2011
Arkansas County Partners in Health
Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy
Institute
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas
Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House
Madison County Health Coalition
Mississippi County Coalition for a Tobacco
Free Arkansas
Montgomery County Health Education
Advisory Board
Ouachita County Medical Center
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Women’s Council on African American
Affairs, Inc.
Mini-grant Overview
The Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) works to strengthen the cancer control network as well as
implement the goals and strategies of the state’s only comprehensive cancer plan—the
Arkansas Cancer Plan (ACP). In an effort to achieve this aforementioned goal, ACC issued minigrants to partners addressing the cancer burden in line with the ACP.
For the 2011 Mini-grant period (March 16, 2011 – June 15, 2011), over 20 programs replied to
the call for proposals and applied for $92,808.49 in grant funds. After a competitive review
process, ACC awarded mini-grant funds totaling $36,614.40 in support of ACC Partner
organization activities, events, and programs that worked to advance the goals and objectives
of the Arkansas Cancer Plan. ACC had 11 winning applicants: Arkansas County Partners in
Health, Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care, Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute,
Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas, Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House, Madison
County Health Coalition, Mississippi County Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas, Montgomery
County Health Education Advisory Board, Ouachita County Medical Center, University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and Women’s Council on African American Affairs, Inc.
In addition to these mini-grants, ACC partnered with the Arkansas Minority Health Commission,
Arkansas Department of Health--- Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and the
American Cancer Society to issue Minority Cancer Awareness Mini-grants in honor of National
Minority Cancer Awareness Week the third week in April. The Minority Cancer Awareness Minigrants were issued to applicants that primarily served disparate populations in Arkansas with
creative health interventions that were aligned with Chapter 5 of the ACP (Disparities). ACC had
three winning applicants: CARTI, Madison County Health Coalition, and Women’s Council on
African American Affairs. Together the three applicants were awarded $14,946.60 to
implement various programs as it related to cancer disparities.
Each awarded activity met the following criteria: 1) Utilized the expertise of a diverse coalition,
which included members of the priority audience and other key stakeholders in the
development, implementation, and evaluation phases of the proposed project; 2) Incorporated
evidence-based strategies and/or promising practices to support goals and objectives of the
Arkansas Cancer Plan; and 3) Leveraged ACC funding to disseminate project outcomes.
FY2011 Mini-Grantees
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Arkansas County Partners In Health
Project Name: Worksite Wellness Initiative
Funded Amount: $3,057
Cancer Focus: All cancers that can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1: Prevention. Goal F: Create Community Environments That Are
Conducive to Physical Activity. Objective 4: Assist businesses interested in implementing a
worksite wellness program which addresses smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity. Objective
5: Support businesses in providing an environment friendly to accomplishing individual goals
relative to changing behavior.
County(s) Served: Arkansas
Population Served: AR County businesses and employees
Project Description: ACPIH is reaching people in the places and organizations that touch their
lives every day and where they spend the majority of their waking hours – worksites. ACPIH
implemented a Worksite Wellness Initiative in Arkansas County to assist businesses interested
in conducting a worksite wellness program to address smoking, obesity and physical inactivity
among employees as well as provide support to businesses in providing an environment
friendly to accomplishing individual goals relative to changing behavior.
Overall Goal: Improve the health and wellness of working adults in AR County. ACPIH aimed to
reach this goal through a community effort at the grassroots level by assisting businesses
interested in implementing a worksite wellness program which addresses smoking, obesity, and
physical inactivity, and supporting businesses in providing an environment friendly to
accomplishing individual goals relative to changing behavior.
Outcomes: ACPIH achieved their goal by successfully completing the following activities: 1)
ACPIH hosted a Business After Hours on May 5, 2011, to kick-off the Worksite Wellness
Initiative. 32 individuals attended the event. 16 businesses who were represented at the
Business After Hours received a Worksite Wellness Tool Kit with a CD of best practices,
individual assessment forms, worksite policies, presentations, competition and activities,
reproducible handouts and resources. ACPIH Board Members were on-hand to visit with the
business and community leaders. There were three educational table-top displays to encourage
employees to be physically active, eat healthy food and live tobacco free. A total of 46 tool kits
were distributed, primarily through personal visits by volunteers. 2) ACPIH hosted A Worksite
Wellness Team Leader Meeting for the individuals designated to implement the Worksite
Wellness Initiative on May 25, 2011 at Baptist Health Medical Center-Stuttgart. 16 individuals
were present. The group reviewed the Worksite Wellness Tool Kit and listened to a panel of
four employees talk about various worksite wellness activities at their worksites. A power point
presentation helped Team Leaders learn how to complete an employee interest survey,
develop a communications plan, promote the program in the workplace, offer incentives, and
measure success of the program through an evaluation component. The Worksite Wellness
Team Leaders were asked to complete a survey at the end of the meeting. Upon conclusion of
the project, ACPIH was able to develop a project manual utilizing the materials, resources,
survey and findings in order for other communities to disseminate the project.
