This session will present a practical approach to providing a community education program using existing resources and community partners. Many health departments are historically understaffed and underbudgeted. Prevention programs have been limited to those as a result of enforcement activities, e.g., restaurant inspections to prevent foodborne illness, septic system approval to prevent well/water contamination and public health nuisances. Many have little time or money available to address the chronic disease issues in their community until or unless there is a crisis. This session will show how a health department can take advantage of existing resources to provide a comprehensive and creative breast cancer awareness program for their community(ies) with minimal cost. It will help identify potential community partners as well as national resources. Handouts will provided with model proclamations, model employee policies, resource lists, and checklists. The City of Melrose, MA “Campaign Against Breast Cancer” will be used as an example as how a small health department serving a population of 28,000 moved beyond the day-to-day reaction oriented activities to service a broader vision of community health.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to: 1)List three organizations who can provide free materials to enhance their program 2)Identify at least two local community partners 3)Create a breast cancer awareness program for their own community
Keywords: Breast Cancer Programs, Community Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: American Cancer Society
Hallmark Health
Lee Jeans
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Campaign
The United States Conference of Mayors
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.