Partners

• DC Cancer Plan
• DC Cancer Consortium
• Community Partners

DC Cancer Plan

Dr. Gregg Pane, MD, former Director of the DC Department of Health, and leaders of the DC Cancer Coalition released the completed five-year DC Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, a blueprint for cancer prevention and control for the Department of Health and healthcare providers in the district.

The Plan was developed by the DC Cancer Coalition, which is comprised of more than 50 local stakeholders, and with the support of the GW Cancer Institute (GWCI) and its Director, Steven R. Patierno, PhD., Donald Henson, MD, Co-chair of the Coalition, and Francisco Semião, MS, MPH, initiator of the Coalition and Plan, who have been affiliated with GWCI, which remains active in the implementation of the Plan through community-based work to combat cancer disparities within the DC community.

Initial implementation focused upon four major cancers where the District has the highest mortality rates in the nation: colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer and smoking-related cancers, of which, the district's African-American population unfortunately bears the heaviest burden in these cancers.

You may view the Cancer Control Plan 2005-2010 by clicking on the link below, which will directly take you to the PDF document. If you have any further questions about the GWCI's partnership with the DC Cancer Consortium http://www.dccancerconsortium.org/ please contact Dr. Donald Henson, (202)994-2449.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the health of men, boys, and their families. Founded in 1992, its goals are to reduce premature mortality, promote healthier lifestyles through education, encourage the use of existing healthcare networks, and support women in their efforts to be activists for the health of their families. The mission of the Men’s Health Network includes efforts to reduce health disparities and to encourage prevention and screening among men by: (i) development of culturally sensitive health information materials that are designed to teach women about men’s unique health needs; (ii) development of programs that empower women to become actively involved in the health of their men by encouraging them to learn about the health needs of the men in their lives, encouraging those men to engage in screening and other prevention activities, and to seek medical assistance when needed; (iii) working with existing networks, including the workplace, retail locations and shelters for the homeless population, to deliver health information to men and the women in their lives; (iv) development of capacity building tools that help community based organizations develop successful health outreach programs; and (v) development of culturally sensitive health information materials that are designed to gain the attention of men.

The GWCI partners with this network of survivors, doctors, researchers, activists, and partnering advocacy organizations committed to educating the public about prostate cancer. Named by Worth Magazine as one of America's Top 100 charities, NPCC partners with organizations representing high-risk groups such as African-Americans, to try to increase awareness about prostate cancer. Using a mobile prostate cancer screening clinic, it goes into at-risk communities to offer free, confidential screenings.

A community-based organization that provides a forum by which medical and community-outreach professionals can teach churchgoers about health issues, including prostate, colorectal and lung cancers. The goal is for each forum to reach 40 to 60 people in a program lasting no longer than three hours. The selection of church locations is in response to the desire of individual churches to participate, though emphasis is on Wards 4, 5 and 6, where mortality from prostate, lung and colo-rectal cancer is particularly high. Medical professionals contribute their time to these programs, during which they present material geared to the audience, and participants are given a chance to raise questions and concerns. Forums are held on Saturdays and Sundays in order to reach the most people. The group’s goals are: (i) to put a “face” on the disease of prostate cancer by raising awareness; (ii) to organize and assist men who suffer from cancer, as well as their families, through group meetings, events, and communication; and (iii) to promote better health through prevention and awareness.

The GWCI partners with DC AHEC in its effort to improve the training of local healthcare professionals through patient-centered education. AHEC's focus is particularly on improving the training of those who practice in medically underserved areas, and it promotes programs that work to recruit and retain people of color for medical careers. In its work with people of all races and ethnicities, AHEC also trains medical professionals about cultural sensitivities that might affect their healthcare. AHEC represents a partnership of The DC Primary Care Association, DC Department of Health, Unity Healthcare, and 27 community-based clinics.

This network of clinics provide medical services to medically underserved and homeless people in all eight Wards of the District of Columbia. Nearly all of Unity Healthcare's patients live at or below the federal poverty level. Working on a sliding fee scale, Unity Healthcare provides each patient with a primary care provider who offers referrals to specialists when needed. Unity Healthcare staff members include physicians, nurses, medical and dental assistants, pharmacists, patient services support providers and social workers. By working with a range of healthcare providers throughout the city, Unity Healthcare is able to gain access to high-quality, comprehensive care for its patients.

