Current Grant Recipients

Columbia St. Mary’s Foundation
CSM Mammography Mobile Outreach Project (MMOP)

The CSM Mammography Mobile Outreach Project will target un-/underinsured women in Milwaukee and Ozaukee County, providing them with free screening mammograms, diagnostic services and assistance with treatment. The project will provide screenings for 400 women, increase breast cancer awareness, promote proactive care and improve breast cancer survival rates through early detection. The project will use CSM's digital mammography coach in areas familiar, convenient and accessible to women. This will eliminate barriers to screening. An all-woman team of registered radiological technicians will staff the mobile until.  CSM will partner with and receive referrals from community partners - churches, WI Well Woman program, Health departments and community nurses.  A Mammography Outreach Coordinator will work with community partners and reach out to women who are otherwise unlikely to be screened, assure that women are ready for breast health services and ensure efficient use of the coach. She will schedule screening events, determine insurance coverage, help women enroll in the WI Well Woman Program and follow up to link women with support and diagnostic care.

Milwaukee Health Services, Inc.
Screen Out Cancer in Time (SOC-IT)

It is widely recognized that breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and that while this devastating disease is less likely to strike African American women, African American women have the highest death rate of all racial and ethnic groups. In its Community Profile, the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure identified Milwaukee County as one of 3 key target areas. With a goal of increasing access to screening mammograms for its Milwaukee County, primarily African American user base, MHSI’s SOC-IT program aim fits squarely within Komen’s number one priority—“early detection through increased breast cancer screening”. Milwaukee Health Services, Inc. will couple intense, targeted outreach efforts with the ability to offer free screening mammography services to 220 uninsured or underinsured women ages 40 to 74. Younger women will receive servicers if they fall within National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Women 40-44 will be able to receive the services every one to two years as recommended by Komen. Women with positive findings will be referred to safety net funding sources.

Milwaukee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Community Center
LGBT Breast Health Project (LGBT BHP)

The Milwaukee Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center targets hard to reach lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who are at-risk for breast cancer in SE Wisconsin. Through a multi-component, evidence-based approach, the Center will conduct outreach through one-on-one volunteer Health Promoters, educational sessions, social events, health fairs and interactive tabling at large community events, such as PrideFest. 3,000 individuals will receive outreach education. Population-specific educational materials will be used that are meaningful and medically accurate, including for transgender individuals. We will organize a gala transgender event, to promote breast health in this extremely difficult to reach population. Through these education and outreach efforts and with Volunteer Health Promoters, 200 LGBT people will be referred for appropriate breast cancer screenings. 150 LGBT people will receive breast cancer screenings and case management. 100% of people referred for clinical breast exams or mammograms will be connected with resources. People needing diagnostic or treatment care will be provided case management and support.

ProHealth Care Oconomowoc and Waukesha Memorial Hospitals
Breast Health Care Education and Screening

As the number of uninsured individuals continues to grow throughout our community, health care access obstacles continue. Many underserved women lack access to preventive breast health care. Our proposal seeks to collaborate with the Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP), ProHealth Center for Breast Care, Waukesha Family Practice Center, St. Joseph Medical-Dental Clinic, Lake Area Free Clinic, and our community-based nursing department to accept referrals to facilitate delivery of effective breast health services to Caucasian and Hispanic underserved and uninsured women in Waukesha and Jefferson counties.  Our approach will be two-pronged. We will utilize a bilingual health promoter (HP) to provide breast health education and outreach to the target populations, encouraging women to have clinical breast exams (CBE) and mammograms. A bilingual RN will facilitate access to clinical screenings (CBE, mammography, ultrasound, etc.), provide individual education, and case manage clients with positive results to obtain needed services. The nurse will provide support throughout the cancer care continuum. The HP and the RN will be trained using a breast health.

Greater Racine Mammogram Coalition
WI Well Woman Program of Racine County
Health Care Network, Inc.
Wheaton Franciscan – All Saints
Jane Cremer Foundation
Aurora Health Center

The Greater Racine Mammogram Coalition formed in response to extensive need in Racine County. The 2009 Komen Community Profile reported that more than 44% of Racine women age 40 and up had not received mammograms in the past year. Racine County had the second highest incidence of breast cancer and the third highest mortality rate overall. Almost 10% of Racine County women ages 18 – 64 are uninsured. Education and screening are powerful weapons in the war against breast cancer, thus the mission of the GRMC is to increase breast cancer screening among all populations in Racine County. Our goal is to provide outreach/education for 400 women and breast cancer screening for 615 women, as well as follow-up diagnostic tests as indicated. Clients identified and screened last year will be targeted for annual screening based on family history and recommended follow-up guidelines. Services of GRMC are not duplicated; each affiliate targets a different population group and utilizes a different approach. Partners include: WI Well Woman Program of Racine County, Health Care Network, Inc. WFH – All Saints, Jane Cremer Foundation and Aurora Health Center.

Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare – St. Francis
Su Salud/Your Health

Su Salud/Your Health is an innovative breast health care initiative that has served more than 1,200 women in Milwaukee since 2004.  The program focuses on Hispanic women with limited English proficiency that are traditionally underserved.  The program is comprised on culturally competent, bilingual educational presentations, comprehensive patient services and breast cancer screenings.  The program's goal for 2010-11 is to educate 310 women about the importance of breast health care, provide 200 women with mammograms and/or clinical breast exams and provide cultural companion services to program participants.  We seek to create understanding, access and a compassionate support system for women who have traditionally been reluctant to engage in or who are otherwise excluded from life-saving breast cancer screenings.  Barriers to breast care include language, lack of knowledge, lack of insurance, financial hardship, cultural beliefs and fear of large institutions.  Su Salud provides effective, multi-disciplinary strategies to remove these barriers, including: education, companion services and breast health care.

Wheaton Franciscan – St. Joseph
African American Breast Health Initiative

The new African American Breast Health Initiative at Wheaton Franciscan - St. Joseph will be conducted in partnership with the successful Su Salud/Your Health program at St. Francis.  The initiative will focus on providing culturally competent educational outreach efforts, breast cancer screenings, comprehensive patient navigation services and follow-up medical care.  The initiative will ensure that underserved African American women will have full access to the continuum of care cycle for breast cancer prevention, detection and treatment.  The program's main goals for 2011 will be educate 150 low income African American women about breast cancer and the importance of consistent breast health care; and provide mammograms and/or clinical breast exams and navigation services to 120 African American women.  This project will focus specifically on underserved African American women and will provide effective, multi-disciplinary strategies to remove barriers and increase rates of breast cancer screening and early detection.

Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation
Southeast Wisconsin Breast Health Assistance Fund

The Southeast Wisconsin Breast Health Assistance Fund provides financial assistance to uninsured and underinsured individuals in Southeast Wisconsin who are at or below 400% of the federal poverty level.  Assistance up to $5,000 is provided for screening and diagnostic breast health services (i.e., mammograms, clinical breast exams, diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds and biopsies). Applicants must complete an application form and be approved prior to obtaining services. Examples of related items covered by this fund are: payment of insurance deductibles/co-pays related to allowable breast services; COBRA and HIRSP premiums; transportation to treatment; childcare during treatment; and some prescriptions related to breast health. Residents of the Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington, and Waukesha counties are eligible.  Men and women of any age may apply. As applications are received, they are reviewed and processed within one business week. Applicants are then notified of the outcome. Applicants determined to be ineligible for the fund are referred to other resources for assistance. Payments are made to service providers or agencies.