Developing a partnership model for cancer screening with community-based organizations: The ACCESS breast cancer education and outreach project

Bruce D. Rapkin, Mary Jane Massie, Elizabeth J. Jansky, David W. Lounsbury, Paulette D. Murphy, Shemeeakah Powell

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

There is growing enthusiasm for community-academic partnerships to promote health in underserved communities. Drawing upon resources available at a comprehensive cancer center, we developed the ACCESS program to guide community based organizations through a flexible program planning process. Over a three-year period, ACCESS partnered with 67 agencies serving various medically underserved populations. Organizations included hospitals, parishes, senior centers, harm reduction programs, and recreational facilities. Program outcomes at the organizational level were quantified in terms of introduction of new cancer information, referral or screening programs, as well as organizational capacity building. ACCESS represents a viable model for promoting partnership to transfer behavioral health programs and adapt interventions for new audiences. Plans to further evaluate and enhance this model to promote cancer screening efforts are discussed. We argue that, ultimately, formation and development of community partnerships need to be understood as a fundamental area of practice that must be systematically integrated into the mission of major academic medical institutions in every area of public health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)153-164
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Community Psychology
Volume38
Issue number3-4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Barriers to care
  • Breast cancer
  • Community-based partnerships
  • Health disparities
  • Medically underserved
  • Participatory research methods
  • Program development

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Health(social science)
  • Applied Psychology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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