2010 Grant Awards
Angel Foundation, Minneapolis, MN. Project Title: Financial Assistance Program (FAP), Breast Cancer Patients. Funding will be used to provide emergency grants (rent/mortgage, groceries, phone/utility payments, gas/bus vouchers to and from treatment) to qualifying breast cancer survivors in the 7-county metro area. In addition, the Foundation’s free education and support (Facing Cancer Together – FaCT) program focuses on strengths-based programming for all members of the family. To be eligible for a grant, the patient must be currently living and/or in treatment within the 7-county metro area. A referring health care partner must provide written confirmation of this eligibility. Reports are maintained, updated, and reviewed monthly to track all disbursements, referral source, and purpose of grant awarded. Angel Foundation also tracks information about why the person has the immediate need (single parent, loss of job due to treatment, unable to work, in hospice care, etc.). We evaluate success in terms of prevention of homelessness, malnutrician, and decisions not to pursue treatment. Increased number of families from FAP becoming involved in our FaCT prgram is also a measure of success for us. Grant Award: $100,000.00
Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, Crosby, MN. Project Title: Nurse Navigator Position for Breast Health Center. Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, a health care system that includes a 25 bed critical access hospital, a skilled nursing home, and a Medicare certified home health care agency, is requesting funding to partially support the position of a Nurse Navigator for the Breast Health Program. The Breast Health Program is a joint venture between Cuyuna Regional Medical Center and Riverwood Healthcare Center. Stereotactic needle guided biopsy and breast MRI services will be added for the patients that they serve. The two organizations are working together to make this possible through a cooperative agreement to locate these two services in a single location (at CRMC) in order to make it financially feasible to provide the services locally. Funding will partially fund an Oncology Nurse Navigator based on the percentage of our cancer patients who have breast cancer. The program will be evaluated through the quality improvement process to determine opportunities for service enhancement. Grant Award: $25,000.00
ECHO Minnesota (Emergency, Community and Health Outreach), St. Paul, MN. Project Title: Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Awareness for Latino, African, Hmong and Low Literacy Individuals and Families. The project will support outreach to the Somali, Latino, Hmong and low-literacy communities throughout the State of Minnesota. The grant will underwrite a portion of the cost of producing a set of media tools in the three languages and English for TV, radio, telephone, and website. In addition, there will be direct outreach to these communities at events and other gatherings and through ESL classes throughout the state. The ultimate impact of this program will be that Hmong, Latino, Somali and low-literacy women in Minnesota will have increased rates of screening for breast cancer. Health care providers and public health professionals will also be impacted, as they increase their knowledge of how to best reach LEP communities. Evaluation results will be gathered through focus groups, interviews, and input from ethnic leaders and organizations. Also, viewer and listener statistics and number of hits to the ECHO website will be compiled. ECHO offers programs that are used and valued by the immigrant/refugee communities in Minnesota. Grant Award: $100,000.00.
