Project RestoreArkansas Community Action Plan

August 22, 2011

Target Audience

Target population:

Women 40 and over, at 200% of the poverty level who cannot afford mammograms or cervical cancer screenings

Target Health Priority:

Breast and cervical cancer early detection

Background

To increase Arkansas Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program from $2,753,681 to $6,000,000

Our coalition selected this goal as a priority because funding for the State Department of Health’s BreastCare (Arkansas BCCEEP) program is decreasing

- major source of funding is excise tax charged on cigarettes and tobacco products

- due to recent state and federal tobacco excise tax increases, the number of smokers in the state is decreasing

- less funding is available to help those who cannot afford mammograms or cervical cancer screenings

Need & Significance

FY 2008 FY 2009 FY 2010 FY 2011

Total Funding $4,542,291 $4,349,934 $3,889,805 $3,568,059

Total Number of Women Served

14,733 13,872 9,749 8,492

Average Cost of Each Woman Served

$308 $314 $399 $420

BreastCare Clinical Services Expenditures and women served:

CAP Leadership

Arkansas Cancer Coalition

American Cancer Society

Merlin Foundation

UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute

Susan G. Komen for the Cure• Arkansas• Ozark• Texarkana

Community Health Centers of Arkansas

Objectives

Conduct education campaigns to educate the general public and policy makers about the importance of breast and cervical cancer

• Hold legislative briefing about the current status of breast and cervical cancer in the state

• Conduct public education training in public health regions• Coordinate messaging and print materials to raise awareness• Conduct Breast Cancer Coalition (BCC) Rally at the State

Capitol

Recruit volunteers to follow up with policy makers

• Recruit and train volunteers about the need to increase BCC funding

• Distribute follow-up materials to policy makers

Building a Brand

• Collaborative• Innovative• Inclusive

Steps Taken to Reach Objectives

Stakeholders presented to a joint hearing to the state House/Senate Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee

Women’s Caucus Luncheon was held to enlist champions for the BreastCare

Refined existing Breast Cancer Promise educational materials to reflect Project Restore initiative

Launched a Project Restore website

Produced two videos, fact sheets, banners, and other promotional materials to support Project Restore

Hosted “Paint the Capitol Pink” to raise awareness about the reduced funding & met with 31 of 35 Senators

Conduct education campaigns to educate the general public and policy makers

T-Shirt

Contact Card

Steps Taken to Reach Objectives

Recruit volunteers to follow up with policy makers

Hosted a booth at the Arkansas Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure where 6,000 information bags were distributed and 1,300 people provided email addresses to receive updates from Project Restore

Produced a toolkit and provided advocacy and educational training to more than 55 Breast and Cervical cancer supporters in order to educate, recruit, and engage core constituents on tools developed to support promotional efforts before meeting with their Senator

Outreach

Outcomes

The State Health Department developed a quarterly report providing detailed BreastCare program information and transparency for constituents, decision makers, advocates, and the general public

Development of the Project Restore website provides easily accessible and up-to-date information

Printed and electronic media keeps citizens informed and leaders aware of program elements and updates

Recruitment of new partners

In-kind media via television coverage

Special Language added to State Health Department budget bill requiring BreastCare to be maintained at a minimum funding level

Although the overall objective of increasing BreastCare funding to $6 million has not yet been reached, awareness has increased among both the general public and policy makers.

KLRT Fox 16 Coverage Paint the Capitol Pink

Challenges

Previously existing political climate significantly altered by 44 newly elected legislators

Increased need to inform decision makers about issues made a challenge by the gray area of lobbying versus educating policy makers

Strong anti-government sentiment growing could cause efforts to be perceived as government regulating health

In response to these barriers, conference calls, face-to-face meetings, and the development of a toolkit with educational talking points regarding the program have been developed.

Luncheon

Outreach during SGK Race

Sustainability

Additional breast and cervical cancer program funding still needed so momentum behind the effort will continue

The Coalition represents large and small organizations that are vested in sustaining and increasing support for BreastCare funding

Advocates have been mobilized with training on toolkit elements and encouraged to speak with decision makers in their local districts

Success Stories

Race for the Cure allowed 25,000 cards on Project Restore to be distributed with facts on the BreastCare program

Within the first few months after it’s launch, the Project Restore website received 2,000 visitors with numbers expected to increase after interested Race participants were notified

Paint the Capitol Pink received statewide media coverage, generating widespread awareness about reduced funding for the BreastCare program

Nine elements comprise the new State Health Department quarterly report

Two testimonial videos were created to convey the mission, scope, and impact of the BreastCare program

Engagement of legislative champions

Future Plans

Continue training partners

Seek out opportunities to alert the general public about shrinking BreastCare funds

Work with decision makers to determine the best formula for state appropriations with the BreastCare program

Print additional educational materials

Host more events to raise awareness

Arkansas Community Action Plan

Thank you to UAB and our Partners!