APIAHF Programs

Chronic Diseases Program

Cancer Survivors Capacity Building Project

Among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs), cancer deaths have increased at a faster rate compared to any other racial and ethnic population. There is a need to address the impact of cancer throughout the comprehensive continuum of care for the AANHPI population in the U.S. and Pacific Islands. While there are some AANHPI cancer support groups/resources in the U.S., there is no structure to connect and coordinate these organizations or individuals to similar counterparts.

The AAPI Cancer Survivors Capacity Building Project (AAPI CSCB Project) serves the AANHPI cancer survivor population through the facilitation of a network of cancer support groups and coordination of resources. The project coordinates communications between existing AANHPI cancer support groups and AANHPI cancer programs, host strategy exchanges, share best practices, facilitate support group forums, and advocate for research within the AANHPI cancer survivor community. In addition, the project collaborates with local, state, and national organizations to reach and involve those working with AANHPI communities. The project provides capacity building assistance to organizations interested in developing and strengthening support services for AANHPI cancer survivors.

The AAPI CSCB Project focuses on outreach, collaboration, and advocacy to address the needs and minimize the burdens facing cancer survivors and their families and works within the Asian & Pacific Islander National Cancer Survivors Network (APINCSN). APINCSN works to minimize the burden of cancer and improve the quality of life of AANHPIs by dispelling myths, reducing disparities and providing hope.

The AAPI CSCB Project is a network of cancer survivors, their family members, health care providers, researchers and community members who are concerned about the issue of cancer in AANHPI communities. We are striving to break the isolation that many cancer survivors feel when they are first diagnosed and going through treatment. We offer networking opportunities and link survivors with resources such as contact with other survivors, and referrals to services and multilingual cancer materials.

 The AAPI CSCB Project is a program of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF). The Project is funded through the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), cooperative agreement #U58/CCU923071-04/.

Several resources have been developed with the AAPI CSCB Project such as the Focus Group Summary and Recommendations Report, Asian American & Pacific Islander Cancer Support Groups Case Study, APINCSN Online Resource Directory, and A Book of Hope: Stories of Healing to Honor Asian American and Pacific Islander Cancer Survivors. In addition, APIAHF has developed a Cancer Support Group Mentorship Program to develop AANHPI specific cancer support group.

 

Focus Group Summary and Recommendations Report

As an effort of the AAPI Cancer Survivors Capacity Building Project, APIAHF and its Consortium Partners in California, Hawaii, and Massachusetts implemented a series of focus groups during a two year period to assess AANHPI community needs in regards to cancer and survivorship. The focus groups gathered cancer survivors, health care providers, and community members to exchange information about existing support services and their efficacy in the provision of care, encourage dialogue about the challenges and barriers in patients’ pursuit of healthcare services, and brainstorm methods by which to address patient needs and concerns. The insightful feedback of patients and providers at these respective sessions have been instrumental in deepening APIAHF’s and consortium partners’ perspectives on appropriate care for AANHPI cancer survivors and strengthening efforts to develop groundbreaking, relevant programs and resources. In addition to conducting face-to-face focus groups, APIAHF worked with evaluation consultants, La France Associates, LLC, to develop an online survey with similar questions from the focus group protocol. This online survey was sent to the Asian & Pacific Islander National Cancer Survivors Network (APINCSN) membership to capture those geographic areas not covered by the focus groups.

Download APIAHF Focus Group and Recommendation Report

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AAPI Cancer Support Groups Case Study

The Asian American & Pacific Islander Cancer Support Groups Case Study highlights successes, challenges, and best practices for developing cancer support groups specific to AANHPI ethnic communities. While there are increasing numbers of AANHPI ethnic specific cancer support groups available, there has not been a publication to showcase specific support groups that are in existence at varying stages of development. This case study was developed to assist organizations that are interested in developing cancer support groups that are AANHPI ethnic specific.

Download copy of APIAHF Cancer Support Groups Case Study

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A Book of Hope: Stories of Healing to Honor Asian American & Pacific Islander Cancer Survivors

A Book of Hope is primarily intended to educate and raise awareness about cancer survivorship among AANHPIs by representing individual narratives of challenges and successes. One key message that the book conveys is that people thrive and have happy, fulfilling lives despite the physical and medical challenges imposed by cancer. The love and support of family members and friends are key elements in coping with cancer for AANHPIs. A Book of Hope can be used to educate community members and leaders, policy makers, health care institutions, community based organizations, and health care providers about how cancer impacts the patient and their family and what is needed to improve health care delivery and outcomes. This is not only a collection of inspirational stories, but also a community driven and community developed advocacy tool.

Click on A Book of Hope cover to request a copy

Click on this link for a preview of the contents of A Book of Hope

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Cancer Support Group Mentorship Program

The goal of the mentorship program, which provides one-time funding of up to $10,000, is to provide community based-organizations, health clinics, social service organizations, and cancer survivors/advocates with the opportunity to develop local AAPI specific cancer support groups. Awardees are assigned mentor organizations or support groups to assist in the development of the activities and to provide peer-to-peer support in developing the support group.

