The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
North Carolina Foundation
Breast Health Project
Program Goals:
This program seeks to reach as many women as possible across the state with
information on breast health, with the hopes of increasing knowledge about
breast health and mammography usage, particularly among women in the
highest risk category. While there have been lay health advisor programs that
have proven successful, this program will use the same model, but advisors
would be high school students in health occupations classes. We will examine
the impact of intergenerational lay health advisors. The main teaching tool for
the students is a necklace with beads that represent different sizes of lumps that
would be found by mammograms and self-exams. It also provides practical
experience for health occupations students.
Audiences:
The students are charged with working with two audiences:
1) Women in the age-risk category for breast cancer. Students participate in
and create events and programs that allow them to talk to women about early
detection—mammography, in particular. Since the risk for developing breast
cancer is much higher in older women, students’ outreach efforts should
focus on older women. A component could be added that would help
students to instruct other women how to teach about breast health and
mammograms.
2) Other students. This is a secondary effort, since girls at high school age are
generally not at risk for breast cancer. The in-school focus would be on
raising awareness about breast cancer and teaching them to talk with women
in their lives about breast health and the importance of mammography
screenings, clinical breast exams and self-exams.
Kits:
Free kits were distributed to health occupation teachers across the state. Each
school received one kit for the health occupation teacher. Items included:
 3-4 sets of beads with a card attached that will have statistics and
information on how to use the beads.
 Brochure that corresponds with breast bead card and has more
information on breast health and mammography screenings. These
brochures are used as a handout at community events.
 Poster that corresponds with brochure and breast bead cards. Posters
can be hung in places the students may visit. For instance, if the students
go to a senior center or church event, they can leave a poster.
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Hand-out of a “flow chart” of responses to encourage women to receive a
mammogram. Teachers can use this piece to discuss with students
reasons why women may object to receiving a mammogram.
Resource guide and curriculum guide that includes information on the
program and its goals, ideas for program activities and community service
projects that would enable the teens to reach women, assessment tools
and a variety of other resources.
Stickers to remind women to conduct their self-exams and to get
mammograms.
Health occupation instructors teach students about breast cancer and early
detection. Additionally, instructors also teach students how to teach others about
breast health and mammography. This may require 4-5 class sessions.
The program is evaluated through pre-assessment and post-assessment tests
for students as well as some tools to measure the impact on women in the agerisk category for breast cancer.
Teacher Involvement
Teachers signed agreements to implement the program. In signing the
agreement, teachers accepted the following responsibilities:
Attend a training session, at which they received the full kit
Teach the program for two years
Follow the curriculum which will be provided in the kit.
Report to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation on
student community activities and results.
Training sessions were held in different regions. In addition to the breast healthfocused training, sessions included information on public relations and grant
writing. They also counted toward credit for continuing education.
Teachers should encourage their students to enter their community projects in
HOSA competitions.
Breast Health Project
Recognition Award
Deadline: February 5, 2015
NC HOSA is proud of the partnership with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NC
Foundation for the Breast Health Project. Local and regional HOSA support of
this project is greatly encouraged and supported. All NC HOSA Chapters who
participate in this project will be recognized during the Opening Session of the
State Leadership Conference in March 2015. This form must be submitted to the
address below in order to receive recognition:
School__________________________________District___________________
Total Chapter Membership______________________

Describe your activities which support the Breast Health Project (you may use a
separate sheet of paper if necessary). Include a copy of the Project contract which
has been signed by the advisor.
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Total chapter hours of volunteer service
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_____
(Non-fundraising)
Hours per member of organizational service _____
(Total hours divided by # members)
We verify that the information contained in this report is complete and accurate.
Organizational Representative ____________________________ Date _________
Student Submitting Report _______________________________ Date _________
Chapter Advisor _______________________________________ Date _________
This application must include a 1-2 page attachment with an outline of chapter
involvement in the Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC Breast Health Project – to include a
brief description of each activity, date, location, total hours, etc.
Mail completed form by February 5, 2015 to:
NC HOSA
6360 MAIL SERVICE CENTER
RALEIGH NC 27699-6360