The DC Healthcare Alliance offers a full range of medical services for uninsured residents. Included among the benefits are inpatient hospital care, outpatient medical care (including preventive care), emergency services, urgent care services, prescription drugs, rehabilitative services, home healthcare, specialty care and wellness programs.

The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service has for more than 25 years served as a mechanism to provide the latest, most accurate cancer information to patients, health professionals and the public. The CIS was established in 1976 to address the information needs of health professionals and the public. The CIS communicates the latest research findings on cancer prevention, detection, treatment and supportive care to its users through toll-free telephone information services, a Partnership Program, and an initiative in cancer communication research. Through the Partnership Program, CIS develops partnerships with national, regional and state organizations that serve minority and medically underserved populations. CIS provides partner organizations technical assistance to strengthen organizational capacity to inform and educate their audiences. The goal is to establish long-term collaborative working relationships that are mutually beneficial. The CIS is dedicated to reducing health disparities through partnerships and being a collaborator in research projects that improve the way information is provided to medically underserved populations. Nearly 84 percent of CIS partnerships are with organizations that work with medically underserved populations.

A nonprofit group of cancer survivors in the Washington area that seeks to educate people about cancer. The organization has an all-volunteer network that helps people newly diagnosed with cancer to navigate the healthcare system and publishes comprehensive resource guides on specific cancers, both in print and on the Internet. Included in the resource material is information about cancer care, survivorship and support groups. For example, it publishes an information guide on prostate cancer that includes lists of support groups with meeting days and times, location, contact information, and a list of selected urological resources.

The George Washington University Cancer Institute actively participates in the DC Cancer Control Coalition that was created by the DC Department of Health in 2002. Dr. D. E. Henson from our Office of Cancer Prevention and Control serves as Co-Chair of the Coalition. The purpose of the Coalition, which meets monthly, is to develop a comprehensive Cancer Control Plan for DC based on the guidelines of CDC. The work of the Coalition has been supported by a CDC planning grant awarded to the Department of Health. Expected to be completed in early 2005, the Plan will be used to justify additional CDC support for implementation. The American Cancer Society is also involved in coordination of the development of the Plan for DC. Approximately 30 organizations in DC are members of the Coalition.

The GWCI is engaged in a number of partnerships with the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, which offers the latest treatments for virtually every type of cancer, with a particular emphasis on solid tumors and adult and pediatric hematologic cancers. In addition to its innovative clinical research studies and cancer control and prevention research, the NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center has a commitment to community services and outreach activities related to cancer prevention and control. Lombardi has a strong history of building partnerships with local organizations and agencies that already serve diverse communities, including those that bear the greatest burden of cancer and have the fewest resources to cope with it.

The GWCI has partnerships with the Howard University Cancer Center whose mission is to reduce the incidence of cancer in the African American community, both locally and nationally and to become a national resource with respect to epidemiology, prevention, control, and treatment of cancer in African Americans. HUCC is the only stand-alone cancer center at a historically black college or university in the country. The Center is adjacent to the Howard University Hospital (HUH), a major teaching hospital that emphasizes delivery of quality healthcare to medically underserved populations.

The Cancer Preventorium is a low-cost clinic at the Washington Hospital Center’s Cancer Institute, in Washington, DC. About 96 percent of the Preventorium’s patients are Latinos, and 60 percent have no health insurance. Most patients are recent immigrants, and 90 percent of the patients of founder and director Dr. Huerta are listeners to his radio programs on consumer health. To be seen at the clinic, patients must have no symptoms and must pay an out-of-pocket, low-cost fee pegged to the Medicare rate of $64.00. Despite those limitations, about 13,000 people have been seen at the Preventorium since its inception in 1994. The Preventorium program includes a patient Navigator offering services akin to Standard-Concrete Navigation described in this application. This Navigator program is not specific to either cancer in general or breast cancer specifically. Its goal is to help patients with setting up appointments, providing explanations, making phone calls and writing reminder letters.