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Arkansas Foundation for Medical Care
Project Name: Arkansas Cancer Treatment Assessment: A Graphic Comparison of AR Cancer
Incidences and Mortalities with Existing Hematology/ Oncology Providers
Funded Amount: $3,885
Cancer Focus: All Cancers
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 3: Access to Treatment
County(s) Served: All 75 AR Counties
Population Served: AR cancer population
Project Description: The mission of AFMC is to facilitate education, outreach, and research in
the areas of public health and health care quality improvement for the purpose of improving
the health of Arkansans. AFMC believes that the lack of access to nearby cancer treatment
facilities prevents many Arkansans from getting basic treatment. With this in mind, AFMC
implemented a project that involved conducting a needs assessment of cancer treatment
providers in AR. The purpose of this project was to identify resource gaps and communicate the
findings with ACC partners and members, AR legislators and other government officials,
hospitals, medical providers, health care-related stakeholders, and policy makers.
Overall Goal: To communicate and bring attention to the gaps in cancer treatment options
throughout the state so that health care leaders and cancer partners recognize and support the
importance of making treatment accessible to all Arkansans. The overall goal will be achieved
by: 1) Conducting a needs assessment to determine the gaps in cancer treatment in AR at the
county level; and 2) Making the assessment available to ACC and its partners by publishing a
report and communicating assessment results by September 2011.
Outcomes: AFMC was able to successfully conduct a needs assessment to determine the gaps
in cancer treatment in Arkansas at the county level. In order to achieve this goal, AFMC
reviewed 6 data sources to identify cancer facilities/ providers by county. Additionally, AFMC
was able to create 7 multi-layered graphics to summarize the findings of county-by-county
comparisons of the availability of cancer treatment providers (hematologists/ oncologists) to: 1)
new cases of cancer and, 2) mortalities from cancer. A final report will be submitted to ACC and
presentations will be made at a future ACC Quarterly meeting.
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Central Arkansas Radiation Therapy Institute
Project Name: Reducing Disparities in Cancer Treatment Through Transportation Assistance
Funded Amount: $5,000
Cancer Focus: Cancers treated through radiation
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 5 Disparities, Goal A Reduce Cancer Control Disparities in Arkansas,
Objective 2 Support and promote the development of healthcare programs designed to reduce
cancer disparities among targeted populations in Arkansas
County(s) Served: All
Population Served: Low income, rural, non-insured and under-insured CARTI patients
Project Description: The CARTI transportation assistance program provides fuel voucher
assistance to low-income patients, statewide, in an effort to reduce disparities in cancer
treatment. The transportation assistance program reaches over 300 rural, low-income,
underinsured and uninsured patients of all ages and backgrounds.
Overall Goal: To provide fuel vouchers for low-income cancer patients in an effort to reduce
disparities in cancer treatment, ensuring access to the same high level of quality cancer
treatment as their fellow Arkansans. The goal is to eliminate barriers to radiation treatment for
low-income cancer patients. Approximately fifty percent of the patients treated at CARTI are
from rural areas of the state, and almost 60 percent are over the age of 55.
Outcomes: From the grant 75 low-income, rural, underinsured or uninsured, cancer patients
benefitted from the fuel vouches assistance. A survey was conducted and all responded
positively about their experience, and 97 percent completed all scheduled radiation
treatments.
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Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas
Project Name: Protecting Arkansas’ Kids from Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
Funded Amount: $2,875
Cancer Focus: All cancers that can be prevented from smoking/ second-hand smoke
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1- I: Prevention. Decrease Tobacco Use and Exposure to Tobacco
Smoke. Chapter 5: Disparities.
County(s) Served: Pulaski, Jefferson, Lonoke, Faulkner, and Saline
Population Served: Workers of color; young women; and individuals from a lower, social,
economic background exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace.
Project Description: The CTFA aims to improve the health of Arkansans by reducing the health
burden caused by tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke by utilizing education,
prevention, and policy efforts. The CTFA put their mission into action by creating this project,
which was designed to help increase the public’s awareness about the dangers of secondhand
smoke exposure, whereby influencing a decrease in the number of children and adults exposed
to secondhand smoke. The CTFA educated elected officials and the general public on the
effectiveness and benefits of smoke-free workplaces, smoke-free cars and other smoke-free
public places, such as city parks. In part, as a result of the mini-grant, Arkansas' smoke-free cars
law was strengthen during the 88th General Assembly.
