Topic

Key Points Raised

Decision/Action

Report: Building Bridges

Building Bridges’ purpose is increasing Breast & Cervical Screening in Stearns County with Emphasis on Diverse Communities, Rural Women, and Medically Underserved Women. It includes members from Abbott Northwestern Sartell Outpatient Center; American Cancer Society; Centro Hispano and St Joseph’s Church; CentraCare Clinics;  Minnesota Department of Health; MN International Health Volunteers;  NCI Cancer Information Service; Parish Nurses; SAGE Screening Program; St. Cloud Hospital and Breast Center; Stearns County Public Health; Vietnamese Social Service Agency of MN

Centro Hispanic had a family day on 8-24-07 and Socorro Felton attended on behalf of Bridges.

A Building Bridges evaluation plan was written and the survey has been completed

They are working on conducting breast and cervical cancer screening outreach to uninsured and underinsured women through local worksites including Stearns Manufacturing; Electrolux; and Centro Hispano. They are also conducting Somali forums.

Contact Pam Seiwert, team facilitator,  for additional information SiewertP@centracare.com

Contact Lisa Stephens if you are interested in a copy of the evaluation plan for Building Bridges. stephens.lisa@mayo.edu

Community Health Worker Cancer Training Update (Andrea Leinberger Jabari)

CHW conference Nov 16, Hotel Sofitel, Bloomington “Great Connections: Community Health Workers as Agents of Change”  This day-long conference will:

Ø       Create a dialogue between CHWs, their employers, and stakeholders on key issues in the changing field of community health work.

Ø       Provide updates to CHWs, their employers, and others on policies and practice in community health work.

Ø       Create networking opportunities for CHWs and their employers.

U of MN School of Public Health student Becky Jungbauer conducted a survey of 100 individuals who participated in the Combating Cancer in your Community course in 2006.  She had about 30 people respond.  Lisa Stephens, Liz Moe & Andrea will work to summarize results.

Becky Jungbauer also conducted a needs assessment to find out whether hospital education directors around the state were interested in the course.  18 hospitals responded that they would be interested in attending, sending staff to, or offering a course like this.

Contact Andrea Leinberger Jabari for more information

aleinberger@mihv.org

Dialogue for Action (DeAnna Finifrock)

Held Sept 11 & 12 at Mille Lacs. 66 people attended from 11 tribes in Minnesota. An advisory council will continue with support from Colon Cancer Coalition, American Cancer Society and Spirit of Eagles.  Next steps posted on www.mncanceralliance.org  

Contact DeAnna Finifrock for more information

deannafinifrock@fdlrez.com

Cervical Cancer Team (Mike Malone)

Group has been rotating leadership. Marva Bohen is seeking permanent leadership for the work group.

Mary Winnett finished the online cervical cancer resource database. 

http://www.healthymnwomen.org/ccscs/index.html

It is a source of information for un- and under-insured women on the availability of and eligibility criteria for programs that offer free or low-cost cervical cancer screening and diagnosis and health clinics that provide these programs.

Additionally, providers who are not be able to offer some screening or diagnostic services, or not able them free or at low-cost, need a quick, easy means of finding alternative sites that can provide such services for their patients.

Project team is working on tools or toolkits for three audiences; women, CHW, clinicians

Please help to promote cervical cancer database to your program contacts

Michael.malone@health.state.mn.us

Prostate Cancer Informed decision making Grant (Roshan Paudel)

This project aims to implement and evaluate expansion of a community-based, culturally-tailored and scientifically sound prostate education and outreach approach grounded in an American Cancer Society (ACS) program called Let’s Talk About It focused on African American men so that they can make informed decisions about prostate cancer screening. This program has been implemented successfully in one North Minneapolis community health care setting since 2004 by the Health Disparities Department of the Minnesota Region of ACS.

For the first year we will expand this program to at least five additional African American community and health care settings in the Twin Cities metropolitan area.  ACS will work in collaboration with MDH to administer mini-grants, provide technical assistance and training, and evaluate all aspects of the project.   

Contact Roshan Paudel for additional information

roshan.paudel@cancer.org

Colorectal Cancer Task Force legislative project (David Simmons)

Cost is a barrier to colorectal cancer screening. Colorectal cancer task force is leading a legislative initiative to fund a screening program to provide free colon cancer screening to eligible uninsured and under-insured people.

This legislation would address needs across the state and within all race/ethnic communities

CRC TF is asking Alliance members to endorse legislation, distribute education materials, and reach out to communities support this effort

Contact David Simmons for additional information david.s.simmons@health.state.mn.us

Marching towards Cancer Prevention

Thursday, March 27 to Saturday, March 29, 2008, Rochester, Minn.

(Nicole Bennett Engler)

Conference includes:

Town Hall Meeting (Thurs., March 27, 2008)

Co-sponsored by the Friends of Cancer Research, this forum for community leaders, policymakers, workforce administrators and the public will feature experts discussing the future of cancer prevention and early detection.

Clinical Updates (Thurs., March 27, 2008)

This half-day workshop will focus on hot topics in cancer prevention, from tobacco control and MR mammography to HPV vaccine and PSA screening. 

Cancer Control Workshop (Fri., March 28, 2008)

This interactive workshop for health professionals – from public health workers and comprehensive cancer control staff to nurses and patient advocates – will focus on showcasing cancer prevention initiatives, including how to duplicate successful projects in your community.  

Get Your Rear in Gear 5K Run/Walk (Sat., March 29, 2008)

Runners and walkers will help raise awareness of colorectal cancer in Rochester and the surrounding area. 

Community Health Fair (Sat., March 29, 2008)

This event will make learning about cancer prevention fun for the entire family! 

Save the date March 27-29 in Rochester

Email engler.nicole@mayo.edu for more information

Registration fee will be very low or $0 depending on fundraising efforts.

Summit 2008 (Deann Lazovich)

DeAnn is vice-chair of Minnesota Cancer Alliance steering committee and will be Steering committee chair in 2008.Along with a coordinating committee; DeAnn is working to create better communication between task forces and steering committee.  DeAnn & Liz are seeking help from task forces to present projects at Summit.  Project ideas may be presented at Oct 11 Steering Committee meeting.

Summit 2008 Objectives

• Engage new partners in the Minnesota Cancer Alliance
• Mobilize Alliance membership to join forces on strategic projects
• Connect Alliance membership through project planning for 2008-2010
• Share most recent Minnesota cancer data
• Network with health care professionals, advocates and survivors

Contact Liz Moe or DeAnn Lazovich if you have suggestions for task force projects to feature at 2008 Summit.

Save the Date Cancer Summit 4/22/08

Elizabeth.moe@health.state.mn.us

Lazovich@epi.umn.edu

Announcements

MIHV has created a cervical cancer video in Somali (Sara Rohde)

Contact srohde@mihv.org

IHEA has developed educational material for Oromo women related to breast self-exam and mammography. They are distributed through Oromo assocations.  They are also interested in producing the materials in Hmong and Cambodian.  The breast self exam cards are in Spanish and English

IHEA has also developed AIDS education materials in English, Hmong, and Cambodian. Contact Niccu for more information.

Please review the materials and send comments to Niccu Tafarrodi niccu_ihea@yahoo.com

Lisa Stephens) Evaluation committee is looking for additional members in 2008.  Any interested in joining the evaluation committee?  Meetings are 2 hours, 6 times per year.

Contact Lisa Stephens to volunteer to be on evaluation committee or for more information

stephens.lisa@mayo.edu