American Indian Cancer Foundation

TO ADDRESS THE TREMENDOUS CANCER INEQUITIES FACED BY AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE COMMUNITIES.

CANCER RESEARCH AND EVALUATION PROJECTS1. TOBACCO MESSAGINGTOBACCO MESSAGING IS A RESEARCH STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE "KEEP TOBACCO SACRED" MESSAGE COMPARED TO A MAINSTREAM AND TOBACCO MESSAGE FOR PREVENTION AMONG NATIVE YOUTH AND CESSATION AMONG NATIVE ADULTS. 2. TRIBAL TOBACCO USE PROGRAMTRIBAL TOBACCO USE PROGRAM (TTUP) IS A RESEARCH STUDY TO MONITOR AND UNDERSTAND THE ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR, AND BELIEFS RELATED TO TOBACCO USE AMONG PARTICIPATING AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE ADULTS TO INFORM THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL INITIATIVES. TTUP HAS 3 COMPONENTS - IMPLEMENTATION, DISSEMINATION AND SUSTAINABILITY.3. UNDERSTANDING BARRIERS TO CANCER SCREENINGUNDERSTANDING LUNG CANCER SCREENING IS A RESEARCH STUDY TO ASSESS KNOWLEDGE ABOUT ATTITUDES TOWARD LUNG CANCER SCREENING AMONG PATIENTS, HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. 4. COVID-19 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACHCOVID-19 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH IS A PROJECT TO IDENTIFY AND UNDERSTAND THE MOST APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY, BARRIERS TO ACCESSING SERVICES, GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE OF COVID-19 TESTING/CONTACT TRACING/CASE INTERVIEW, AWARENESS OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR TESTING BY CONDUCTING VIRTUAL TALKING CIRCLES.5. EVALUATION ASSISTANCE FOR TRIBAL CANCER PROGRAMSAICAF PROVIDES EVALUATION ASSISTANCE TO TRIBAL CANCER PROGRAMS THROUGH MONITORING, IMPROVING, AND SUSTAINING QUALITY SERVICES FOR AMERICAN INDIAN AND ALASKA NATIVE NATIONS AND COMMUNITIES.

POLICY & PREVENTION PROGRAM AREA1. HEALTHY NATIVE FOODS INITIATIVEHEALTHY NATIVE FOODS INITIATIVE INCREASES RESOURCES AND NETWORKING ON HEALTHY EATING AND THE ROLE OF TRADITIONAL, INDIGENOUS FOODS IN CANCER PREVENTION AND WELLNESS AT HOME, SCHOOL, WORK AND AT COMMUNITY EVENTS. 2. POLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL (PSE) SUPPORTPOLICY, SYSTEMS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL (PSE) CHANGE STRATEGIES SUPPORT INCREASED RESOURCES FOR DEVELOPING AND SUPPORTING CULTURALLY TAILORED PSE INITIATIVES FOR TOBACCO CONTROL, HEALTHY EATING AND ACTIVE LIVING IN AMERICAN INDIAN COMMUNITIES.3. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE/COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONSAICAF SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES WITH COMMUNITY-DRIVEN SOLUTIONS TO EXPAND OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACTIVE LIVING, HEALTHY EATING AND COMMERCIAL TOBACCO-FREE LIVING.