Hastings Breast Cancer Support Group, Hastings, MN. Project Title: DVD: Voices of Hope and Comfort. “Voices of Hope and Comfort” is a DVD designed to reach out to women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. The time of diagnosis is the most terrifying moment, a time of isolation and despair. A newly diagnosed woman leaves her physician’s office armed with a bag full of pamphlets, booklets and brochures, a fist full of appointments, and a heart full of shock and fear. Until the huge emotional challenge is addressed, it is extremely difficult to comprehend written material and to engage in thoughtful decision-making. Key activities will be to complete the production of the DVD, replicate the DVD, and get it distributed to Minnesota breast health centers and clinics. The evaluation process is to survey the breast care facilities to determine whether they are distributing the DVD and if patients are reporting that it is helpful to them on their journey. Women who receive the DVD will navigate the early weeks of a breast cancer diagnosis with a much greater sense of calm, hope and empowerment after having dealt with the emotional challenges first. Playing a DVD that has been handed to you by a trusted medical professional is not as difficult as sifting through a pile of written material searching for the hope you need. Grant Award: $6,000.00
Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN. Project Title: Navigation Enhancement for Minority and Underserved Women. Funding will be used to enhance Hennepin County Medical Center's navigation services by hiring a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) to provide high quality clinical navigation and specialized breast cancer consultations. Given their patients’ socioeconomic status, cultural beliefs, and varying insurance coverage, enhanced navigation support from a CNS will ultimately reduce the patient clinical outcome disparities within the most diverse comprehensive cancer center in Minnesota. Far beyond tracking the number of referrals made and resources provided, the CNS will provide the desired measurable navigation services by tracking improved clinical outcomes, providing 1:1 breast cancer consultations, providing expert input on survivor care plans, and holding staff accountable for interventions proven to reduce disparities. They seek to reduce the time from abnormal screening tests/suspicious findings to a diagnosis, reduce the time from diagnosis to initial therapy, reduce barriers to successful compliance with surgical recovery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and finally improve the quality of life during care for 100% of the newly diagnosed breast cancer patients after the 1:1 consultations. Grant Award: $100,000.00
Humphrey Cancer Center, Robbinsdale, MN. Project Title: Expansion of Family History and Cancer Genetic Assessment to EMR: Optimizing a Clinical Genetic Triage System. The project seeks to identify families that are at increased hereditary risk for breast cancer, and are too often unidentified. While effective screening and cancer prevention strategies exist, most healthcare providers do not have a consistent triage system in place to identify these families and offer them individualized care. The Humphrey Cancer Genetics Program has worked over the last four years to develop such a triage process to identify individuals who should have access to genetic services. With the past support of the Minnesota Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, a family history form and genetic assessment triage process (GenTri) were developed. This process was automated through the development of a Progeny-based computer program that performs genetic triage assessment on the family history information. The collection of family history has now been automated, through the use of a digital pen. The digital family history can then be transferred to the Progeny-based computer program. The goal of this grant is to develop and implement the interfaces between the digitally collected family history, the Progeny assessment and the Epic electronic medical record. This is a critical step, because only when family history and assessment are placed into the electronic medical record, can the information be used effectively, and updated as a family history changes. Such a system can save lives. Grant Award: $100,000.00
LifeCare Medical Center, Roseau, MN. Project Title: Reach Every Woman: Breast Health Education Campaign for Roseau County. A professional and coordinated marketing and education program will “blanket” all residents and specifically women of the medically underserved rural Roseau County. The county has a breast cancer mortality rate of 32.4 percent compared to 23.9 percent for Minnesota as a whole. Through intensified and specific marketing and education efforts, LifeCare will increase the number of mammograms for the rural area from 2,150 in 2009 to 2,322 in 2011; and the number of women attending the bi-monthly breast screening clinics from 630 in 2009 to 662 in 2011. A mass mailing and a print and radio media campaign will be followed by partnering with an established county-wide Women’s Conference. Numerous community-wide health fairs will be held to ensure the population of Roseau County is continually educated and aware of the importance and availability of women’s specific health screenings. Plus, making women aware of the new technology available to their patients, e.g., the digital mammography unit purchased in 2009. Grant Award: $56,594.20