Overall Goal: One primary goal is to increase the awareness about the dangers of smoking and
the dangers of exposure to secondhand smoke. CFTA hopes to achieve this goal by using the
print media to educate the general public in Central and other surrounding areas of AR.
Another primary goal is to reduce cancer control disparities in AR. The project intends to
achieve these goals by serving as a vehicle to: 1) increase the awareness of cancer health
disparities for underserved and workers of color; 2) increase how comprehensive health and
safety policies in the workplace can help prevent many forms of cancer; and 3) gain support
among policy-makers, at the state level, for a stronger smoke-free workplace law.
Outcomes: The main activity of the mini-grant was the placement of an educational ad in the
statewide newspaper depicting the message that children and secondhand smoke don’t mix,
and they should be protected from secondhand smoke exposure in a motor vehicle. The CFTA
also laid the framework for an upcoming press conference to celebrate the 5 th anniversary of
Act 8 of 2006 (Arkansas’ smoke-free workplace law) and the celebration of Act 811 (the new
smoke-free cars law) that will go into effect on July 27 th. CFTA was able to educate more than
25,000 people in Central AR about the need to protect kids from secondhand smoke exposure
in motor vehicles.
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Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House
Project Name: Sun SMART 2011: Something to Cheer About
Funded Amount: $2,885
Cancer Focus: Melanoma
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1-III: Prevention. Promote and Encourage Protective Behaviors from
Sun and UV Exposure. Goal G. Objective 2: Increase awareness among youth regarding the
dangers of unprotected exposure to UV rays and the corresponding recommended practices for
reducing skin cancer risk.
County(s) Served: Sebastian and Crawford
Population Served: K-12 students and their families
Project Description: The Sun SMART program provides preventive education to area youth in
order to decrease the incidences of melanoma. The program emphasizes the Sun SMART
strategies: Slip on a hat or t-shirt, Move to the shade, Apply sunscreen (at least 30 spf), Reapply
sunscreen every few hours, and Tell your friends to be Sun SMART.
Overall Goal: Promote and encourage protective behaviors from sun and UV exposure by
carrying out the following objectives: 1)Reach Arkansas River Valley kids with the Sun SMART
message through presentations; 2) Get families to take the Sun SMART pledge; 3) Make
sunscreen available to hundreds of swimmers by providing specific designated city pools with
sunscreen; 4) Educate lifeguards about skin cancer prevention and sun safety; 5) Provide skin
cancer awareness program for designated number of adults; and 6) Provide free skin cancer
screening to a designated number of individuals.
Outcomes: The program was a success in that each objective was carried out: 1) the sun smart
message reached over 4,000 kids; 2) 119 families took the Sun SMART pledge; 3) the program
provided 2 gallons of sunscreen to Creekmore Park pool; 4) 23 lifeguards at Creekmore Park
received training on skin cancer prevention and sun safety; 5) 36 individuals attended an inhouse skin cancer education and awareness program; and 6) 57 individuals received a free skin
cancer screening.
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Madison County Health Coalition
Project Name: Butterball Health Fair, Kingston Fair on the Square, Breast Friends Breast Cancer
Support Group
Funded Amount: $4,946.60
Cancer Focus: Brest Cancer
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 2: Screening and Detection. Section I: Breast Cancer. Goal A:
Promote and Increase the appropriate utilization of high quality breast cancer screening and
follow-up services
County(s) Served: Madison
Population Served: Hispanic, rural, and breast cancer survivors
Project Description: Provide breast cancer awareness education to Madison County citizens in
an effort to promote early detection and treatment, decrease breast cancer health disparities,
and enhance the quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Overall Goal: To provide breast cancer awareness education to Madison County citizens in an
effort to promote early detection and treatment, decrease breast cancer health disparities, and
enhance the quality of life for breast cancer survivors.
Outcomes: Madison County Health Coalition performed breast cancer education outreach at
the Butterball Health Fair and the Kingston Fair on the Square. At informational booths, the
Madison County Health Coalition provided 325 employees at the Butterball Health Fair and 200
women at the Kingston Fair on the Square with breast cancer education. Over 60 percent of the
employees at the Butterball Health Fair were Hispanic, therefore a Hispanic interpreter assisted
in sessions. Madison County utilized breast models to demonstrate breast self exams and
referred uninsured or underinsured women to BreastCare and Susan G. Komen. The UAMS
Mammovan also provided mammography services to 50 women at the Butterball Health Fair.
