REACH US Mississippi

Project GoalsIncrease awareness of the need for screening

for breast and cervical cancer

Increase the rate at which African American women in designated counties in the MS Delta get annual mammograms and Pap tests

White females are diagnosed more often than black women with breast cancer103.30 whites vs 99.72 blacks

More black women are diagnosed at a later stage than white women34.3 whites vs 42.8 blacks

Black women die at a greater number than white women from breast cancer23.48 whites vs 34.83 blacks

MS Delta Breast Cancer Facts

Outcomes and Measures of Success: Three Health Education Coordinators (HEC)will oversee REACH activities in

the three Delta counties (Bolivar, Coahoma and Washington)

A minimum of 15 Community Health Educators (CHE) will complete training

Coordinators will serve as community resources for educators, within support for coalition members and ACS representative

Each educator will reach a minimum of 15 participants in community education sessions

Educators follow up for those who are not up to date on appropriate screening, except those who asked not to be contacted

The target population is African American women aged 40-65 Women 18+ will be included for cervical cancer education.

Goal of reaching 450 women in population identified

Resources DevelopedHEC (coordinator) and CHE (educator) and

Job DescriptionsHEC and CHE CurriculumsConfidentiality AgreementHEC Memorandum of AgreementIntake Assessment FormsPre- and Post TestsCHE Resource Guide

Breast and Cervical Cancer Resources

Health Educator CoordinatorTraining

Provided by:REACH-US Mississippi Coalition

Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health across the US Mississippi Coalition

Mississippi Coalition

Community Health Education Sessions

Project Accomplishments

Number of intake forms received = 284Bolivar - 161Coahoma - 53Washington - 70

Number of women educated = 289 Bolivar - 161Coahoma - 53Washington - 75

Number of permitting follow-up contact = 205Bolivar - 111Coahoma - 37Washington - 57

Feedback from Health CoordinatorsSimplify intake formsInclude the option of using visual aids during

CHE presentations (videos, etc.)Provide more in-dept educational training on

cancer for coordinatorsProvide more information on available

resourcesProvide adequate refreshments as an

incentive

Feedback from Participant and Community MembersFear of diagnosesCultural barriers Transportation barriersInclude men in educational sessionsNeed more culturally appropriate support

groups in targeted areasGarner support from faith-based communitiesConfusion/lack of knowledge about available

resources

Coalition Lessons LearnedConsistent method for training Health

CoordinatorsInformation should be disseminated to all

coalition partnersConsider methods for coalition sustainability

and by-inDevelop an formal organizational structure

within the coalition

Next StepsRecruit and train three Health Education

Coordinators with one serving as Lead HECEducate at least 450 additional women from the

targeted populationRestructure coalition frameworkIncorporate CHE and participant feedback into

implementation planImprove program based upon lessons learned

from coalition membersRe-establish relationship with ACS

representative

Boliver County Community Meeting Participants

County Meeting

MS Coalition Member – Freddie White-Johnson assisting with education.

REACH US Coalition MembersCoalition Members Organization Represented

Melody Fortune MS State Department of Health

Towanda Williams University of Southern MS

Jimmie Wells University of MS Health Care

Tamara Butler American Cancer Society

Deidre Rogers MS Cancer Registry

Valerie Miller University of MS Health Care

Freddie White-Johnson USM/Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation

Angela Johnson My Brother’s Keeper, Inc.

Annie Baker University of MS Medical Center

Connie Little Jackson State University

Marinelle Payton Jackson State University