Herald Cancer Association- Houston
The Herald Cancer Association-Houston (HCAH) is conducting cancer support groups for the Chinese community in Fort Bend County, Texas. Chinatown Public Health Center has played an integral role in providing technical assistance as their mentor organization from San Francisco, California. Sixteen cancer support group facilitators have been identified and trained to implement the support groups. HCAH has been very successful in holding well attended (nearly 60 people have attended each event) cancer education seminars for Chinese cancer survivors, providers and caregivers. Their support groups start their morning sessions with tai chi and then begin their patient cancer support group.

On June 16, 2007, Lei-Chun Fung from the Chinatown Public Health Center visited Whey May Shen at the Fort Bend Herald Cancer Support Group. While in Texas, Fung was invited to talk abut cancer prevention and survivorship at a cancer educational forum. Diana Duke, a dietician at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, was also present to discuss nutrition and cancer through a translator, Lily Wu. Duke discussed the importance of having a healthy diet, especially during cancer treatment. After cancer surgery, a patient may feel sick due to the side effects, but good nutrition helps in overcoming fatigue. It is important to eat more protein, such as beef, fish and beans, to help keep the energy up and to maintain their weight.

Lei-Chun Fung has provided valuable support to Whey May Shen as the development of the Chinese cancer support groups in Texas has progressed these last six months. Lei-Chun’s Chinese support group for women and children has been in existence for over 15 years in San Francisco, CA.

Guam Communications Network - www.guamcomnet.org
Guam Communications Network (GCN) has been working diligently in the recruitment and training of cancer support group facilitators in Guam. Three staff from GCN and Rose Manglona, a Chamorro breast cancer survivor from San Diego, have traveled to Guam to promote the program and make contacts with survivors, caregivers, health providers and advocates. Pre-training workshops have been conducted in March and the support groups convened from April to June. In April, GCN staff flew to Guam to observe and monitor support group meetings, conduct additional training and conduct evaluation reviews with the newly trained facilitators.

GCN applied for a grant through the Lance Armstrong Foundation to expand their Chamorro Cancer Survivors Network throughout California and into Guam. In Fall 2007, APIAHF and GCN staff will be flying to Guam to conduct grant writing trainings for the Guam community organizations and health departments.

The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. - www.icpacs.org
The Center for Pan Asian Community Services, Inc. (CPACS) has been conducting weekly cancer support groups in Atlanta, Georgia with the Korean community. The Wellness Community in Pasadena, California is serving as the mentor organization for CPACS in providing technical assistance for CPACS as they implement their support groups. To promote their program, they have placed ads in Korean newspapers. CPACS also intends in complementing their support groups services by creating community/family gatherings for the support group attendees. CPACS has been receiving many calls from people who are interested in joining their support groups.

On June 27, 2007, a cancer prevention and treatment forum took place for the Korean community. Guest speakers included two oncologists and a natural healer to talk about the importance of cancer prevention and detection, and services available to those diagnosed with cancer.

Jane Park from The Wellness Foundation in Los Angeles, CA was CPACS’ mentor as she has facilitated a Korean cancer support group for the last five years and has provided CPACS with advice, knowledge, and resources that made her support group successful.

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Capacity Building Assistance and Training

In an effort to build the skills and capacity in Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and programs offering cancer prevention, education, survivor support resources to AANHPIs, APIAHF offers capacity building assistance (CBA) in specific cancer control related areas.

APIAHF provides CBA in the following areas:

Local or regional trainings in the following areas:

APIAHF provides CBA around cancer to health departments, community based organizations (CBOs), cancer support groups, voluntary health organizations, community members, AANHPI serving cancer programs, health centers, and medical centers.

To request a specific type of capacity building assistance, please click here for the CBA Request Form. Fill out the form with all the information regarding your specific CBA request. The form can be submitted to AAPI CSCB Project Staff or any of the Consortium Partner staff via fax, e-mail, and/or mail. CBA requests are generally processed on a first come first serve basis. Please provide a reasonable amount of time between request receipt before staff can respond to your request. If your request is urgent in manner, please contact Mavis Nitta at mnitta@apiahf.org or at (415) 954-9988, ext. 311.

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APIAHF Consortium Partners

The Consortium Partners include Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Family Health Center, Inc. of Worcester, MA, and Kalihi-Palama Health Center. These organizations are assisting APIAHF in conducting localized capacity building and trainings in the regions where they are located.

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Filipino Community Cancer Collaborative

The Filipino Community Cancer Collaborative (FCCC) includes American Cancer Society, Association of the Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum, Filipino community members, National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, St. Mary's Center-Oakland, Stanford Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing, and Women's Cancer Resource Center.

FCCC produced a Filipino Cancer Education Resource Catalog, which provides a summary of cancer screening/early detection, healthy lifestyle, Hepatitis B, and community resources for the Filipino community in the Greater Bay Area/San Francisco. This project was generously funded by the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research, and Training (AANCART) through the San Francisco Bay Area Cancer Awareness Activity Mini-grant.

For more information about the Filipino Community Cancer Collaborative or the Filipino Cancer Education Resource Catalog, please contact Roxanna Bautista at rbautista@apiahf.org or at (415) 568-3304.

 

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