Crossroads4hope

PROVIDE EDUCATION & SUPPORT TO PERSONS AFFECTED BY CANCER.

CROSSROADS4HOPE, A NETWORK OF CANCER SUPPORT, IS THE SAFE SPACE TO TURN FIRST TO RESTORE YOUR WHOLE BEING AND FAMILY. OUR NETWORK EMBRACES ALL PEOPLE TOUCHED BY CANCERTHE DIAGNOSED AND THEIR LOVED ONESEMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS THROUGH ACCESS TO RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS OF SUPPORT, EDUCATION, WELL-BEING, AND HOPE. WE MOVE INDIVIDUALS THROUGH A CANCER HEALTH CRISIS TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH AND CARE. HEADQUARTERED IN NEW JERSEY, OUR ORGANIZATION HAS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT 501(C)(3) CORPORATION SINCE ITS INCEPTION. SINCE 2001, NEARLY 21,000 INDIVIDUALS HAVE TURNED TO US WHEN FACED WITH A CANCER DIAGNOSIS OR THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS OR DEATH OF A LOVED ONE. AS EXPERTS IN PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT AND PATIENT ACTIVATION, WE MOVE PEOPLE THROUGH A HEALTH CRISIS CAUSED BY CANCER TO BECOME ACTIVE WITH THE BEHAVIORS THAT HELP THEM TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH AND CARE. LED BY THE PROFESSION OF SOCIAL WORK, OUR TEAM INCLUDES OTHER MENTAL HEALTH AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, INCLUDING CHILD LIFE SPECIALISTS, REGISTERED DIETITIANS, PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND HEALTH AND WELLNESS INSTRUCTORS. OUR "MEMBERS" INCLUDE PREVIVORS, CANCER PATIENTS, SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, AND LOVED ONES, REGARDLESS OF AGE, TYPE OF CANCER, STAGE OR PLACE OF TREATMENT, RACE, ETHNICITY, COUNTRY OF ORIGIN/CITIZENSHIP, LANGUAGE, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, INSURANCE, OR VETERAN STATUS. PROGRAMS ARE DELIVERED IN PERSON AT OUR BEDMINSTER LOCATION, AT PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, AND VIRTUALLY. PROGRAMS FALL UNDER THE FOLLOWING CATEGORIES: INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP SUPPORT NAVIGATION AND REFERRALS DECISION SUPPORT EDUCATIONAL AND NUTRITION WORKSHOPS MIND BODY CLASSES ACTIVITIES THAT BUILD SOCIAL CONNECTIONS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FAMILIES COPING WITH PEDIATRIC CANCER SINGLE WOMEN AFFECTED BY CANCERDUE TO THE PANDEMIC, HEALTHCARE AND OTHER RELATED INDUSTRIES ARE EXPERIENCING STAFFING SHORTAGES AND OTHER ISSUES THAT HAVE REDUCED AVAILABLE RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE AFFECTED BY CANCER. THE RESULT IS THAT CROSSROADS4HOPE CONTINUES TO EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR OUR SERVICES AND WILL INCLUDE VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AS A STANDARD DELIVERY METHOD. IN 2021, WE RESUMED SOME IN-PERSON PROGRAMS. STILL, WE WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE ITS APPROPRIATENESS BASED ON THE NEEDS OF OUR MEMBERS, THE BROADER COMMUNITY, AND THE GUIDANCE OF LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS. BEYOND THE PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AFFECTED BY CANCER AND DISPLACED DUE TO HURRICANE IDA. ANNUAL WELLNESS CHECKS ARE VALUABLE TO ENABLE US TO SCREEN FOR SAFETY AND UNMET NEEDS AND TO EASE STRESS AND ANXIETY IN LIGHT OF THE LOCAL, NATIONAL AND REGIONAL STRESSORS PEOPLE FACE IN ADDITION TO CANCER. RESOURCES AND EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION WERE