June 22, 2006

Testimonials:

-“This is a blessing to make this information available to everyone. I pray everyone support the ministry”

-“Wonderful information in a comfortable environment. Open atmosphere to ask questions in”

-“I just want to thank you for all your help because I have 2 young girls so I can tell them”

-“Your presentation was awesome”

-“I found all the information very informative and I will be going to the Doctor ASAP”

Activities: Five interventions reaching 80 women, 6^th intervention June 22^nd (~30 women expected). We are at the mid-way point!

How we got here:  

The team formed, normed & stormed

Identified our over-arching goal to address cervical cancer disparities

Reviewed data to identify communities experiencing an unequal cervical cancer burden – the data clearly identifies minority populations, and older, rural women

Assessment of other work being done in these identified communities (EX: VSS B& C program, MOC, F2F in the Hispanic community, MIHV health video project)

Team available to any organization for TA, consultation, support  (EX: Building Bridges)

Team feels strongly that no one community is more “worthy” then another for an intervention

PWP is the simply the first because we had opportunity, relationships and connections into Pastors’ Wives group – to engage the PWs as advocates and champions

PWP is a Pilot

Others were welcome to develop and implement other projects if they wish

More to follow

What we have learned:

Flexibility   -     Not all the churches are in North Minneapolis

-          Two young women under age 18 attended and we gave them the incentive

-          One church requested information for men on prostate cancer and the pastor and several men attended (husbands of the ladies)

Time           -    Time is tight so we continue to refine/consolidate process to

                       increase time for group discussion

Refreshments -  NO MORE SUBWAYS (it is a challenge to stay within budget for food)

Evaluation Plans: 

Additions:  Erin Hedican will be calculating the percentage of age eligible congregants who have attended (20% is objective) 

Erin will be pulling 2 -3 samples in late summer

1.       Percentage of women from each site to telephone to solicit information about the experience (use post-intervention survey as tool)

2.       Women who indicated they would screen in ____ timeframe, and have not yet sent in a voucher

3.       Call all women at sites with low screening rates (see site 2 & 3)

Next Steps:

Second mailing to Pastors’ Wives in July, followed by personal contact from Benita/Gay

Organize the broader North Minneapolis community Communication Plan (stories in local newspapers, radio call-in show)

Revisit national organizations

Script intro, check packet contents, written instructions for participants on vouchers

Moving cervical cancer screening resources data base to permanent home

Think LEGACY