Americans Project
• Blue Care Network
• American Cancer Society
• National Cancer Institute
• University Students Against Cancer, University of Michigan
• Michigan Association of Health Plans (MAHP)
• University of Michigan Program for Multicultural Health
• American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Division, Inc.
• Colorectal cancer survivors
• Pfizer Oncology
• St. Joseph Mercy Health System
• Community members

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MCC Recognition
"CRAN of Washtenaw County" received the Michigan Cancer Consortium’s 2006 Spirit of Collaboration Honorable Mention Award.  The annual award is presented to member organizations that have done outstanding collaborative work to significantly move comprehensive cancer control activities forward in Michigan.

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Learn More
For more information about this project, please contact Leah Hollier-Kerr, Huron Valley Area Service Center - American Cancer Society, at 734-971-4300 (e-mail: leah.hollier-kerr@cancer.org).

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last updated: 06/04/07

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