VITAL IN HELPING OUR MEMBERS AND THE BROADER CANCER COMMUNITY ADAPT TO THEIR "NEW NORMAL" DURING THE PANDEMIC. OUR WELLNESS AND NUTRITION CLASSES ENHANCE SOCIAL CONNECTIONS WITH OTHER INDIVIDUALS WITH SIMILAR EXPERIENCES AND OFFER A POSITIVE DISTRACTION FROM THE CANCER DIAGNOSIS, WHICH CAN MINIMIZE OVERALL STRESS AND ANXIETY. IN THE 2022 SURVEY OF OUR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, 64% OF MEMBERS WHO ANSWERED SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE MIND/BODY PROGRAMS AND REPORTED THAT THEIR PARTICIPATION HELPED THEM ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING: LEARNED NEW WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS; KEPT OR IMPROVED PHYSICAL ABILITIES; IMPROVED BALANCE AND LOWER RISK OF FALLING; REDUCED THE IMPACT OF CANCER-RELATED SIDE EFFECTS; IMPROVED SELF-ESTEEM; IMPROVED SLEEP; DECREASING FEELINGS OF ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION; INCREASED SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL SUPPORT. NUTRITION EDUCATION WAS EQUALLY ESSENTIAL. WE LAUNCHED OUR CULINARY CROSSROADS SERIES, AND PARTICIPANTS REPORTED THAT THEY WERE VERY LIKELY TO USE THE LESSONS AND TIPS LEARNED: 87.5% SAID THAT THEY WOULD MAKE THE RECIPE AGAIN; 87.5% SAID THAT THEY BETTER UNDERSTAND THE FOODS TO LIMIT TO IMPROVE MICROBE ACTIVITY AND WELLNESS; 87% REPORTED THAT THEY WOULD APPLY THE STRATEGIES LEARNED DURING THE CLASSES TO THEIR DAILY LIVES. OF THOSE SURVEYED IN OUR 2022 GENERAL PROGRAM SATISFACTION SURVEY, 86% OF RESPONDENTS REPORTED THAT THEY FEEL VERY SUPPORTED BY CR4H, AND 57% OF RESPONDENTS AND 56% OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WANTED TO ATTEND EDUCATIONAL WORKSHOPS ON NUTRITION/HEALTHY COOKING, AND WELLNESS/PSYCHOEDUCATION, RESPECTIVELY, MORE THAN ANY OTHER TOPICS. THE SURVEY DEMONSTRATES THE CONTINUED NEED FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND THE OVERALL IMPACT OF THE PROGRAMS THEMSELVES. TOPICS INCLUDED FOODS THAT FIGHT INFLAMMATION; HAPPY HEALTHY GUT; BUILDING A HEALTHY KITCHEN; HIT THE ROAD; EAT TO BEAT STRESS, AND, BUILDING A HEALTHY KITCHEN 2. IN THE SECOND PORTION OF THE CULINARY CROSSROADS, WE ADDED FOLLOW-UP SESSIONS GUIDED BY SOCIAL WORK. IN 2021, WE FINALIZED THE DISAFFILIATION WITH A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ANNOUNCED IN 2000 AND LEGALLY BECAME CROSSROADS4HOPE ON FEBRUARY 1, 2021. AS A RESULT, WE EXPERIENCED AN OVERWHELMINGLY POSITIVE RESPONSE, INCLUDING GROWTH IN OUR PROGRAMS' REACH AND DONORS' CONTRIBUTIONS. OUR TRANSITION INTO CROSSROADS4HOPES HAS ALLOWED US TO EMBRACE OUR MISSION TO TRANSFORM THE CANCER EXPERIENCE FOR ALL AFFECTED. WE HAVE ALSO BEGUN EXPANDING REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY TO ADDRESS THE INCREASED DEMAND FOR OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. AT CROSSROADS4HOPE, THREE THINGS ARE ESSENTIAL: ENSURING WE DELIVER WHAT PATIENTS AND FAMILIES NEED TODAY TO BECOME ACTIVE IN THEIR ABILITY TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR HEALTH AND CARE; SECOND, KEEPING AN EYE ON THE FUTURE AND THE INNOVATION AND RESOURCES NEEDED FOR US TO REALIZE OUR PROMISE TO THE COMMUNITY TO TAKE ON THE CANCER JOURNEY WITH ALL THOSE WHO ARE AFFECTED, WHEN AND WHERE THEY NEED US MOST; AND THIRD, ENSURING THE VISION OF OUR FOUNDER'S REMAIN IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR THINKING, THAT SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT IS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF CARE AND SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO ALL PEOPLE FACING CANCER PATIENTS, CAREGIVERS, FAMILY, AND LOVED ONES, SURVIVORS, AND THE BEREAVEDREGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY RECEIVE THEIR CARE, OR WHERE THEY CALL HOME, AND ALWAYS AT NO CHARGE TO INDIVIDUALS.WE HAVE BEEN CONSCIOUS IN OUR APPROACH TO TRANSFORMING OUR ORGANIZATION AND THE CANCER EXPERIENCE, UNDERSTANDING THAT TECHNOLOGY WOULD BE REQUIRED TO ENABLE US TO SCALE OUR REACH, ESPECIALLY WITHIN COMMUNITIES THAT LACK ACCESS TO CARE, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES. IN 2021, WE IMPLEMENTED MYGO2SUPPORT, POWERED BY GOMO HEALTH, PUTTING PERSONALIZED SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS AND INTERVENTIONS INTO PEOPLE'S HANDS DIRECTLY TO A MOBILE DEVICE, WITHOUT DOWNLOADING AN APP, AND THROUGH INTEGRATION WITHIN CLINICAL AND PROVIDER WORKFLOWS. MYGO2SUPPORT COMBINES AN INTELLIGENT DIGITAL DESIGN AND CROSSROADS4HOPE'S WRAP-AROUND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS. WITH OVER 97% OF PEOPLE OWNING A MOBILE PHONE, MYGO2SUPPORT ALLOWS US TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT, RESOURCES, AND INTERVENTIONS ANYWHERE NEEDED IN NEW JERSEY AND BEYOND. BUT TECHNOLOGY IS ONLY AN ENABLER TO OUR WORK - OUR PUBLIC HEALTH TEAMS ARE EMBEDDING THEMSELVES INTO COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS THE BURDEN OF CANCER ON THE COMMUNITY'S TERMS. SINCE 2013, WE HAVE BEEN ACTIVELY LISTENING AND LEARNING FROM OUR MEMBERS ACROSS DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS TO ROUND OUT OUR RESEARCH ON THE CANCER EXPERIENCE IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES. AS A RESULT, WE DEVELOPED A UNIQUE APPROACH TO OUTREACH ROOTED IN SOCIAL WORK, IMPLEMENTED BY PUBLIC HEALTH, AND SUPPORTED BY CHILD LIFE TO ENSURE THAT VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES HAVE ACCESS TO RELEVANT SUPPORT, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO TRANSFORM THE CANCER EXPERIENCE. THANKS TO GRANT FUNDING FROM BRISTOL MYERS SQUIBB, WE CREATED A PROGRAM TO BE DEPLOYED THROUGH OUR OUTREACH FOCUSED ON TRAINING, ACTIVATING, AND MOBILIZING TRUSTED CHAMPIONS IN VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES AS FIRST RESPONDERS EQUIPPED TO SUPPORT SOMEONE FACING CANCER. CHAMPIONS ARE LEADERS FROM CHURCHES, LIBRARIES, SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES, AND OTHER NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS TO BECOME CHAMPIONS. THESE ARE OFTEN THE FIRST INDIVIDUALS TO BECOME AWARE OF SOMEONE COPING WITH CANCER IN THEIR COMMUNITY. BY PARTNERING WITH CROSSROADS4HOPE, THEY ARE MAKING IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO EXTEND THE REACH OF OUR RESOURCES IN RELEVANT WAYS THAT ADDRESS THE LAYERS OF COMPLICITY THAT CREATE BARRIERS TO ACCESSING TIMELY CARE, SUPPORT, AND RESOURCES. OFTEN, PEOPLE ARE RELUCTANT TO TALK ABOUT CANCER, ACCESS SUPPORT, CANCER SCREENINGS, OR CLINICAL TRIALS. AND THE REALITY IS THAT CANCER IS NOT ALWAYS A PERSON'S MOST PRESSING NEED. BEFORE TALKING ABOUT CANCER, WE OFTEN ADDRESS BASIC NEEDS SUCH AS FOOD AND HOUSING INSECURITY, FINANCIAL CONDITIONS, TRANSPORTATION, AND CHILDCARE. SEE CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.