Mahnomen Health Center, Mahnomen, MN. Project Title: Mahnomen County Faith Based Nurse for Breast Health. The health center, in collaboration with MeritCare Health System and the Mahnomen County Ministerial Society will address the high breast cancer mortality rate in Mahnomen County. The factors contributing to this deadly statistic include Mahnomen County as the poorest county in the state with the lowest graduation rate, highest percentage of individuals who smoke and Minnesota’s county for the greatest number of individuals with diabetes and obesity. The approach to address breast cancer needs to be unique, far-reaching, and sustainable in order to achieve a successful outcome. Funding will be used to hire two part-time RN’s one or both who are Native American, trained to serve as a Faith Based Nurse for the county’s churches of varied denominations to include Native American traditional beliefs. The primary focus of this nurse will be to find and educate women ages 20-39 to get clinical breast exams every three years and yearly mammograms for women 40 and older, as recommended by the American Cancer Society. Grant Award: $97,218.49
North Memorial Foundation, Robbinsdale, MN. Project Title: Pay it Forward Fund. This fund helps women who are struggling financially while being treated for breast and women’s cancers (cervical, ovarian, uterine) at the cancer centers located at North Memorial, Unity, Mercy, Maple Grove and Monticello-Big Lake hospitals. The grant from the Minnesota Affiliate will be used to assist recently diagnosed breast cancer patients. The fund pays essential living expenses including rent, mortgage, childcare, car payments, heat, electricity, phone, water and qualifying medical bills so patients can focus on what’s really important-getting healthy. Qualifying patients are eligible to receive up to $1,500 per year while they undergo treatment. The goal is to help as many women as possible get through a temporary financial crisis. In the four years since its inception, Pay it Forward Fund has paid the bills of 262 patients who were struggling financially while undergoing cancer treatment – helping 113 women in 2009 alone. Success is measured according to the numbers of patients they are able to assist. The current goal is to meet the needs of patients at the cancer center locations served today. The five hospitals provide services to 70 percent of the cancer patients in the Northwest quadrant to the Twin Cities. Grant Award: $100,000.00
NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center Inc., Minneapolis, MN. Project Title: Breast Cancer Outreach/Support to Women of Color in North Minneapolis. The project will continue to promote breast health education and the need for mammography to women of color in North Minneapolis. Although their outreach and subsequent screenings have increased, there are many more women that need access to mammography. NorthPoint will continue to use multiple strategies to reach women including hosting four culturally specific “See, Test and Treat Events” targeted to Hmong couples, Somali couples, Latina women and/or couples and African American women and/or couples. NorthPoint’s certified Community Health Workers will continue to deliver presentations about breast health at various community locations including houses of worship, community centers health fairs and other events. In addition, this year NorthPoint will expand its activities to include providing on-going support to women experiencing positive diagnosis of breast cancer. Grant Award: $99,695.00
Open Arms of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Project Title: Expansion of Open Arms’ Breast Cancer Program. Open Arms of Minnesota is the only nonprofit organization in the state that prepares and delivers free meals designed to meet the nutritional needs of individuals living with disease, including breast cancer. Open Arms’ developed a specific menu for breast cancer clients, introduced Nausea Care Packs to alleviate nausea, and a frozen meal delivery system that eliminated food smells that can trigger nausea from entering clients’ homes. Their innovations, including creating 100% organic entrees for clients with breast cancer, have made Open Arms a model nutrition organization recognized around the country. In 2009, Open Arms served 28,191 meals to 147 women with breast cancer. In 2010, Open Arms’ sixth year serving women with breast cancer, they will provide 40,000 organic meals to 200 clients with breast cancer and their dependent children and affected caregivers. They will expand outreach activities to additional health care professionals to cultivate new referrals in addition to maintaining current referral partnerships to ensure that no one facing breast cancer in the Twin Cities will have to go hungry. Grant Award: $86,493.00