Kingston is a rural community—the nearest mammography center is over 30 miles away. The
Madison County Health Coalition also met monthly with the Breast Friends cancer support
group—the only cancer support group in Madison County. Madison County Health Coalition
facilitated meetings and provided education on lymphedema to survivors, as well as made
referrals for lymphedema treatment.
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Mississippi County Coalition for a Tobacco Free Arkansas
Project Name: Saving the Lives of Arkansas Children
Funded Amount: $2,500
Cancer Focus: All cancers that can be prevented from smoking/ second-hand smoke
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1- I: Prevention. Decrease Tobacco Use and Exposure to Tobacco
Smoke
County(s) Served: Mississippi, Craighead, Poinsett, Crittenden
Population Served: Underserved and economically disadvantaged adult smokers and their
families, especially their children.
Project Description: The mission of MCCTFA is to decrease tobacco use and exposure to
tobacco smoke. In an effort to put this mission in action, MCCTFA implemented a project that
increased awareness of the importance of smoke free public policies, and demonstrated public
support for smoke-free policies.
Overall Goal: Reduce involuntary exposure to secondhand smoke.
Outcomes: 1) MCCTFA was able to increase understanding of the need for cessation services/
support; 2) increase knowledge and skills to participate in 100% smoke-free public policy
change; 3) increase commitment, support, and demand for 100% smoke-free environments; 4)
increase knowledge of 100% smoke-free benefits and options; 5) increase awareness of the
importance of 100% smoke-free public policies; and 6) increase demonstrations of public
support for 100% smoke-free public policies.
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Montgomery County Health Education Advisory Board
Project Name: Project Pink Awareness 2011 Hike for the Cure
Funded Amount: $2,278.80
Cancer Focus: All cancers that can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1: Prevention. Section II: Promote Cancer Prevention Through
Nutrition and Physical Activity. Goal F: Create Community Environments that are Conducive to
Physical Activity. Objective 6: Establish Community Level Interventions that Promote Health
Eating, Encourage Appropriate Exercise and Discourage Smoking among Aging Arkansans.
Chapter 2: Screening and Detection. Section I: Breast Cancer. Objective 1: Public Education for
Breast Cancer Screening – Increase knowledge and improve attitudes of all women with regards
to the importance of breast cancer screening
County(s) Served: Montgomery, Polk, Pike and Garland
Population Served: Women 18 and older in Montgomery and Polk County
Project Description: The 4th Annual Hike for the Cure to promote breast cancer education in
Montgomery County is a 4 mile kike on the Lake Ouachita Vista Trail to promote cancer
prevention and healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity.
Overall Goal: To increase the number of participants in the Hike for the Cure and to be able to
educate more women and men about breast cancer and Project Pink Awareness. It is an
opportunity to bring more awareness to prevention, early detection, mammography screenings
and services available in the area as well as increase physical activity.
Outcomes: Progress of the event was tracked by the number of participants and informational
bags handed out at the event. There were 92 participants which is an increase of 29 people
from the previous year. MCHEAB learned that being able to advertise outside of our area is the
key to increase participation each year.
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Ouachita County Medical Center
Project Name: The Visual Side of Nutrition
Funded Amount: $1,187
Cancer Focus: All cancers that can be prevented by maintaining a healthy lifestyle
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 1: Prevention. Section II: Promote Cancer Prevention Through
Nutrition and Physical Activity. Goal F: Create Community Environments that are Conducive to
Physical Activity. Objective 2: Utilize worksites as health promotion venues, reaching adult
Arkansans for the purpose of creating a culture of health, and changing unhealthy behavior
around smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
County(s) Served: Ouachita and surrounding counties
Population Served: Nutritional Risk Patients
Project Description: Provide dietary consults made for nutritional deficits related to
malnutrition, diabetes, unplanned weight gain or loss, MI, high cholesterol, anemia, COPD,
eating disorders, and more. After the consultation dieticians change the patient’s diets.
Overall Goal: The goal of the project is to utilize visual aides to better educate patients
screened for nutritional risk to help them better understand the risks of poor nutrition.
Outcomes: Through the use of visual aids patients were able to have a better understanding of
what poor nutrition has done to them and how better nutrition can benefit them. Every
consultation was performed unique to each specific situation, because no two patients are
alike, which matches the mission of the Ouachita County Medical Center. The dietician was able
to see an increased positive response from patients who were able to have the visual aids used
during consultation as opposed to those who just received handouts.
