(Left to Right): Ronda Henry-Tillman, MD, ACC Board Chair; Tasha Tilghman-Bryant, C-Change; Cornelya Dorbin, ACC Executive Director
C-Change, chaired by former president George H. W. Bush, awarded the Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) its “2010 Exemplary State CCC Plan Implementation Award” on December 14, 2010.
This is ACC’s second win in three years.
The award is in recognition of a state comprehensive cancer control (CCC) coalition that has demonstrated progress on impacting the burden of cancer.
C-Change official Tasha Tilghman-Bryant traveled to Little Rock, Ark. to present the award to ACC at their Quarterly Meeting at the American Cancer Society located at 901 N. University. The ACC Quarterly Meeting is an opportunity for coalition membership to discuss the objectives of the Arkansas Cancer Plan, network with other cancer control professionals and build new skills.
“It was an inspiration, and shows why they (ACC) won,” Tilghman-Bryant said after seeing the coalition conduct cancer control business at their meeting.
Cornelya Dorbin, executive director of ACC, said the C-Change award recognizes the efforts of a very broad coalition comprised of over 800 individuals that represent health practitioners, public health officials, social workers, nonprofit activists, cancer survivors and their loved ones.
“We are so proud of the work that is being done here in Arkansas,” Dorbin said. “Cancer is a devastating disease that will effect one in every two men and one in every two women in this state. But we have an active and energetic cancer control network that’s taking the fight to cancer and will one day eliminate the cancer burden on Arkansas families.
“This award was earned by our membership in their daily implementation of the Arkansas Cancer Plan,” she said.
The development and implementation of state CCC plans has been a strategic priority of C-Change since its founding in 1998. To help foster the ongoing development and implementation of these stakeholder and data-driven CCC efforts, the C-Change Board of Directors annually awards high performing organizations and individuals.
ACC was recognized for activities that resulted from the Arkansas General Assembly’s $1.8 million funding for the Arkansas Cancer Plan. This funding was made available by the passage of the Tobacco Excise Tax of 2009. The coalition has been able to support the implementation of cancer control efforts through members and partners across the state and increase the reach and rigor of their evaluation efforts. Measurable successes include:
- Increased access to treatment for uninsured/underinsured low income patients through the provision of transportation vouchers.
- Increased breast cancer screening (275 patients) in underserved areas of the state by helping to fund a Mobile Mammography Unit.
- Increased breast cancer screening for uninsured, low income women (194 patients) in the northwest area of the state by helping to fund an additional mammography unit.
- Developed a Healthy Skin Syllabus for K-12 teachers including a toolkit to raise awareness of skin cancer. This Healthy Skin Syllabus is being used in schools throughout Arkansas. To date, 114 educators from 24 counties have been trained.
About ACC
The Arkansas Cancer Coalition (ACC) is a network of cancer control Partner Organizations working together to reduce, and ultimately eliminate, the burden of cancer for every person in the state.
The Coalition works to:
- Provide an overview of cancer control in Arkansas
- Strengthen & sustain the cancer control partnership and support network
- Provide and maintain a plan of goals and strategies—the Arkansas Cancer Plan
The Arkansas Cancer Plan
The Arkansas Cancer Plan serves as an outline for what can and should be done at the state and local levels for cancer prevention, detection and care efforts. It identifies activities for coordinated action by government, the private sector, the non-profit sector and Arkansas’ communities and people.
About C-Change
C-Change is comprised of the nation’s key cancer leaders from government, business, and nonprofit sectors. These cancer leaders share the vision of a future where cancer is prevented, detected early, and cured or is managed successfully as a chronic illness.
Former President George Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush are Co-chairs of C-Change; Senator Dianne Feinstein serves as Vice Chair.
The mission of C-Change is to eliminate cancer as a public health problem, at the earliest possible time, by leveraging the expertise and resources of our members.
