Community Education and Outreach
Community Breast Health Education Programs
To accomplish our mission we have developed, adapted and implemented a variety of programs and resources to educate the community about breast health, breast cancer, risk factors and prevention, and early detection and screening. Our culturally competent programs are designed to meet the needs of a wide variety of audiences and can be customized to fit the time allowed, specific concerns, or the interests of the audience. Our presentations can involve video, lecture and hands-on experience. Staff and volunteers regularly table at community events and health and wellness fairs. Not only can we provide information about breast health and breast cancer but can link women to screening services and the resources to pay for those screenings.
DBCC’s outreach programs include:
• Providing breast health educational programs to businesses and community groups
• Participating in health and wellness fairs
• Educating nursing students about breast health
• Delivering the Biden Breast Health Initiative curriculum to high school students
• Providing "Lunch & Learns" for businesses and organizations
Programs can be geared for specific audience needs, time allotted and topics of interest.
Taking Care of Ourselves
TCO provides breast health education and support to lesbians and women who partner with women. DBCC also educates healthcare providers on providing culturally competent care to the LGBT community through workshops and presentations about barriers to care, appropriate language, clinical concerns and more.
Mammography Access for Women with Disabilities
The Delaware Breast Cancer Coalition has partnered with the University of Delaware’s Center for Disabilities Studies (CDS) to conduct an accessibility assessment of all mammography facilities in Delaware. Through funding from the Avon Foundation Breast Care Fund, the Delaware Mammography Access Project will produce an online guide to mammography facilities that women can access to determine which facility will best meet their needs.
DBCC also provides breast health education at community centers, group homes and adult day care facilities to reach women with disabilities.
Peer Mentor Support Program
DBCC’s Peer Mentoring Program offers one-on-one support and education by trained breast cancer survivors to newly diagnosed patients and individuals facing a recurrence, as well as their families and caregivers, in Delaware and the surrounding area. DBCC representatives leave information about the program in physicians’ waiting rooms and solicit the help of nurses, surgeons and other healthcare providers who treat breast cancer patients to spread the word about peer mentoring.Mobile Mammography Van
Women who are uninsured or underinsured may be eligible for mammograms on the van through Screening for Life, a program of the Division of Public Health and DBCC that ensures every woman in Delaware can get a mammogram. The mobile mammography van screens at community centers, senior centers, health care facilities and employers throughout the state. Encourage your employer, church or other community organization to call Women’s Mobile Health to schedule the van at 1-888-672-9647.
Living and Giving Photo Exhibit
The Living and Giving Exhibit is a traveling tribute to breast cancer survivors. Thirty feet long and seven feet high, this exhibit brings awareness of breast cancer and a message of hope and empowerment to those who view it. It features portraits of breast cancer survivors, who are Living and Giving through their families, hobbies, work and communities. These portraits, accompanied by quotations about their personal experience with cancer, reflect the survivors’ efforts to give educational and motivational messages to the community.
Annual Breast Cancer Update
Each Spring, DBCC presents a panel discussion featuring leading medical experts and other speakers discussing the most current topics in breast cancer. The attendees include breast cancer survivors and their families, physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals.