Miami Dade Area Health Education Center - Hands on Health
Miami-Dade Area Health Education Center (AHEC), Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve access to quality, comprehensive health care and education for the underserved, uninsured, economically needy, and other vulnerable individuals throughout Miami-Dade County through academic- community partnerships. MDAHEC provides "Hands on Health" Breast Cancer Education Program to middle school, high school, and college students. This program provides a thorough yet easily understood explanation of breast cancer. It is comprised of different facts, videos, statistics, visuals, and activities that are geared to teenage men and women in Miami-Dade and Broward County schools and youth serving sites, and colleges and universities. The program's objectives are to educate these young men and women about breast cancer and the need for early diagnosis and to encourage them to develop a life- long habit of breast health self-awareness.
Big Bend Rural Health Network - We Are One
Obtaining access to high-quality breast cancer education can be problematic for those living in rural and underserved areas due to a lack of resources and socioeconomic factors. Data shows that residents within the Big Bend Rural Health Network (BBRHN) service area, including Liberty, Jefferson, Taylor, Madison, Gadsden, and Leon County, are less likely to receive a mammogram, are diagnosed later and have higher breast cancer mortality rates as compared to State of Florida aggregates. BBRHN seeks to continue our "We Are One" breast cancer awareness project to educate vulnerable populations on the importance of breast health and self-advocacy (Priority Area 1). Knowledge is power, and the "We are One" program offers individuals a platform to learn about identifiable risk factors, preventative measures, and the importance of early detection of breast cancer. BBRHN and collaborating partners will host at least 4 breast cancer educational workshops, providing education and resources to approximately 200 total participants. Two events will be tailored to young adults to create a foundation for positive breast habits early on in life (Priority Area 3). Project evaluation will include qualitative and quantitative methods with result dissemination among stakeholders.
Watson Clinic Foundation - Breast Cancer Survivorship: Connections in Survivorship
The Watson Clinic Foundation introduces the Breast Cancer Survivorship Series- Connections in Survivorship. This program aims to provide educational and supportive experiences to survivors of breast cancer via the expansion of our 2 annual workshop series. The goals are to a) provide information and education for breast cancer survivorship, b) provide resources for a coordinated survivorship care plan and, c) provide supportive pathway experiences through the lens of the arts by leveraging community partnerships. Given the needs of this community for continued care and support these goals would promote patient empowerment and provide healthy, supportive lifestyle options for survivorship. This series of workshops would be held bi-annually, and each would consist of 4 meetings. During each meeting, resources for various supports would be given and benefits of a care plan will be discussed. The first meeting would be an informational workshop with a Watson Clinic Physician speaking on survivorship and Nutritionists speaking on healthy choices post-treatment. The remaining three would be experiential supportive workshops. By partnering with local organizations, patients can try something that could benefit their overall health without a long-term commitment. It would also allow them to assimilate more easily into these healthy and supportive activities beyond the workshop period.
Sharsheret – Sharsheret on Campus (FL)
Introduced in 2008, Sharsheret on Campus is a tailored awareness, education, and leadership initiative that is age-appropriate for high school, and college students. Sharsheret on Campus features 4 primary components, including: Pink Day is an annually designated day in February dedicated to raising breast cancer awareness in schools across the country. Students and faculty wear pink, decorate schools in pink, bring in Sharsheret speakers and breast cancer survivors to share their stories and discuss how knowledge and lifestyle choices can help mitigate one’s risk for developing cancer. On February 15, 2023, Pink Day was marked in over 200 schools across the country. In Florida, 22 campuses participated, over 3500 students engaged. Experiential and Educational Awareness Events are coordinated by student leaders and focus on breast health. Past events have included ManiCURE for Sharsheret, Pink Challah Bakes, Pedal For Pink, and fashion shows featuring cancer survivors and their college-age daughters. During each program, cancer survivors share their personal experiences and/or health-care professionals or Sharsheret staff provide life-saving education. Have The Talk® is a call-to-action empowering young adults to talk with their families about their health history and take control of their health. They are taught how to record their family medical history and the importance of preventative screenings and early detection. This program provides students with the tools they need to have important conversations with their medical professionals. My Second Backpack is a program designed to teach young adults how to meaningfully support friends whose loved ones have been diagnosed with breast cancer or ovarian cancer. Sharsheret produced a video sharing stories and counsel from such young adults; the video is designed to be viewed by students in Grades 11-12 and on college campuses and is to be followed by a facilitated discussion for which a guide was also developed.
