Conclusions - Affiliate Priorities and Action Plan

 1)    Promote breast health awareness and breast self-exams through a variety of educational outreach programs in the Affiliate service area.

a.    Affiliate will initiate an annual breast health program, inviting community members from the top three late stage diagnosis zip codes (78220, 78202, 78203), and will focus on early detection and the importance of screenings. Communication will be targeted to community members via flyers and local organizations within those zip codes.

b.    Because of the high incidence and mortality rates in the African American community, the Affiliate will focus additional efforts on collaborations with community organizations to educate these women about breast health in their place of worship and introduce the Affiliate to five new congregations by March 31, 2013.

c.    Enhance pilot program for distribution of breast self-awareness shower cards to area pharmacies twice a year to promote both a healthy lifestyle and breast health awareness. These efforts will target zip codes with high late stage diagnosis (78220, 78202, 78203) and mortality (78205, 78220, 78209).

d.    Affiliate plans to secure relationships with local district offices and partner with legislative members regarding Komen San Antonio’s mission. The 2011 Community Profile and the Texas Cancer Plan will also be utilized to create the base for the Affiliate’s advocacy efforts and campaigns.

2)    Increase the number of breast cancer screenings among residents and community members in San Antonio.

a.    Increase breast cancer screenings of low-income, uninsured residents by 10 percent through grantees with a deadline of March 31, 2013. Between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011, Komen San Antonio grantees screened 1,548 women and men. In the next fiscal year, funds will increase, allowing Komen to allocate additional monies toward our screening goals.

b.    Partner with local hospitals that operate mobile mammography unit(s) and encourage attendance at the planned Affiliate health program (see 1a) to provide breast cancer screenings.

3)    Establish relationships with area medical professors, physicians, nurses and pharmacists, who are the primary sources for breast health education in Bexar County.

a.    By March 31, 2013, Affiliate will establish relationships with area professors to educate 50 of their future physician and nursing students on incidence rates among young women, how to perform proper clinical breast exams, and how to be more sensitive with newly diagnosed patients.

b.    Meet with the Bexar County Medical Association and Hispanic Medical Association annually to reach area physicians, nurses and pharmacists to provide them with breast self-awareness literature and tips on how to be more sensitive with newly diagnosed patients.