Current Grant Recipients

The Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure is thrilled to announce that we are awarding $345,000 in community grants this year!    The programs listed below are the 2011 community grant recipients.   In addition, our Affiliate has invested $114,000 this year in breast cancer research through the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Grants Program.    Since our Affiliate was incorporated, we have invested over $2.25 million in education, screening and treatment services to the citizens of Maine and more than $650,000 in research to find the cures. 

BREAST HEALTH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH 
Fish River Rural Health - Aroostook County
207-444-5973 | www.frrh.org
Categories: Education, Screening & Treatment
 
Fish River Rural Health (FRRH), a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) located in northern Maine, through the Maine Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure initiative will offer comprehensive breast health education outreach program to both its patients and community population, with a goal of serving over 864 individuals. FRRH’s resource library contains a variety of books and DVDs on breast health and breast cancer. During health physical exams, women have the option of viewing a breast self-exam DVD prior to seeing the healthcare provider and receive a breast health packet. FRRH will be holding Lunch & Learn sessions on breast health within its region. FRRH has established a breast cancer support group called The Journey which meets every other month in Fort Kent. No-cost or low-cost mammograms will be available and transportation assistance to qualifying FRRH patients. FRRH is a partner with Caring Connections, who provide free Bridging Books for women diagnosed with breast cancer. Activities that encourage health promotion and disease prevention prove that time invested in building a health conscious community has a far-reaching effect in shaping a healthier Maine.

BRIDGING BOOKS
Caring Connections, Bangor Y - Multi-County
207-941-2808 | www.bangory.org
Categories: Education

Upon hearing the words, “You have breast cancer”, a woman is most likely in a state of shock. It is difficult to be rational and ask meaningful questions. The Bridging Books program provides women with carefully selected resources on the day of diagnosis. Many women have little information about breast cancer, and don’t need it unless she or someone close to her is diagnosed. Resources are available, but newly diagnosed women don’t know where to look or which resources are credible. For women diagnosed in northern and eastern Maine, the gift of a Bridging Books packet assures the newly diagnosed woman that she does not have to be alone. The information in the packet empowers both the newly diagnosed woman and her co-survivors. This year approximately 325 packets will be distributed to newly diagnosed women through the offices of over 50 health care professionals. Packets include among other things, a comprehensive text, booklets, and a pamphlet that helps a woman understand her pathology report – critically important knowledge in deciding one’s treatment. A DVD offering the insights of women with breast cancer is included in the packet along with a multimedia resource list. Bridging Books packet contents are constantly reviewed and revised to maintain the most current information possible. Most importantly the program is evaluated utilizing participant and provider written feedback to improve the program.

BRIDGING THE GAP 
Caring Connections, Bangor Y - Multi-County
207-941-2808 | www.bangory.org
Categories: Education & Screening
 
Because many Maine women age 20 to 39 lack financial resources and health insurance, they do not access health care when they have breast symptoms or are at increased risk for breast cancer. They may also face additional barriers related to transportation, fear and lack advocacy access or skills. Delay in health care services for these women can prove deadly. Bridging The Gap (BTG) provides access to no-cost breast exams and imaging, and follow-up. For FY 2011 BTG plans to enroll 18 to 22 young women into the program. The women receive screening and additional diagnostic tests and/or surgical consults when needed. Due to our partnership agreements, women are not invoiced for Eastern Maine Medical Center services if more tests or treatment for breast cancer is needed. Applicants receive assistance with the BTG application, breast health education, and are offered transportation & advocacy/navigator services. BTG’s priorities include breast health education for young women and other underserved populations. Due to intensive outreach and collaboration with health care providers, agencies & organizations, BTG provides needed care and education to young women and breast health education to target populations identified by Komen Maine Affiliate in our communities.

BUSTING THE BARRIERS
Western Maine Community Action - Multi-County
207-795-4007 | www.wmca.org
Categories: Education & Screening

The Busting the Barrier Project is an educational and screening effort to reach the often medically underserved population of lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals. Research shows this population often does not get regular mammograms and breast health screenings due to a variety of reasons. The project is intended to bust the barriers and increase awareness of cancer risks and screening options among sexual minority women who are low-income and/or do not seek out regular medical care. During educational sessions, participants will be encouraged to get annual breast cancer screenings and invited to our special LGBT screening event staffed with knowledgeable, experienced, open-minded and nonjudgmental clinicians. This project would also include a small piece on educating mammography staff on transgender awareness for when this population seeks out mammograms or breast ultrasounds. The project will be evaluated with pre- and post-educational session and screening event surveys. The sustainability of the program will be through seeking continued funding and at minimum becoming known as a safe place for LGBT individuals to seek out medical care.

KNOWLEDGE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE
Maine General Medical Center - Kennebec & Somerset Counties
207-626-1438 | www.mainegeneral.org
Categories: Education & Screening

Susan G. Komen for the Cure Maine Affiliate funds will improve breast screening rates and information for residents of the rural Kennebec River Valley in these ways: (1) Make Komen funded breast health screenings and needed diagnostics available to approximately 101 women without adequate insurance and/or ineligible for other program support from MBCHP, MaineCare and Care Partners. (2) Improve the extended community outreach with newly produced education and access information for breast screening to both the general population and targeted special populations (low literacy, the mentally ill, homeless and others as possible). (3) Continue support to primary care practices in the region through contacts with practice managers and their teams to increase education and screening rates for the women they serve over 40. Screened participants will be surveyed to assess effectiveness of strategies and implement the most effective for each target population.

