Community Education

CANIMP has developed a comprehensive community education program to address gaps in immigrant minority community cancer control education. The program is comprised of the following components, all of which rely on CANIMP’s partnership with community-based organizations.

Community Workshops
CANIMP’s Health Education Outreach staff has conducts cancer education workshops, health fairs, and topical forums. Workshop sites included religious organizations, parenting programs, community centers, English as a Second Language (ESL) courses, health fairs, public schools, and senior centers. Outreach activities have been conducted in partnership with CANIMP’s community-based partner organizations, as well as numerous other community-based organizations such as Grand Street Settlement, Westside Campaign Against Hunger, Dwa Fanm, Bushwick Community Center, and Forest Hills Community House.

Partnership with Breast Health Partnerships
CANIMP’s Health Education Coordinators work with the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens Breast Health Partnerships. As a Partner, CANIMP has the authority to directly refer workshop attendees for low-cost and/or free cancer screenings through the Partnerships. In addition to collaborating with the Partnerships in their cancer control efforts, CANIMP supports the BHP by contributing its resources, staff time, and training curricula for education/outreach events. In addition, CANIMP assists in publicity and promotion for BHP events, recruiting new Partners, and identifying local resources with the aim of expanding the BHP’s services.

Cancer Resources, Outreach, and Referrals

CANIMP Multilingual Educational Materials

Free Screenings
To increase the chances of detecting certain cancers early, CANIMP has partnered with community hospitals and practitioners to conduct on-site screenings for colorectal, oral, and prostate cancers, in conjunction with educational workshops and forums. In the past, CANIMP has conducted workshops with Real-time translations via headphones in Spanish and Chinese.

Over-the-Phone Referral Services
CANIMP provides over-the-telephone referrals for those seeking either information on free/low-cost cancer screening services or mammogram, Pap smear, digital rectal exam (DRE), or prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test appointments. Individuals are also invited to call CANIMP to receive information on technological and emotional support services for cancer patients and their families.

Chinese Cancer Patient Support Groups
In collaboration with NYU Cancer Institute and American Cancer Society, Chinese Unit, CANIMP hosts the Chinese Cancer Patient Support Group. This bimonthly program, which began in March 2002, addresses psychosocial needs in cancer care, as well as treatment and research issues. Support group topics have included: assisting patients applying for financial support, spiritual/transportation supports, navigating the health care system, the health care proxy, “Look Good, Feel Better,” Medicaid and access, and cancer clinical trials. Contact the ACS Chinese Unit for further details: 41-60 Main Street, Room 206 Flushing, NY 11355-3899; phone: (718) 886-8890, fax: (718) 886-8981.

Cancer Resource Catalog
The Cancer Resources Catalogue is a user-friendly resource guide that lists free and low cost cancer services by geographical area.

Virtual Community for Immigrants with Cancer (VCIC/CAVIC)
CANIMP has developed an on-line support group for Spanish-speaking breast cancer patients/survivors. The support groups are composed of eight participants and one trained facilitator and meet once a week for 90-minute long support sessions for a period of 30 weeks. Participants who do not have a computer and/or Internet access are provided with these tools throughout the duration of the sessions at no additional cost. In addition, all program participants receive instruction on commonly used computer programs, navigating the Internet, and participating in a live chat room.

The primary goal of this program is to bridge the technology and linguistic gap in providing Latina immigrant women, who are often isolated post-diagnosis, with psycho-social support, coping mechanisms, and access to the vast information/resources available on the Internet.

Community Practitioner Education

Community practitioners are key points of health education and service and research linkages in the community. Yet, immigrant community practitioners often do not have access to state-of-the-art cancer information, especially on clinical trials and healthcare access. CANIMP is developing a community practitioner educational program, which includes the following modules:

(a) screening guidelines and relevance in minority immigrant communities,
(b) special needs of high-risk populations,
(c) available services and how to enable your patients to access them,
(d) cultural and linguistic sensitivity vis-à-vis cancer, and
(e) pertinence of clinical trial education and availability to immigrant minority populations.