Funding Priorities

Due to the growing breast cancer disparity, the Affiliate has established that programs/projects that address breast health disparities identified in the Community Profile among underserved groups will be given priority in each funding cycle. In order to address breast health disparities, the Affiliate will support only breast health navigation, breast screening and diagnostic services, breast cancer treatment, and breast cancer treatment support programs.

The following needs have been identified:

• • Projects must ensure seamless access and transition through the Breast Cancer Continuum of Care for underserved populations experiencing disparities in breast cancer incidence and mortality.
• • Projects must produce education/outreach activities that result in clinical outcomes as shown in the Continuum of Care (i.e. Navigator programs).
• • As identified in the 2011 Community Profile Report, special consideration geographic areas will be given to Cook and DuPage Counties, as they have been found to be statistically underserved.
• • As identified in the 2011 Community Profile Report, special consideration populations will be given to African American and Hispanic, as they have been found to be statistically underserved.

2013-2014 Komen Chicago Grants Cycle

Komen Chicagoland seeks to ensure that all people, regardless of race, income, geographic location, sexual orientation, or insurance status, have access to a full Breast Cancer Continuum of Care. The Breast Cancer Continuum of Care ensures that all individuals have access to outreach programs teaching the facts of breast health and navigating them to screening, and if diagnosed, to quality to receive effective treatment and treatment support services. Komen Chicago supports this by funding an array of breast health and breast cancer services that together create a seamless Breast Cancer Continuum of Care for the medically underserved in our 5-County service area:

1. Cook County
2. DuPage County
3. Kane County
4. Lake County
5. McHenry County

Community Profile

The Chicagoland Area Affiliate of Susan G. Komen conducts a Community Profile, also called a community needs assessment, specifically looking at breast health and breast cancer in our five county service area. The Community Profile is done every two years and includes demographics, breast health statistics, an assessment of breast health services, and a survey of community beliefs about breast health and access to care. The Community Profile helps establish priorities that guide grant distributions and improve educational programs of the Komen Chicagoland Affiliate. The Community Profile facilitates a better understanding of breast health services for the five county service area by identifying and prioritizing the areas of most need.

2011 Community Profile
2011 Community Profile Snapshot

2011 Community Profile Resulting Priorities

• Continue coalition with Komen statewide Illinois affiliates to advance public policy agenda.
• Target African American Women in Cook County to reduce the breast health mortality disparity through strengthening and building capacity of existing breast health providers and grantees. 
• Target Hispanic and African American Women in DuPage County through strengthening and building capacity of existing breast health providers and grantees.
• Expand education and outreach messaging from breast self awareness to incorporate legal rights, patient rights and access to available services
• Strengthen the continuum of breast health and breast cancer care services in our 5-county service area to allow individuals to have total access to programs and services.

Demographics

The service area of the Affiliate includes Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake and McHenry Counties in Illinois.
 
A minimum of 25 percent of the net income from each domestic Affiliate Race supports the National Komen for the Cure Grant Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific conferences around the world.  Up to 75 percent of the net income from each domestic Affiliate stays in the local community of fund breast health education, screening and treatment projects. Up to 75 percent of Komen Chicago’s net income funds breast health and breast cancer navigation, screening and diagnostics, treatment, and treatment support projects in the 5 county service area.