Riverwood Healthcare Center, Aitkin, MN. Project Title: Breast Health Nurse Navigator Salary Package. With a $100,000 grant from the Brainerd Lakes Komen organization in 2008, Riverwood Healthcare Center launched a Nurse Navigator program for breast health to serve residents of Aitkin and the surrounding communities. The program educates women about the need for regular screenings for early detection of breast cancer and offers one-on-one support and coordination of services for women who are diagnosed with breast cancer or abnormal breast screening results. In continuous efforts to enhance breast health services and quality of life for our breast cancer patients, this funding will cover 33% of the salary package for their Nurse Navigator. Their program goal is to improve care for patients with breast cancer and to improve access to breast cancer screening among women who are 35 and older in Aitkin, Crow Wing and Mille Lacs Counties. The success of Riverwood's Breast Health Nurse Navigator program will be determined through patient satisfaction surveys and increased survival rates for breast cancer patients treated at Riverwood Healthcare Center. Grant Award: $25,000.00
Southside Community Health Services, Inc., Minneapolis, MN. Project Title: SCHS’ Women of Color Breast Cancer/Health Awareness, Education & Screening Program. Southside Community Health Services (SCHS) recognizes that mortality disparities in breast cancer exist for Women of Color. SCHS believes that lack of awareness is a killer and ignorance is no excuse. Due to lack of awareness, lack of health insurance, and inaccessibility to screening facilities, these underserved women in their service area neighborhoods experience a low detection rate, therefore, directly increasing their susceptibility to breast cancer related deaths. SCHS Breast Cancer Program is designed to reach the medically underserved, especially Women of Color including lesbian women, in south Minneapolis', nine poorest neighborhoods and inform them that as minority-status women, they are especially at-risk for poorer breast cancer outcomes and educate them as to the need for early screening, diagnosis and treatment. Further, through education geared towards proactive lifestyle changes, they can be empowered to make healthy choices and become their own advocates. This education will be accomplished through local media advertising, providing information at the myriad of community events and health fairs in which SCHS participates, point of contact literature at SCHS clinics, in-clinic education on breast self-examination techniques and nutrition education. SCHS will be the lead agency in a collaborative effort with African-American Family Services and La Familia Guidance Center. The collaborative will serve 5,081 clients in the grant year. Grant Award: $100,000.00
St. Joseph’s Foundation, East Gull Lake, MN. Project Title: Pink Ribbon Cupboard. The purpose of the Pink Ribbon Cupboard is to provide emergency financial assistance for women undergoing breast cancer treatment. The financial assistance will be for non-medical needs such as gas vouchers for travel expenses; mortgage/rent payments; groceries; telephone bills; utility bills; etc. We will serve women residing in Aitkin, Crow Wing and Cass Counties. These counties are characterized by lower than median income levels, high unemployment and high levels of poverty. A three person Board will review the needs, as identified by medical personnel, and determine the amount of assistance to be provided to each applicant. The Pink Ribbon Cupboard Program hopes to make an impact by assisting 125 to 175 women and their families. Going through breast cancer is difficult enough under the best of circumstances and through this program, it is hoped that some of the stress that occurs as a result of the financial burdens these families are encountering will be eliminated. Grant Award: $25,000.00
St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Brainerd, MN. Project Title: Breast Cancer Navigator. Brainerd Lakes Health, which includes St. Joseph’s Medical Center and its affiliated clinics, is the largest provider of health care services in their region. St. Joseph’s Cancer Program is accredited by the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer. The program is affiliated with Essentia’s Duluth Clinic Cancer Center. Two oncologists and a certified nurse practitioner serve the local community with a third oncologist to be added in the spring. Other members of the local breast cancer care team include surgeons, radiologists, primary care providers, pathologists, lymphedema specialists, specialty nurses, pharmacists, social workers and the Cancer Care Coordinator. St. Joseph's Cancer Care Coordinator focuses on providing information and support to people with breast cancer. This "Navigator" role is filled by an Advanced Practiced Nurse. The work initially emphasized program development and now focuses on service to the patient with breast cancer and education for the community. St. Joseph's Medical Center serves approximately 100 new patients with breast cancer each year. It's expected the Coordinator will support most of the new breast cancer patients in CY 2010. The Coordinator works with BMC and other physician clinics and community resources to ensure effective and satisfying navigation through the continuum of cancer care. Core responsibilities of the Coordinator (Navigator) include: supports, informs and educates patients with cancer; attends breast cancer conference; coordinates education for cancer care providers & the public; attends cancer committee; coordinates inter departmental/organizational cancer patient care; attends other pertinent internal and external committees and teams; and serves as a liaison to Marketing and St. Joseph's Foundation. If the program is successful, participants report 1) timely notification of diagnostic test results and 2) satisfaction with the education, information, treatment, and support provided by the Cancer Care Team. St. Joseph’s Medical center is committed to sustaining this program beyond this funding period. Grant Award: $25,000.00