CANCER SCREENING PROJECTS1. SAGE SYSTEMS CHANGE - MDHTHE SAGE SYSTEMS CHANGE PROJECT ENGAGES CLINICAL TEAMS TO PROGRESSIVELY IMPROVE COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING RATES BY PROVIDING CLINICAL SYSTEMS SUPPORT, EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS AND TOOLS FOR PATIENTS AND CLINICAL TEAMS.2. SCREEN OUR CIRCLE: BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER EARLY DETECTION PROGRAMSCREEN OUR CIRCLE PROVIDES EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES FOR CLINIC SYSTEMS CHANGE AND REIMBURSEMENT FOR SCREENING TO PARTICIPATING URBAN AI/ AN CLINICS FOR IMPROVING CANCER PREVENTION, SCREENING, EARLY DETECTION AND HEALTH EQUITY FOR BREAST AND CERVICAL CANCER.4. URBAN CANCER SOLUTIONS: COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CONTROL PROGRAMURBAN CANCER SOLUTIONS PROVIDES EFFECTIVE AND SUSTAINABLE APPROACHES FOR CLINIC SYSTEMS CHANGE TO PARTICIPATING URBAN AI/ AN CLINICS FOR IMPROVING CANCER PREVENTION, SCREENING, EARLY DETECTION, SURVIVORSHIP AND ULTIMATELY HEALTH EQUITY. THIS WORK IS DRIVEN BY THE URBAN CANCER SOLUTIONS CANCER PLAN, A PLAN DRIVEN BY STRATEGIES TO PREVENT AND CONTROL CANCER IN URBAN AI/AN COMMUNITIES.5. LIVER CANCER PILOT PROJECT (LCPP)THE LIVER CANCER PILOT PROJECT ADDRESSED THE INCREASED LIVER CANCER DIAGNOSIS AMONG AI/AN IN THE TWIN CITIES METRO THROUGH CULTURALLY TAILORED EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AND MATERIALS AND SYSTEMS CHANGE TO COMMUNITY CLINICS IN REACHING MORE AI/AN COMMUNITY MEMBERS WHO MAY BE AT RISK FOR LIVER CANCER6. PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATIONTHE PREVENT CANCER FOUNDATION FUNDING PROVIDED SUPPORT TO CLINICS TO INCREASE THEIR COLORECTAL CANCER SCREENING RATES FOR AI/AN, WHICH INCLUDED SYSTEMS CHANGE, DISTRIBUTION OF AT-HOME FIT KITS AND CULTURALLY TAILORED TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR COMMUNITY AND CLINIC STAFF.

CANCER SURVIVORSHIP COUNCIL1. NATIONAL INDIGENOUS SURVIVORSHIP ADVISORY COUNCILTHE ADVISORY COUNCIL IS A SPACE FOR INDIGENOUS CANCER SURVIVORS TO SHARE, ENGAGE AND PROVIDE INPUT ON WORK BEING LED AND CREATED BY AICAF STAFF. THEIR KNOWLEDGE AND LIVED-EXPERIENCES HELP TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF INDIGENOUS SURVIVORS, CAREGIVERS, AND THEIR FAMILIES2. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO INDIGENOUS CANCER PATIENTS IN ACTIVE TREATMENTA ONE TIME FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIGENOUS CANCER PATIENTS IN ACTIVE TREATMENT FOR NON-MEDICAL EXPENSES, SO PATIENTS CAN FOCUS ON TREATMENT, SELF-CARE, AND HEALING.COMMUNITY OUTREACH & ENGAGEMENT1. INDIGENOUS PINKINDIGENOUS PINK IS A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT SUPPORTS TRIBAL CLINIC SYSTEMS IMPROVEMENT AND COMMUNITY HEALTH ENGAGEMENT TO INCREASE BREAST HEALTH AWARENESS, SCREENING AND ABNORMAL FOLLOW-UPS AND CULTURALLY TAILORED HEALTH EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE PREVENTION. IT ALSO HAS A SURVIVORSHIP COMPONENT. 2. POWWOW FOR HOPE : DANCING FOR LIFE, LOVE & HOPEPOWWOW FOR HOPE IS AN ANNUAL COMMUNITY HEALING EVENT AND FUNDRAISER TO HONOR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE FACED OR ARE CURRENTLY FACING CANCER BY CREATING A SPACE FOR HEALING. THE EVENT OFFERS LOVE AND SUPPORT TO ALL CANCER SURVIVORS AND CAREGIVERS AND PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CANCER PREVENTION AND RESOURCES.AMERICAN IDIAN FOOD SECURITYFOOD ASSISTANCE FOR COVID-19 RELEIF ON BEHALF OF THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES.