Maine Cancer Foundation announces $551K in grants to improve patient access
Photo / Courtesy of Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine
Maine Cancer Foundation awarded $550, 840 grants to four organizations including the Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine in Norway, shown here.
As a projected 10,000 Mainers are diagnosed with cancer this year, the Maine Cancer Foundation has awarded $550,840 in grants to four organizations with initiatives to help cancer patients navigate the health care system.
The three-year grants will develop and support cancer patient navigation programs across the state. Navigators help patients in many ways, from accessing the best care, to identifying financial support and other resources.
Navigators can also play an important role in accessing cancer screenings, making sure patients know what screenings they may need and helping to address any barriers.
To ensure Mainers have the best access to cancer screening, treatment and survivorship care, Maine Cancer Foundation has invested over $3.1 million in the past decade to better understand and improve cancer patient navigation.
“Hearing the words ‘You have cancer’ has a profound impact on an individual, their family, and their entire community. Cancer patient navigators are there to help lessen the burden,” said Katelyn Michaud, the foundation's director of programming.
The Falmouth-based nonprofit, led by Executive Director Ray Ruby, is on track to award over $2.5 million in grants across the state this year towards programs supporting prevention, early detection and improved outcomes statewide.
Grant recipients and amounts
The most recent MCF grant recipients, projects and amounts are as follows:
- Beth C. Wright Cancer Resource Center — Downeast Cancer Patient Navigation Across the Continuum of Care: $164,000 to implement a patient-centered cancer navigation system in Washington and Hancock counties.
- Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine — Cancer Resource Navigator: $102,500 to boost patient navigation and social work capacity for cancer patients, build a volunteer program, and launch an educational campaign.
- Maine Primary Care Association — Patient Navigation: A Pathway for Improving Patient Outcomes: $164,340 to enhance patient navigation services across community health centers in Maine. The group is partnering on the initiative with the Maine Medical Association Center for Quality Improvement.
- MaineHealth, doing business as Maine Medical Center — Cancer Genetic Patient Navigation: $123,000 to improve access to cancer genetic risk assessment and counseling in Maine’s midcoast region.
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