January 25, 2006
Introductions and Welcoming
- All attendees were asked to give their name and the agency they represent.
Review of November 30th Meeting Minutes
- There was a motion by Lois Shohen-Brown to approve the minutes from the November 30, 2005 meeting. It was second by Cathy Hooper.
Coalition Events Update
- Fuzzy Friends Project with REBEL students – 12/05 - The students from REBEL made teddy bears at the Build-a-Bear Shop at the Hamilton Mall. They distributed them to the following coalition agencies for children with cancer, cancer patients, or children of cancer patients. The agencies who received bears were Gilda’s Club South Jersey, FACES, Shore Memorial Cancer Center, and Hope Community Cancer Center. Nancy Manderson wanted to recognize this wonderful program with a special “thank you” to Kim Burns and the REBEL students.
- Latino Health Coalition – January 22 – Nancy Manderson had participated in this event as a representative of the NJ CEED Program. She stated what a great outreach this was to the African-American and Latino community. Tasha Rodriquez, AtlantiCare, was the coordinator of this event.
- Smokeless Sunday – On February 12, the coalition will be participating in this program which is sponsored by the CAT Coalition. This day will focus on helping people to make the healthy decision to quit smoking. Annie Valerio stated that she was interested in this program since she is working along with 20 churches in Atlantic County for health education. Nancy Manderson gave her Kathy Harvey’s phone number. Annie has a parish nursing network meeting and would like to mention the event at her meeting.
NJ CEED Report
- Marge Scanny gave a report on the New Jersey Cancer Education and Early Detection program outreach efforts. She showed the new two-year calendar which was just finished. The calendar features patients who received screening and treatment through the NJ CEED program. Marge also mentioned the release of a new DVD in Spanish about cervical cancer. Calendars and DVDs were available for any agency who wanted copies.
- Marge stated that the Barbershop Program is still on hold until we hear from the CEED office or Prostate Net about training for the shop owners.
Coalition Goals
There was a review of the coalition goals. Nancy Manderson read them aloud and mentioned that the committees that were formed where focusing on meeting the coalition goals when planning their educational outreach.
Committees for 2006
- Professional/Community Education – Marge Scanny, chairperson
- Website Development
- Healthy Lifestyle Events – Antoinette Wood and Suzy Santay, co-chairpersons
- Advocacy – Marian Morrison, chairperson
- Palliative Care
- Four of the five committees held their first meetings during the month of January.
- Nancy Manderson passed sign-up sheets around the table for those people who wanted to be part of a specific committee but did not have a chance to sign-up at the November meeting.
Committee Reports
Professional/Community Education Committee – Nancy Manderson reported on the January 5th meeting.
- The focus for the professional component of this committee would be the General Practice physicians and Advance Practice Nurses. Upon review of the county’s Needs Assessment Report Summary Fact Sheet, it was determined that the incident rate for cervical cancer is higher in Atlantic County than in the state findings so the committee should focus on a program about cervical cancer and the importance of the pap screening.
- Marge Scanny is working the University of PA Cancer Network to get CME’s for this program.
- Nancy Manderson is checking for a location for an evening dinner event.
- Coalition agencies will be asked to participate by having exhibit tables.
- A speaker from the N J Office of Cancer Control and Prevention will be obtained to address cancer screenings guidelines.
Community Education
- Based upon the coalition goals, it was suggested that the committee consider an outreach event on educating the public about utilizing their health insurance and to inform the uninsured what is available to them.
- A featured speaker will be scheduled. Coalition member agencies will have exhibit tables and health screenings will be offered.
Website Development
- Angela Bailey from Shore Connection spoke to the group regarding the updates that have been made to the website.
- Two agencies have been linked and they are Shore Memorial Hospital and Tilton Fitness. Angela asked that anyone interested in linking to the site should just complete the information on the link-up form and send it to her.
- A Membership/Goals heading is now on the home page. In the future, a listing of all agency members will be included. If you want your agency listed please add it to the membership listing in your meeting packet and return to Nancy Manderson. If you do not want your agency listed just notify Nancy.
- All meeting and event dates will be added to the home page. If you have an event that you want included please send the information via e-mail to Nancy Manderson. Mom’s QuitConnection has already sent the first event listing
- In the future, we are planning to add photos to the site as well as an event photo page.
- We also want to add information on “How to Become a Coalition Member”.
Healthy Lifestyle Events – Report provided by Antoinette Wood, co-chairperson
- The first meeting was held on Wednesday, January 18th at the Shore Memorial Cancer Center.