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University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Project Name: UAMS 3rd Annual Colonel William “Randy” Holland Memorial Speaker Series on
Melanoma: 2011- A Banner Year for Melanoma
Funded Amount: $3,000
Cancer Focus: Melanoma
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 9: Professional Education. Goal A: Enhance Healthcare
County(s) Served: All 75 AR Counties
Population Served: UAMS faculty practicing physicians; resident & intern physicians; upper
class medical, pharmacy, & nursing students; practicing nurses & pharmacists; and faculty &
students in the UAMS Graduate School.
Project Description: The Colonel William “Randy” Holland Memorial professional education
lecture series is in honor of the life of Randy Holland and the many physicians, nurses and other
medical professionals who helped him fight malignant melanoma for three years. This lecture
series, the “Colonel William R. (Randy) Holland Memorial Speaker Series on Melanoma”,
annually rotates between the UAMS departments of Internal Medicine and Dermatology and
addresses the topics related to the diagnosis and treatment of malignant melanoma.
Overall Goal: 1) Provide cutting-edge, professional education, including where appropriate,
CME credit, on a statewide level, for a wide variety of senior physicians, upper-class medical
students, etc. 2) Bring the latest data on the treatment of malignant melanoma in human
patients to UAMS and the state of AR; 3) Foster clinical collaboration between AR physicians
and the guest expert on malignant melanoma; and 4) Expose AR physicians and other health
professionals to the latest treatment modalities for melanoma.
Outcomes: Organizers brought to UAMS a leading clinical researcher, Kim Margolin, M.D., in
the field of treating malignant melanoma. Organizers were able to provide nursing continuing
education credit along with continuing medical education credit. Organizers deemed the
project an effective, clinical research presentation and were able to reach an in house and
telecommunication audience of over 100 physicians and registered nurses. Data from the
satisfaction survey indicated a high level of satisfaction with the program activity. The
organizers learned that this is an exceptional educational experience for members of the
audience to hear the latest, even unpublished, data on new clinical approaches to the
treatment of malignant melanoma. The information gained from this experience will help AR
physicians and nurses better treat, or refer for treatment, this disease.
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Women’s Council on African American Affairs, Inc
Project Name: Pampered Ladies Lunch and Wellness Expo
Funded Amount: $5,000
Cancer Focus: Breast Cancer and all cancers prevented through nutrition and physical activity
ACP Chapter Goal: Chapter 2: Screening and Detection. Section I: Breast Cancer. Goal A:
Promote and increase the appropriate utilization of high-quality breast cancer screening and
follow-up services. Objective 1: Public Education for breast cancer screening – increase
knowledge and improve attitudes of all women with regards to the importance of breast cancer
screening
County(s) Served: Pulaski
Population Served: African American
Project Description: The full day Pampered Ladies Lunch and Wellness expo consisted of
tabletop exhibitors and other health consultants, presentations from cancer survivors, clinicians
and experts in the area of cancer research, and an informational luncheon. Participants were
treated to wellness screenings and were provided with referrals for follow-up for mammograms
and a full day of pampering at no cost. A personal trainer and masseuse was also on hand to
address issues such as obesity increasing the risk of cancers of the breast (postmenopausal).
Overall Goal: Provide educational and wellness outreach to 250 women to decrease their
chances of receiving a diagnosis of breast, cervical, and lung cancer. Participants provided with
heart, blood, glucose, and cholesterol screenings and taught to do self-breast exams.
Outcomes: The WCAAA utilized pre-surveys and on-site post participants forms, tobacco free
and home surveys, vendor visitation forms, health screening forms for blood pressure, blood
glucose, and cholesterol screening. 146 participated in the on-site post survey. 132 indicated
that they gained new information that would lead them to adopt a healthier lifestyle. 116
indicated that they knew their numbers as a result of screenings. Five currently suffered from
breast cancer, 18 diabetes, 56 high blood pressure, 32 high cholesterol, 12 gastrointestinal
problems, 3 sickle cell and 6 heart disease. Five were tobacco users and 137 were not. 109
participated in self breast exam classes provided at the event. The WCAAA gained knowledge of
what was best practice from this event and what should be the next steps. The value of
conducting a second wellness forum and the need for more clinicians to assist with the
screening was evident in post evaluation.
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FY11 Mini-Grantee Dispersion
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MS. Co. for a Tobacco Free AR – Blytheville
UAMS – Little Rock
Coalition for a Tobacco Free AR – Little Rock
AR Foundation for Medical Care – Little Rock
AR County Partners in Health – Stuttgart
Donald W. Reynolds Cancer Support House – Fort Smith
Our Promise Cancer Resources – Hot Springs
Ouachita County Medical Center – Camden
Montgomery County Health Education Advisory Board – Mount Ida
Madison County Health Coalition – Huntsville
CARTI Foundation – Little Rock
12. Women’s Council on African American Affairs, Inc – Little Rock
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