Sistaah Talk Inc. – My Sistaah’s Keeper
My Sistaah's Keeper, is a breast health education program highlighting breast cancer education on prevention, awareness and improved quality of life of survivors. The program’s aim is to decrease breast cancer disparities by promoting healthy lifestyles through healthy eating, increased physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight and improving participants virtual health technology skills. This interactive program targets women of color breast cancer survivors, their caregivers and supporters, families, friends and other at-risk women. The core curriculum of My Sistaah's Keeper is aimed at increasing participants knowledge of breast health, teach healthy lifestyles, increasing self-efficacy by encouraging positive health behaviors and teaching mental and emotional coping skills to dampen the fear and confusion associated with a breast cancer diagnosis. Due to the increased mainstreaming of virtual healthcare, special attention will be focused on enhancing the technical skills needed to effectively utilize technology during tele-medicine visits and virtual health education platforms. Participant recruitment and management will be facilitated by trained members of Sistaah Talk! breast cancer support group. Program sessions will be presented primarily via online chats and workshops, one on one counselling and assessments and Sistah Circles, in person small group sessions, on average of 15-20 participants per session. Sistaah Talk will also emphasize the power of positivity as it relates to the mental anguish and emotional stress experienced along the breast cancer journey. Permission to Publish: Permission is hereby granted to Florida Breast Cancer Foundation to publish the above abstract should this proposal be accepted for funding.
Orlando Regional HealthCare - Community-based Education on Breast Cancer Genetic Testing for Underserved Populations in Central Fl
The purpose of this project is to educate our community about the risk factors associated with breast cancer, genetic screenings, and self-advocacy tools to take control of their breast health. Hosting in-person and virtual educational sessions for patients, providers, caregivers, and community members will allow Orlando health to remain flexible in delivering health information to the public. The content of the breast health education will include (1) types and stages of breast cancer (2) warning signs and early detection (3) methods of diagnosis (4) benign breast changes (5) methods of treatment and patient support, (6) the importance of genetic testing, and (7) the benefits risks and limitation of genetic testing. In addition, we will cover how to access resources and information on testing and where to seek social service support as a follow-through for this project.
Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation – Seed to Survivorship: From Prevention to Life After Breast Cancer
Florida Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded Libby’s Legacy Breast Cancer Foundation (LLBCF) a $10,000, grant for their Seed To Survivorship Education Program. The Program will educate the underserved population in Central Florida regarding breast health from the importance of self advocacy to early detection and all the way through transitioning to Survivorship if diagnosed. This program provides much needed one on one and small group education supporting the benefits of early detection and supporting Libby’s Legacy’s outreach initiatives by helping to target medically underserved women who, without our help, could not have access these services including aspects of Survivorship like gardening, yoga, fishing and other support services. The project includes education for more than 200 underserved women, including access to care and follow up through diligent case management. This project is paramount in preventing late-stage diagnosis’ that contribute to the high breast cancer mortality rate in minority communities here in Central Florida. This lifesaving mission is made possible in large part through this incredible FBCF grant opportunity. Are you in need ? Contact us now at 407-898-1991
Community Health Center of West Palm Beach - Community Health Worker/Patient Navigator
The Community Health Center of West Palm Beach (CHC, the Center) is requesting funding support of its part time Community Health Worker/Patient Navigator (CHW/PN) in order to provide CHC clients with more in-depth breast health education and increase the number of Center patients who receive navigation services in order to reduce deaths due to late stage breast cancer. The CHW/PN’s primary function is to provide CHC patients (both male and female) with one-on-one and small group breast health education so that they can become proactive advocates for their own breast health outcomes. Ancillary benefits include guiding them through the health care system, assisting with access issues, and tracking interventions and outcomes. By increasing the time focused on the breast health education of CHC's clients, the Center helps individuals to better take control of their own health, eliminating barriers to access for health care, and increasing the number of CHC patients who enter, stay in, or progress through the continuum of breast health services.
