Resources > Successful Programs > REACH 2010 Coalition
Last Updated: December 8, 2003
Name of Organization/Institution: REACH 2010 Coalition: Breast and Cervical Cancer; Serves Black women and other women of African descent
Keywords: Female Health; Patient Navigation
Description of best practice:The REACH 2010 coalition is a multi-faceted organization educating and mobilizing the community in an effort to create/increase access. A group of 6 specially-trained women’s health ambassadors (WHA) do outreach and education throughout the community (i.e. churches, schools, homes, etc.) around issues of breast and cervical cancer within the context of addressing racial and ethnic health disparities. A team of 8 case managers works at 7 area hospitals/community health centers providing client navigation, support and resources in areas of health (including physical, mental, social well-being). REACH 2010 serves women between the ages of 18 – 75 years old that are black Americans and of African descent, residents of Boston.
The WHA’s and case managers work closely together. WHA’s reach disenfranchised Black women and reach them via educational workshops, filtering them into primary care via case managers. Where case managers can engage them in primary care, follow pap/mammogram and refer to city services (i.e. transportation, childcare, insurance, etc.). Case manager and women’s health ambassadors are cross trained and participate as cohorts within the larger REACH 2010 coalition.
The Breast Friends Program of the Boston Public Health Commission was created to increase the awareness of the importance of breast cancer early detection, especially among African-American women. In existence since 1994, this program has a unique way of reaching neighborhood women through “Breast Friend Parties”. These breast health workshops provide a safe and supportive setting for women to talk about strategies to detect breast cancer at an early stage and learn where to seek help if necessary. These parties have been conducted in women’s homes, churches, schools and health centers.
This program is funded by federal, state and city government.
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