RIDE TO WELLNESS
Penquis CAP - Penobscot & Piscataquis Counties
207-973-3691 | www.penquis.org
Categories: Treatment

The Penquis Lynx Transportation program will partner with Eastern Maine Medical Center’s CancerCare of Maine to eliminate transportation as a barrier to women seeking breast cancer treatment. “Ride to Wellness” will increase access to treatment for at least 75 individuals for whom transportation is a barrier; (2) increase coordination between the Lynx and CancerCare to meet the transportation needs of those in treatment; and (3) increase awareness of front-line staff and joint CancerCare and ACS volunteers of transportation services available. Ride to Wellness will serve any woman residing in Penobscot or Piscataquis counties with a self-identified need for transportation to access breast cancer treatments. There will be no income limitations. Transportation will be addressed in several ways, in order to meet the diverse needs of the women served and to provide services as efficiently and cost effectively as possible: Family & Friend Reimbursement, Volunteer Driver, Agency Vehicles, and Taxi, as well as through existing transportation programs, when women meet eligibility guidelines. CancerCare of Maine will make referrals, providing individuals with the toll-free number for the Lynx and encouraging them to call for assistance. If an individual is unable to make the call herself, a staff member or volunteer of CancerCare will call the Lynx on the patient’s behalf (with permission) and assist with trip arrangements. Penquis and CancerCare will meet at least quarterly for process and outcome evaluations, utilizing data from Client Intake Forms, Client Surveys, Partner Meeting Minutes, Program Notes, Educational Assessment surveys, and other data maintained and reported by project partners. The project partners hope that increased access to care will improve survival rates and the quality of life for the women accessing the program.

SAVING LIVES IN WESTERN MAINE
Central Maine Medical Center - Multi-County
207-795-7115 | www.cmmc.org
Categories: Screening

This project funds a half-time Breast Screening Specialist to contact and screen women living in rural western Maine as well as those of East African descent living in Lewiston Maine. We will contact by phone or by letter from a prior list of 2,000 names, increase by 40% (from past years) the number of women who are contacted, and increase by 5% - 10% the number of those screened. This high impact program achieves two goals by directly contacting and screening patients and leveraging an additional framework of care (CMMC’s Saving Lives initiative) to engage patients in their own healthcare going forward. Project enhances quality of outreach in three ways; by referring those contacted to our existing Patient Navigator (as needed), referring our staff to cultural competency training in order to increase program participation by our two patient populations, and adding our new patient data to the Saving Lives database in order to later recall these patients for screening and/or therapeutic care.

SUPPORT SERVICE FUND
Maine Breast Cancer Coalition - Statewide
800-928-2644 | www.mainebreastcancer.org
Categories: Screening & Treatment

The Support Service Fund was established in 2000 to provide financial assistance for breast health/breast cancer needs to underserved Maine people. During the past 11 years, MBCC has awarded a total of more than $850,000 dollars in grants in all Maine counties to more than 1,600 low-income, uninsured, or underinsured applicants who don’t qualify for, or whose particular needs aren’t covered by other assistance programs. The Fund has covered a wide range of essential services or items including but not limited to screening and diagnostic services, treatment costs, prescriptions, prostheses, lymphedema compression garments, temporary living expenses for people in treatment, and treatment-related transportation costs. The Fund’s efficacy is evaluated through data collection and analysis and recipients’ feedback. The Support Service Fund is a unique program that meets the applicant at her or his point of need, providing a “safety net” for Maine residents who have exhausted other possibilities for breast cancer or breast health related assistance. MBCC expects to award a total of $165,000 in grants to a projected 375 statewide applicants in 2011.

TOGETHER RURAL WOMEN SAVE LIVES
Healthy Community Coalition - Franklin County
207-779-2924 | www.fchn.org
Categories: Education & Screening

Together Rural Women Save Lives will provide women in rural Greater Franklin County with much needed breast cancer education, screening and resources. This unique project reaches women in their homes and communities, often a great distance from clinicians. Activities include free rural screening days with medical provider access using the Mobile Health Unit; nutrition classes to educate about healthy ways to lose weight; door-to-door visits in an isolated northern town; creation of a network of free exercise opportunities for women to increase physical activity; two breast health screening days; and a broad breast health education media campaign. Quantitative project evaluation will track the delivery of screenings, and qualitative evaluation will gather information on the context of the screening service delivery and knowledge base. The impact of this project will be an increase in the number of women who participate in timely breast cancer prevention and screening, and an increase in the number of free and safe opportunities for women to live a healthy lifestyle through exercise, proper nutrition and weight loss thus decreasing their breast cancer risk and mortality rate.

OVERCOMING BARRIERS TO BREAST CANCER SCREENING AND TREATMENT
Cary Medical Center - Aroostook County
207-498-1376 | www.carymedicalcenter.org
Categories: Education, Screening & Treatment

Overall Project Goal is to increase the rate of women 40+ getting early screening, (including mammograms and clinical breast exams) and if necessary, timely treatment by overcoming barriers. Underserved rural Maine women, including Native Americans, migrant and local farm workers, and the unand under-insured will be targeted. Priority is to increase efficiency of existing services. It will be the goal of this project to increase the number of targeted populations receiving appropriate mammograms by 5%.