Partnering For Life

Prince George’s CountyFaith Based Partnerships Project

Rationale

The African American church has historically served as the major institution serving the religious, political economic and psychological needs of its members as well as the larger African American community. “The historic role and mission of the black church have made it a powerful institution for serving the health need of African Americans.” (Braithwaite et al 1999).

African Americans hold the highest risk…

African Americans are more likely to develop cancer than persons of any other racial or ethnic group

The death rate for all cancers combined is about 33% higher in African Americans than whites, and 50% than all other races

The proportion of African Americans who were diagnosed with more advanced stages of disease is significantly higher than whites

Why Prince George’s County?

Total population of approximately 816,000

15% total population of the state of MD

62.7% of the total population is African American

African Americans in PG County have 2nd highest cancer mortality rate in all MD Jurisdiction

PG County has 15 large African American churches with average weekly attendance totaling 80,000 people

Project Overview

Establish relationships within Prince George's County faith-based community.

Target large African American churches with an average weekly attendance of greater than 2,000.

Identify regional denominational leadership for collaboration and support.

Leverage relationships to mobilize faith community in the fight against cancer.

The primary objectives of the Faith Based Partnerships

Discern appropriate strategies for engaging African American clergy to support American Cancer Society’s mission

Develop a sense of ownership among clergy and laity within African American churches to address cancer as community issue

Enhance the recruitment efforts of African Americans to American Cancer Society programs and services

Help congregational leadership develop appropriate support services for families facing cancer and impact cancer prevention efforts

Identify gaps in educational materials and services

Project are to:

Project Model

Methodology has employed a culturally sensitive, racially inclusive model that integrates American Cancer Society programs and services within an African American Christian framework

Utilizes church leadership as a major source for:

Insight

Project Design

Implementation

Levels of Engagement

First Level of Engagement

Pastoral Engagement – Important to have the Pastor’s involvement and blessing

Pastoral profession has a unique role in health promotion

Project has created the opportunity through Pastoral Breakfast programs to engage pastors and clergy members on their role of addressing social, spiritual, and physical needs of their congregants and raise their awareness of cancer as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality of their community.

Levels of Engagement

Second Level of Engagement

Church Health Ministry Leaders

Health Ministries are the agents within the church setting where ongoing health promotion including cancer awareness and early detection activities take place.

ACS provides leaders and members training on cancer and the importance of early detection – information is integrated into health ministry events and activities

Faith Study

Purpose:

To provide American Cancer Society with data that will assist in efforts to impact cancer incidence and mortality in the African American community. By conducting a qualitative assessment of key church members this study will provide data to assess the viability of forming partnerships with a select set of churches

Scope of Work:

Study involves two integrated research components and original collection of data through focus groups.

Healthy Temple

Curriculum is designed to impart

A thorough knowledge of nutrition, weight control, and physical activity

An understanding of cancer incidence and prevalence

An appreciation for the contribution of each pastor/church to the information necessary to successfully contain the burden of cancer

Skills, approaches and opportunities for recruiting congregation members to participate in the program

Partnering for Life CD/DVD

CD is a musical and ministerial compilation featuring renown choirs, gospel artists, clergy and the Reverend Jesse Jackson Sr. which offers cancer messaging, inspiration and hope. Companion DVD highlights cancer survivors and caregiver stories that encourage the faith of those touched by cancer.

Resources

Partnering for Life website www.partneringforlife.org is on online tool providing the church community with the resources and information needed to increase cancer awareness and coordinate health promotion events.

Partnering for Life toolkit is a resource guide which offers church leaders detailed information on cancer education training, ministering to congregants facing cancer and coordinating health ministries.

Outcomes

Successfully delivered Faith Based Cancer Awareness presentation to over 5,000 constituents during first six months of project

47% increase in African American patients served through Society programs during first 18 months of the project

Produced and distributed Partnering for Life Inspirational CD and survivorship DVD to more than 10,000 constituents

Over 1600 visitors to Partnering for Life website in the first 3 months following site launch

Established working relationships with over 35 large African American churches

Established relationships with United Baptist Missionary Conference of MD , the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of PG County, the Hampton Minister’s Conference, National Baptist Convention and Project Bridges

For more information, please contact:

Tawana Thomas Johnson

Director, Health Disparities

202 483-2600 ext 161

tawana.thomas-johnson@cancer.org

Thank you!