- The committee identified the communities they are trying to reach.
- Committee members will reach out to other agencies or groups who have already worked on the same or similar projects.
- Nancy Manderson is working with Shari Short from Fox Chase Cancer to map the African-American community in Atlantic County.
- The Committee will connect to groups or individuals who can help us move forward in delivering our message to the community. Antoinette Wood will contact Dr. Bob Previtie regarding his school nutrition education program.
- The committee will be “brainstorming” for the best ways to deliver our ideas to the community.
Advocacy – Report provided by Marian Morrison, chairperson
- The overall consensus was that the committee members had very little knowledge of advocacy and lobbying of the legislators.
- Marian explained that as a coalition we can educate the legislators but cannot directly lobby because we receive state funds.
- To begin any advocacy process we need to select our issues. Advocating for our issues should coincide with the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
- Grassroots work can be done through e-mails and phone calls from local residents.
- We also need to plan our strategies and tactics. This can begin with arranging appointments to see Assemblymen Frank Blee, Jim Whalen and Senator Bill Gormley.
- Marian handed out copies of the bill that have been introduced and are being tracked.
- This committee will be taking a trip to the State House in Trenton to share in the experience of the legislative process.
Palliative Care
- To date, there was only one person who signed up for this committee. Nancy Manderson encouraged anyone interested in this committee to please sign up today.
Nancy Manderson mentioned that the coalition meetings are being held quarterly. A sheet with meeting dates was included in the packet. Any agency wishing to host a meeting should contact Nancy.
Nancy Manderson introduced Susan Sanna from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, Office of Cancer Control and Prevention.
- Ms Sanna gave a review of the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.
- Dr. Jacobs and Dr. Baskies have been reappointed by the new governor.
- Grant period ends on June 30th.
- State currently reviewing the CDC grant.
- Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan Grant ends June 30, 2007.
- The County Fact Sheets are being translated into Spanish.
- The Office of Cancer Control newsletter is available on the internet the end of January.
- The Clean Indoor Air Act was passed.
- It is now a law that a Cancer Task Force must exist in the state.
- Burlington, Gloucester and Camden Counties are doing a tri-county professional education event in the spring, April 27.
- Palliation workgroup will be held in Hackensack on May 22.
- Dr. David Letterman is working to have a dentist represented on each county coalition.
- On May 24th the will be an HPV Public Policy Forum on vaccination. Merck is now available to speak on the vaccine.
Sara Roy from the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, NJ CEED Program was introduced.
- Sara mentioned that on May 15 there will be a Healthy Women’s Summit at Brookdale Community College.
Networking- Agency Presentation
- Debbie VanSant – American Heart Association
- Ben Mount – Atlantic County Division of Public Health
Open Discussion
The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2006 at 10 AM at the Shore Memorial Cancer Center conference room.
Participants in Attendance:
Ben Mount - Atlantic County Division of Public Health
Marge Scanny - NJ CEED – Shore Memorial Cancer Center
Nancy Manderson - Coalition Coordinator
Jaclyn Weeks - Wellness Department, Shore Memorial Hospital
Erin McAllister - Gilda’s Club of South Jersey
Nicole Milan-Tyner - Gilda’s Club of South Jersey
Angela Bailey - Shore Connection
Debbie VanSant - American Heart Association
Isabelle Mosca - FACES Autism Support
Shirley Gash - Shirley Mae Breast Cancer Assist. Fund
Claire Brown - Atlanticare Regional Medical Center
Kathe Bagnato, ATC - Atlanticare Health Services
Cathy Hooper - Samaritan Hospice
Stan Lipoff - Shore Memorial Cancer Center
Sherry Finegan - Linwood City Hall
Pamela Knight - Atlanticare
Mary Kubiak - Alzheimer’s Association
Lina DeCrescenso - Atlantic County Health Department
Sue Rush - Heartland
Rita Harris - EHT and Pleasantville Family Centers
Allie Valerio - Atlanticare
Joanne Gill - Hope Community Cancer Center
Susan Sanna - Dept of Health and Senior Services
Suzanne Hyde - Bacharach Institute
Elizabeth Ritter - Alzheimer’s Association
Virginia Gormley - Atlanticare Foundation
Sara Roy - Department of Health and Senior Services
Marge Scanny - NJ CEED and Shore Memorial Cancer Center
Lois Shohen-Brown - Shore Memorial Cancer Support Group
Chuck Burton - Family Service Association
Debbie VanSant - American Heart Association