Access to Care Community Forums – An Example of Local Implementation of California's Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan

The California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC) provides guidance for comprehensive cancer control (CCC) activities throughout the state. The coalition's focus is on implementation of California's CCC Plan through working teams formed to address cross cutting issues, including Access to Care. CDOC has made it a priority that all Californians have access to quality cancer care with no disparities in outcomes. In 2005, the Disparities, Access to Care and Early Detection (DAD) team carried out a pilot project in Oakland/Alameda County designed to increase community education and involvement in these issues. The pilot project was successful and a plan was developed to replicate this approach in other California communities. Each new community was tasked with attending an orientation meeting/training, developing a community profile, and establishing a coalition of key community leaders to conduct a forum to bring attention to access to care barriers and explore solutions. The DAD team brought this regional implementation model to the following communities: Group 1 (initiated in 2006-2007) included San Diego, Kern County, Ventura/Tri County area and Sacramento; Group 2 (initiated in 2007-2008) included Los Angeles, Orange County, San Bernardino/Riverside Counties, Solano County, Santa Cruz County, and Fresno County. All 11 communities have conducted their initial forum and will now be receiving Mobilization Forum Training to provide them with the information and skills to prioritize their community's cancer concerns and put their plans into action. We hope to establish this as a model of how CCC Plans can be efficiently implemented at the local level.