The Mattapan Community Health Center lobby was bustling with families and doctors heading to and from appointments. Among them stood Dana-Farber Community Outreach Specialists Samantha Destin, MHA, and Anisa Nabily, MEd behind a table with information about breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer screening.
Many in the health center were in a rush, but Destin and Nabily had a knack for getting their attention. They had an asset on their side; Destin is bilingual and can speak Haitian Creole. The language forged an instant connection with many of the patients and families.
“I’m glad I’m able to speak to my folks about cancer screening,” says Destin, a member of the Community Health team who is originally from Haiti, where cancer education is less prevalent.
She and Nabily had been invited by local non-profit Hyde Park Food Pop-Up to raise awareness about cancer prevention, screening, and helpful Dana-Farber resources. To get conversations started, participants were invited to spin a wheel which prompted a question and the chance to earn a small prize.
“What’s a form of exercise to help you stay healthy?” Nabily asked a young girl. After thinking for a moment, the child giggled and performed a set of jumping jacks. Nabily rewarded her with a lip balm. Others were asked about the age when certain screening procedures started and rewarded similarly. All of them walked away with a little extra knowledge.
Community connections
Community Health tabling efforts like this one are ongoing in several neighborhoods that are disproportionately affected by the burden of cancer. In February, Bilingual Community Outreach Specialist Jenny Lee, MA, attended three Lunar New Year events around the Greater Boston area. Each day, she estimates that she spoke to more than 200 people in English, Mandarin, and Cantonese.
“I could feel the connection with my community,” she says, looking back on the week. “It’s clear we are having an impact with these conversations.”
Outreach specialists like Destin and Lee also design and run culturally informed education seminars – often in the language of impacted immigrant communities. Held in communal spaces like apartment buildings and churches, they cover subjects like human papilloma virus-related cancers, colorectal and lung cancer screening, and cancer prevention.
“On top of education, our goal is to show the community that Dana-Farber is here for everyone, regardless of neighborhood or language,” explains Tula Q. Mahl, MA, director of Community Health. “By reaching out directly to the communities that have been historically marginalized, we aim to address some of the cancer outcome disparities that exist in and around Boston.”
Reaching people where they are
Outreach specialists are just one way that Community Health reaches the broader Boston community.
The Mammography Van brings Dana-Farber technicians and educators directly to Boston neighborhoods and surrounding towns. “We hear all the time about how convenient our service is,” says van Program Manager, Tia Goodman, MS. “Sometimes, all you need is for screening to be just a little closer.”
In the warmer months, the Sun Safety Program follows a similar model, partnering with the Blum Family Resource Center Van to provide skin cancer screening and education. More stationary outreach efforts include a collaboration with Whittier Street Health Center that provides culturally informed mammography and tobacco cessation support.
“We know there are a variety of barriers to accessing cancer care,” says Sabrina Gonzalez, Community Health senior program manager. “So, we aim to support communities by meeting people where they are.”
Data-driven efforts
All of this is guided by an initiative called the Community Health Needs Assessment. Conducted every three years, this survey seeks to identify where resources are needed the most to improve outcomes. Led by Vice President of Community Health Magnolia Contreras, MSW, MBA, staff host focused discussions with patients, survivors, and caregivers about the challenges they face. Additional insights come from providers, organizational leaders, and residents. It’s a way to assess Community Health’s impact and the work that still needs to be done.
“We are consistently reviewing all our programs and asking ourselves, ‘How can we improve and make them more efficient?’” says Contreras. “Dana-Farber is a cancer hospital, first and foremost, but we know that our patients come to us with everything else going on in their lives and in their communities. We have a responsibility to help address those issues as well.”