The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's Community Partnership Program has funded 11 community-led projects in this funding cycle designed to address cancer-related needs of communities across the state.
Each funded organization will receive a grant of $15,000 to $60,000 to work with communities across Oregon to increase education and awareness about cancer prevention and screening.
Kerri Winters-Stone, Ph.D., is co-director of the Community Partnership Program and co-leader of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's Cancer Prevention and Control Program. She says the Community Partnership Program team was "thrilled" at the breadth and depth of submissions.
"It's truly gratifying to see so many creative ideas from organizations across the state," Winters-Stone says. "We're excited to see the resources of the community partnership program reaching so many different groups."
Since 2014, the Community Partnership Program has invested more than $6.8 million in 194 projects around the state.
Producing a culturally specific and responsive action plan for HPV education and cancer prevention
Self Enhancement, Inc., based in North Portland, is a "comprehensive, one-stop resource for youth and families, primarily African Americans and others living in poverty or seeking culturally responsive services."
Anthony Deloney, director of development at SEI, says the organization will use funding from the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute's Community Partnership Program to advance HPV information and education in the Black community in Portland and Multnomah County. HPV is a common virus that can cause six types of cancer, including cancers of the cervix, vulva, penis and oropharynx, or back of the throat. The HPV vaccine is able to prevent 90% of these cancers.
He says SEI will develop and conduct a local needs assessment and produce an HPV education and cancer prevention action plan that is culturally specific for the Black community and responsive to other underserved communities in Oregon's largest county by population.
"Unfortunately, when it comes to medical breakthroughs, many of us in the Black community are the last to know. This grant will allow us to share important information with our people, which could potentially save lives and keep our families safe. This is the core of SEI's mission," says Deloney.
Piloting self-sampling for cervical cancer screening
Another project focused on increasing education around HPV and cancer prevention is La Clinica, based in Medford, Oregon.
Jamie Osborn, M.D., is a family physician and the population health officer for La Clinica. She works with health care teams to plan and manage operations of all La Clinica medical centers and says she is committed to transforming health care and being in partnership with and for those who struggle to obtain equitable access to health and wholeness.
Osborn says their project seeks to increase cervical cancer screening rates among underserved Jackson County residents between the ages of 30 and 65. Their project aims to pilot-test the feasibility of self-sampling for cervical cancer screening. She says some people are unable to get screening at a doctor's office; home testing would allow individuals to screen themselves at their own convenience.
"La Clinica is dedicated to trauma-informed care and to promoting health equity. We are thrilled to partner with the Knight Cancer Institute to pilot-test this innovative method of care delivery. Working together, we hope to empower individuals who may experience barriers to cervical cancer screening to self-collect HPV swabs," she says. "This could not only help our area's limited access to office appointments but will also potentially offer an alternative to patients whose discomfort with genital exams poses a barrier to receiving care. We want to build trust with our patients and community in a substantial way. "
Funding projects across Oregon
Organizations receiving funding in this grant cycle include:
- Self Enhancement, Inc.: Advancing HPV Information and Education in the African American Community in Portland and Multnomah County.
- American Cancer Society, Oregon & SW Washington: Addressing Prostate Cancer Prevention and Cancer-Related Care within West Eugene.
- Samaritan Health Services: Improving Colorectal Screening Through Evaluation and Promotion of FIT DNA Testing in a Community Setting.
- ICG Innovare Communication Group LLC: Narrative Health Communication Intervention to Address Cancer-Issues Specific to the Latine Community.
- Portland Refugee Support Group: Portland Refugee Cancer Data Project.
- La Clinica del Valle Family Health Care Center, Inc.: Use of Self-Collected HPV Swabs for Cervical Cancer Screening.
- Candlelighters For Children with Cancer: Pediatric Cancer Parent Peer Support Group.
- Chelsea Hicks Foundation: Chelsea's Closet Pilot and Expansion to Serve Rural Pediatric Oncology at Asante Medical Medford.
- Crook County Public Health Department: Supporting Cancer Fighters, Survivors and Grievers Through Art.
- See You at the Summit: Therapeutic Nature and Adventure Impact on Adolescent Oncology Psychosocial Health.
- Thadd's Place: Expansion of Thadd's Place Cancer Group.
Learn more about the projects funded.
