Urban Cancer Solutions
About Urban Cancer Solutions
In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention awarded the American Indian Cancer Foundation (AICAF) the National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, launching Urban Cancer Solutions (UCS). The goal of the UCS program, similar to AICAF, aims to reduce cancer burdens among urban, Native-serving clinics across the nation through raising awareness of cancer burdens and solutions, promoting health system changes, and increasing availability of reliable cancer data.
Cancer Focus
UCS focuses on cancer topics that cover prevention, early detection, and survivor support through the following cancer focus areas:
- Cancer data
- Cancer survivorship
- Colorectal cancer screening
- Commercial tobacco cessation
- Health equity
- Hepatitis C virus screening
- Human Papillomavirus immunization
- Liver cancer
- Lung cancer
Tailored Services
UCS seeks to advance the cancer control capacity of urban clinics through training, culturally-tailored resource development, and health system changes.
Training
- Training and webinars with subject matter experts on cancer prevention, screening, and survivorship best practices
Culturally-tailored resources
- Cancer education materials
- Media tools and resources
- Comprehensive cancer control plan
Quality improvement strategies
- Evidence-based intervention strategies
- Process mapping facilitation
- Creation of individual policy templates
Survivorship
At the heart of AICAF and the UCS program, is our survivors. Within the UCS program, AICAF is in the process of expanding services for survivors, caregivers, and their families. In the preliminary stages, UCS is focused on engaging clinics in discussions on clinic activities around survivorship. The discussions help the UCS team outline ways to support clinics by providing technical assistance. UCS is also working to implement survivorship care plans.
Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan
The Cancer Plan is a document that supports the goals and objectives of addressing the cancer burdens for Indigenous relatives in our urban Indian communities. These goals and objectives cover the cancer continuum.
This document is the first of its kind for the national urban Indian population. The Cancer Plan is considered a living document, evolving as more data becomes available, and as our communities grow and change.
Clinic Partners
The UCS program has partnered with four urban clinics to work on projects related to the focus areas.
Colorectal Cancer Projects
Commercial Tobacco Cessation Projects
To learn more about Urban Cancer Solutions or get involved in our program, please contact the Cancer Equity Team at health@aicaf.org.
*Note: The Center for Disease Control and Prevention also awarded AICAF the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. If you are interested in the increasing breast and cervical cancer screening rates, please visit the Screen Our Circle Program.