Octavia Health – Black Pink Breast Cancer Education
This project will be increase the knowledge to reduce the health disparity through a multilingual education strategy to the vulnerable uninsured and underserved Haitians and Hispanic/Latino population in Palm Beach County about the importance of identifying risk factors, how to reduce modifiable risks for breast cancer, to engage them in self-monitoring of their breast health, understand the importance of early detection, annual screenings, to promote self-advocacy for screenings, preventative care and link to the available breast health services in the community. To help address these barriers in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner; we propose Strategies of educational workshops, interactive classes with visual aids to help patients who cannot understand written educational materials. It will be organized and conducted in the languages of the different populations in collaboration with organizations that primarily serve the target population.
Glimmer of Hope Foundation Inc. – Show you Care, Be Aware
This project will be increase the knowledge to reduce the health disparity through a multilingual education strategy to the vulnerable uninsured and underserved Haitians and Hispanic/Latino population in Palm Beach County about the importance of identifying risk factors, how to reduce modifiable risks for breast cancer, to engage them in self-monitoring of their breast health, understand the importance of early detection, annual screenings, to promote self-advocacy for screenings, preventative care and link to the available breast health services in the community. To help address these barriers in a culturally and linguistically appropriate manner; we propose Strategies of educational workshops, interactive classes with visual aids to help patients who cannot understand written educational materials. It will be organized and conducted in the languages of the different populations in collaboration with organizations that primarily serve the target population.
Orlando Regional Healthcare – Return to Wellness: Fitness Classes for Breast Cancer Survivors
“Return to Wellness” is a 4-week education class for breast cancer survivors and their families that has been developed and offered by the Orlando Health program Cancer Support Community (OHCSC). The 4 weeks of classes cover the lasting emotional impact of a cancer diagnosis, nutrition information, a physical exercise program, and what to be aware of in survivorship medically. This program is free of charge and open to all breast cancer survivors and their families in the community. We are requesting grant funds in order to provide an expanded component to this existing project. With grant funds from the Florida Breast Cancer Foundation, we are looking to expand the fitness component of this program into the community in two gym locations in Central Florida – one in Orange County and one in Seminole County. With additional gym locations, we will be able to expand the fitness component and serve more breast cancer survivors and their caregivers in the Central Florida Community.
Community Life Support, Inc. – Community Breast Health Education
Community Life Support, over the past 10 years, have diagnosed breast cancers in many young women under the age of 35. These young people were extremely afraid, and partly because of a lack of education on the issue of breast cancer. Some could not really understand why at such a young age they were diagnosed with this disease. A lack of knowledge created an additional source of fear in so many of the women. Community Life Support want to make it a priority to educate at least 500 young women under age 35 residing in Miami-Dade, Broward, or Palm Beach County for many different reasons, but primarily because it is clear that if they are knowledgeable, they will get to know their bodies, be aware of any changes when they occur and seek medical assistance sooner. It is a well-known fact that “early detection is the best protection”.
International Bridge of Hope Society, Inc. - Health Navigator
The Hope Cancer Health Navigator project will serve a variety of functions including enhancing patient-provider communication, advocating for patient’s rights, facilitating decision-making, offering psychological supports and linkages, and providing culturally appropriate services. In delivering these services, patient navigators can mitigate the barriers experienced by populations within the service area. These disparities have been linked to barriers such as lack of transportation, overcrowded hospitals, and language barriers, resulting in loss of follow-up and failure to receive screenings and treatment. With the inclusion of patient navigators, these hurdles can be reduced by introducing services that can streamline the cancer care process and build trust with patients experiencing these difficulties in accessing care. To enhance overall delivery of services, the lay and nurse navigators will have distinct and complimentary roles. This ensures standardization of care, delivery of services, unique responsibilities, and core competencies that each navigator should achieve. The Hope Cancer Health Navigator Project will also provide education in the form of conferences, workshops, and health fairs in various languages. Extensive training will be provided to lay health navigators.