MSM Co-Leader: Brian Rivers, PhD, MPH
TU Co-Leader: Vivian Carter, PhD
UAB Co-Leader: Timiya Nolan, PhD, APRN-CNP, ANP-BC
All three Community Outreach Programs (COPs) — UAB, MSM, and TU — are based on the deployment of community health advisors (CHAs), and their principles of prevention are consistent. Nevertheless, each institution has established its own priorities and directions based on the unique needs of its communities.
- MSM: Developed and implemented a community-based colorectal cancer education program entitled “Educational Program to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (EPICS)” through the Fulton County Health Department, reaching 554 participants — over 37% received screening within 3 months. Using an ARRA award, MSM hired a full-time community health educator, secured half-time of another, and established a statewide facilitator training contract with the Georgia Division of Public Health.
- TU: Developed the Healthy Lifestyle Program partnering with CHAs to design and promote a cancer prevention program emphasizing nutrition and physical activity for cancer risk reduction. CHAs hosted the second annual Healthy Lifestyle Marathon, co-sponsored by the City of Tuskegee.
- UAB: Developed and implemented a patient navigator demonstration project entitled “Increasing Minority Participation in Clinical Trials (IMPaCT)”. UAB identified and trained two CHAs as patient navigators and created a training curriculum covering:
- Information about clinical trials, trial phases, and barriers faced by minority cancer patients.
- Practical role-playing modules to prepare CHAs to serve as patient navigators.