Coalition Workgroups and Initiatives

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Executive Summary of the Camden City Cancer Initiative 2006-2007

Introduction: In an effort to eliminate the unequal burden of cancer among Camden City residents, the American Cancer Society partnered with Cooper University Hospital, Virtua Health, Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center, Camden City Government, Camden County Cancer Coalition and several other leaders to launch the Camden City Cancer Initiative in February 2006.  Through collaborative efforts, the Camden City Cancer Initiative (3CI) achieved success in establishing partnerships and combining resources to increase awareness of and screenings for cancer of the first 18 months of the initiative

Background: Data suggest the Black and Hispanic communities in Camden City bear a disproportionate burden of poor health, particularly cancer, due to a wide range of complex circumstances involving poverty, little or no health insurance, and access barriers-i.e. low literacy, English as second language, and cultural beliefs. For all types of cancer, men in Camden City had a 20% higher incidence rate than men in the County (1998-20021). As a City that is 53% African American and 38.7% Hispanic, the high cancer incidence rate for prostate cancer (210.4) compared to Camden County men (179.8), demonstrates the disparities in health for minority groups (Rates are reported per 100,00 population). The most commonly diagnosed cancers among women in Camden City (1998-2002) were breast, cervical, lung and colorectal cancers. Women in Camden City, the majority of whom are African American or Hispanic, have a 58% higher rate of invasive cervical cancer than women in the County. Women in the City also had higher rates of colorectal and lung cancers than did women in the county.

Methods: The American Cancer Society invited stakeholders in Camden City to join the Camden City Cancer Initiative (3CI). Many of these stakeholders became members of the Camden City Cancer Initiative Leadership Council (3CI-LC). Serving as a steering body, the 3CI-LC was charged to collaborate with existing community groups to develop, implement and evaluate a strategic plan to increase cancer screenings in the City. Two committees were formed and charged with implementing the strategies of the Initiative: 1) Eliminating Health Disparities and 2) Worksite Wellness. The goal of the Eliminating Health Disparities Committee was to increase cancer screening among the medically underserved populations via a partnership with the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection (NJCEED) program. The NJCEED program offers free breast, cervical, colorectal and prostate cancer screening to women and men that meet program eligibility requirements. The goal of the Worksite Wellness Committee was to increase cancer screening among employees at select worksites in Camden City. It is estimated that about 20-25% of people with health insurance are not appropriately screened for cancer. An assessment was used to gather baseline data about the cancer screening behaviors of employees at select worksites.

Summary/Conclusion: During the past 18 months, a strategic plan to reduce the unequal cancer burden in Camden City has been established. This report documents the successes, challenges and the opportunity to continue toward the strategic directions of the Initiative. Many leaders have agreed to continue working on the Initiative, and we anticipate continued success.

Letter_for_City_for_3CI_2007.doc

We would like to thank our participants for coming. We welcomed 107 participants to the conference

These are some of the photo from the conference.
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These are pictures from the Men’s Health Taking Care of Bussness -Focus on Cancer Prevention, Awareness, and Screening on Oct 30, 2007

We would like to thank all of our partners that had helped with the Men’s Conference.
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The ACS table
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The Burlington table
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The NCI table
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Gloucester county table
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The Lourdes table
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The Camden County Cancer Coalition Table

The major strategy for Eliminating Health Disparities in Cancer Care is the Cancer Education and Early Detection (CEED) Programs in Camden County. They are based at Cooper Hospital and Virtua Hospital.  The CEED program targets men and women who have no health insurance or are under insured and do not received cancer screening.  By using the estimated number of women who are 250% of Poverty Line (men’s estimated number is not available yet), Camden County has reached 47% of the group with at least one screening between the ages of 40-64 in 2005.  For the women 18-64, seen by the two CEED programs, the estimate is that we have reached 28% with cervical cancer screening.  We need to continue to advocate for full funding of the CEED programs, to continue to reach the estimated 7,033 women between the ages of 40-64, and the 14,322 women between the ages of 18-64 in Camden County. 

During the past year, the workgroup has completed the following:
1.  Working with the NCIS Consumer Health Profiles to target our cancer screening messages to specific medically underserved populations in Camden County.  There are two distinct approaches—one for Camden City and one for the suburban Camden County.  Ms Shari Short, NCIS is helping the coalition to build an evaluation process of this pilot study.  Ms. Ann Biondi, Head of Person Health Services for Camden County DHHS (CC-DHHS), Trish Hearey and Lynn Rosner of CC-DHHS are the lead on the county marketing approach.  Joan Lombardi and Dianne Hyman will lead on the city marketing approach.
2.  Partnering with the CC-DHHS “Get Screened, Stay Healthy, Stay Alive” and CEED to provide complete Health Screening including the availability of the Fox Chase Cancer Center mammography van at designated sites, at least 2 to 6 times a year.  The sites are located in the six largest municiaplities that have 80% of African American Camden County residents and 82% of the Hispanic population.
3.  Partnering with the ACS Camden City Cancer Initiative in the cancer screening strategy in which 6 of the screening days will be held in Camden City locations.  At the launching of the initiative February 22, 2006, 11 new members will be joining the work group.  We will hold the meetings at a Camden City location TBA. 
Read More about Camden City Cancer Initiative
4.  Support for Cooper Grant on Prostate Cancer

Eliminating Health Disparities in Cancer Care Workgroup Membership Details
(Current as of March 2006)

Eliminating Health Disparities / CEED Workgroup
Convener for the Workgroup is Jean F. Mouch, MD, MPH, Coalition Coordinator

Jean Mouch, MD, MPH Coalition Coordinator
Evelyn Robles-Rodriguez, Director Oncology Outreach Program, Cooper
Joan Lombardi, Coordinator of CEED, Virtua
Dianne Hyman, Coordinator of CEEd, Cooper
Mary Paul, Outreach, Virtua CEED program
Tricia Heary, Camden County DHHS
Faith Simmons, Health Educator
Joye Rozier, CAMcare
Hilary Colbert, CPAC
Virgenmina López, CEED Coooper
Lynn Rosner, Camden County DHHS
Ann Biondi, Camden County DHHS
Doug Marshall, Virtua Health
Plyshette Wiggins, ACS

Tri-County Workgroup has prepared a NJ Cancer Plan Information/Educational Event.  The 2005-2006 meetings have had representatives from Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties Cancer Coalitions and all of the health systems.  There is a Regional Cancer Report available for members that cover Burlington, Camden, and Gloucester Counties. Request a copy from Jean Mouch, mouchjf@yahoo.com. 
Read more about The Big ‘C’ Event

Tri-County Work Group – Burlington, Camden and Gloucester Counties
Convener of the Work Group:  Hilary Colbert, CPAC
Cooper CME Department
Virtua Health CEED program
Cooper Hospital CEED program
Anita Jeter, Cooper CEED Outreach
Bernice Williams, AHEC
Lynn Rosner, Camden County DHHS
Hilary Colbert, CPAC
Lourdes Health System, Cancer Program Coordinator
Scot N. McCray, Cooper Hospital
Plyshette Wiggins, American Cancer Society