Vietnamese Social Services of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN. Project Title: Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Outreach Project. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among Vietnamese American women, and the incidence is rising as Vietnamese Americans become more acculturated. But screening rates continue to be low because of language, cultural, and economic barriers. The Southeast Asian Breast Cancer Outreach Project has provided breast cancer education and screening access services for Vietnamese women and men in the Twin Cities for several years. More recently, the program expanded its outreach to other underserved groups: Vietnamese in St. Cloud, and Chinese-Vietnamese and Karen in the Twin Cities (the Karen are an ethnic minority in Myanmar). Financial support from the Komen Minnesota Affiliate will be used to help the organization sustain and build on their past and current work. The primary outcomes for 2010 will be: 1) 4,000 Vietnamese, Chinese-Vietnamese, and Karen women and men will gain increased awareness of breast cancer and its prevention as a result of an education and media campaign; and 2) 600 women and men will receive breast cancer screening as a result of education and individual encouragement and support. They will also expand on the work they have begun in providing support to cancer survivors, and have begun collaboration with Pathways, an organization that supports a creative healing response to life-threatening illnesses. The project impact is measured through client surveys and analysis of activities and outcomes by project staff and the project’s nine- member advisory council. Grant Award: $69,230.00
Young Survival Coalition Duluth, Duluth, MN. Project Title: Resources and Support for Young Women with Breast Cancer. The organization’s purpose to provide support and education to young women diagnosed with breast cancer. The goal is to bring awareness of the YSC and decrease the isolation felt by newly diagnosed young women. Funding will be used to maintain efforts in current service areas and extend their efforts to the Twin Cities metro area. Newly diagnosed women will join a community of young survivors supporting them through diagnosis, treatment and survivorship with peer networking, electronic communications and outreach. 250 Newly Diagnosed Resource Kits containing education and support materials designed for young breast cancer patients will be distributed to young women at the time of diagnosis or treatment. YSC Duluth will host five educational programs in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011 and include women from distant areas via teleconferencing. YSC Duluth seeks to provide three scholarships for the 11th Annual Conference for Young Women Affected by Breast Cancer in 2011. All program activities will be evaluated for content, efficacy and quality through surveys online and on paper. Input will be gathered from all collaborative partners and programs will be evaluated based on attendance and feedback. Grant Award: $43,888.00
YWCA of Duluth, Duluth, MN. Project Title: YWCA Breast Cancer Advocacy Program. The YWCA of Duluth Breast Cancer Advocacy Program provides community outreach and advocacy to bring breast health services to medically underserved women, including women of color, lesbian women, and women without income and/or insurance. The program conducts community outreach to support regular mammography, clinical breast exams, monthly breast self-examination, and yearly reminders. The program works to strengthen partnerships with local medical providers and organizations that already provide services to underserved women to reduce barriers that keep women from getting breast cancer screening. Periodic “barrier busting” meetings are held in collaboration with Fond Du Lac Reservation (FDL) and leaders from communities of color and lesbian organizations to address barriers in accessing regular breast health care with local providers. Women share their stories about what keeps them from accessing services to expand the provider’s knowledge. Advocacy is also provided to women accessing breast health care, follow up services, cultural barriers, and transportation issues. Other services and support is provided to women diagnosed with an abnormal result or breast cancer diagnosis. Evaluation is measured by output tracking and surveys of program participants. The impact: Underserved women are reached with breast health services. Grant Award: $30,000.00
Minnesota Department of Health, SAGE Screening Program - The title of the program is Breast Cancer Screening Program and Secondary Breast Cancer Screening Program. The program provides mammograms and other direct medical screening services to underserved women in the state of Minnesota. Grant Award: $500,000.00
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, National Headquarters - Annual payment for Medical Research. Total payment estimated to be $510,000.00
TOTAL AWARDED $2,199,118.69