Project WISH (Women Into Staying Healthy). The GWCI partners with the DC Department of Health which has a mission to promote and protect the health, safety and quality of life of residents. DOH's responsibilities include identifying health risks, educating the public, preventing and controlling diseases, injuries and exposure to environmental hazards, promoting effective community collaborations, and optimizing equitable access to community resources. Project WISH is a program funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that provides free cancer education, screening, and diagnostic services to low-income District women with little or no health insurance. Roughly 2,000 women each year get mammograms through Project WISH, and about 85 to 90 percent of them are African American. Women ages 18 and older are eligible for a free annual clinical breast exam, among other services. Women ages 40 and older are also eligible for a free annual mammogram. Free transportation and interpreter services are available for women with appointments. Among the goals of Project WISH are to eliminate the disparities in breast cancer care due to ethnicity, income, and geographic location and increase access to quality cancer detection and treatment services.

Nueva Vida is a support network whose mission is to inform and empower Latinas whose lives are affected by cancer and to advocate for and facilitate the timely access of state-of-the-art cancer care. Nueva Vida’s patient navigator provides individualized assistance to Latinas in need of healthcare resources for breast cancer screening, detection, treatment, and care. This year, the organization has referred more than 120 women to services such as free or low-cost mammograms, assistance with enrollment in government medical services and access to transportation and medication through private charities. It provides a resource center for Latinas that includes bilingual information on breast cancer. It addresses the long-term implications of cancer through individual and group support activities. The support groups meet weekly, addressing issues such as total healthcare while undergoing cancer treatments, spirituality, and creating emotional support within the family. Individual short-term counseling, as well as peer-to-peer counseling by cancer survivors, is also available.

A nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the incidence and mortality rate of breast cancer among African American women in Washington, DC, particularly those who have little or no access to adequate healthcare and treatment. Founded in 1989 by its Chairperson, Zora Brown, a fourth-generation breast cancer survivor, BCRC is a response to the immense need in the African American community for increased education and understanding about breast cancer risk factors; the importance of breast cancer screening and early detection; and the availability of successful treatment options and support. BCRC promotes and reinforces early detection and treatment of breast cancer for African American women through various means, including providing peer counselors, establishing support groups for breast cancer survivors, and increasing the participation in early detection and screening for breast cancer.

The GWCI partners with The American Cancer Society utilizing its: (i) Cancer Information Database, which has comprehensive, current information about breast cancer and its detection and treatment facilities; (ii) Community Resource Directory for survivors and caregivers, including support groups, transportation (supplies such as nutritional supplements and wigs), medical equipment, financial assistance, etc.; (iii) National Call Information Center and Web site, multilingual services that allow people to call or log on 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to get information or discuss other issues related to cancer; (iv) South Atlantic Division Patient Resource Navigation Center, which helps arrange transportation and other services; (v) social workers at the resource center who provide both survivors and caregivers with more in-depth services by phone, such as a brief psychosocial assessment, crisis counseling, advocacy, and anything else that can help the patient overcome barriers to cancer care; (vi) registered dietitians who provide education and nutritional counseling to survivors and caregivers on nutrition and on the side effects of cancer treatment; and (vii) Clinical Trial Matching Service for survivors interested in exploring that option.

The DC Cancer Consortium is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the reduction of cancer in the District of Columbia through prevention, improved treatment, and research. The Consortium works to facilitate coordination and cooperation among the City's organizations working on cancer issues, conduct outreach, and education for the public, provide a clearinghouse for the public and for healthcare professionals on cancer services, and facilitate professional education programs. Members of the Consortium include all of the academic and hospital-based cancer centers in the city, the American Cancer Society, the DC Hospital Association, the Breast Cancer Resource Committee, Unity Healthcare, Providence Hospital, Sibley Hospital, and the Greater Washington Coalition for Cancer Survivors.

The Wellness Community - Greater Washington, DC (TWC-DC) provides free programs of emotional support, education and hope for people with cancer and their loved ones. TWC-DC offers professionally facilitated support groups both for people with cancer and for caregivers, stress reduction programs, mind/body classes and educational workshops. TWC-DC has presented several educational workshops in partnership with GW Cancer Institute. An independent, community-based nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, MD, TWC-DC is part of an international network of organizations committed to helping people affected by cancer enhance their health and well-being. For additional information visit www.wellnesscommunitydc.org