Since its establishment in 2002, the Connecticut Cancer Partnership has grown from a core group of five organizations to a broad and diverse coalition more than 300 strong, representing elements of the cancer community from across Connecticut. Highlights of the Partnership's history are given below.
1998
- The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) created a model framework for Comprehensive Cancer Control, aimed at delivering public health messages and services related to cancer more efficiently. The program was piloted in six states through 2000.
2002
- A Leadership Institute for New England state leaders in cancer control was held in Quincy, MA, sponsored by the CDC, American Cancer Society (ACS), and National Cancer Institute (NCI). Connecticut cancer control leaders that had collaborated in the past on cancer control—ACS, Connecticut Department of Public Health (DPH), University of Connecticut Health Center, Yale Cancer Center, and Connecticut State Medical Society-- attended the 2-day Institute. The leadership group agreed to support DPH’s application to the CDC for funding to begin the state’s comprehensive cancer planning initiative.
- In October, DPH was awarded a cooperative agreement from the CDC to begin cancer planning.
- The leadership group became founding members and formed a Core Committee, responsible for directing the planning process, defining and creating subcommittees and work groups, guiding assessment and evaluation processes, and expanding membership, using CDC’s building blocks.
2003
- Potential partners were invited by the Core Committee to a statewide conference on comprehensive cancer planning. More than 125 people attended, representing a racially, ethnically, and geographically diverse cross-section of stakeholders in cancer prevention and control from throughout state.
- Five subcommittees were formed – Prevention, Early Detection, Treatment, Survivorship, and Palliative & Hospice Care. Committees refined goals and formulated objectives. Issues that cut across all priority areas were discussed (health disparities, advocacy, communications, research, and data, surveillance, and evaluation).
- Two new committees were added: Governance, and Data, Surveillance, and Evaluation.
- First Partnership Annual Meeting was held in Hartford in June. Members reviewed committee plans, discussed goals and objectives, and chose those most ready for implementation.
2004
- Committees revised goals and objectives, added strategies, and finalized a 5-year plan.
- Core Committee members attended a Leadership Institute (Chicago) to plan implementation steps.
- The Partnership submitted the 5-year plan to CDC for implementation funding.
- An Advocacy Committee was established and set a legislative agenda.
- A Communications Committee was created to develop and implement a communications plan.
2005
- Five regional meetings were held to expand membership to key target audiences and areas of Connecticut not yet represented.
- CDC announced the award of implementation funding to Connecticut.
- The Second Partnership Annual Meeting was held in New Haven where Year One and long-term outcomes were discussed.
- A Partnership Board of Directors was elected to replace the Core Committee in the governance structure.
- Year One Implementation plans were announced, and committees met and reorganized to begin implementation.
- A Health Disparities Committee was formed.
2006
- The Connecticut Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan was published.
- The Plan and the Partnership were announced formally at a press conference held on February 22, where Governor Rell joined Board Chair Dr. Andrew Salner and endorsed the Plan.
- Two partners, Hartford Hospital and Yale Cancer Center, received grants from CDC to begin programs in prostate and skin cancer prevention.
- Connecticut Legislature appropriated $6.7 million to DPH for implementing priority projects of Plan.
- Eighty persons attended Partnership’s Community Comment Meeting to offer input on recommended programs for funding. Final recommendations were made by Partnership Committees, approved by Board and submitted to DPH.
- Communications tools were put in place, including Partnership logo, eNews (electronic newsletter), PowerPoint presentations and web site (www.ctcancerpartnership.org).
- “You’ve Got the Power”, a guide to cancer prevention, was developed with and for ethnically and racially underserved groups.
- Third Annual Partnership Meeting was held in September. Keynote speaker Dr. Elmer Huerta, Director of the Cancer Preventorium in Washington, D.C. discussed barriers that face underserved persons when seeking medical care. A panel of Partnership members discussed Partnership programs for underserved groups.
- Partnership members attended Leadership Institute (Quincy, Massachusetts) to plan implementation steps in specific cancer areas.
- Partnership presented 10 leadership awards to legislators and the Governor for work in supporting the cancer fight and the Partnership.
- Partnership’s logo won Bronze award from Advertising Club of Connecticut.
- “You’ve Got the Power” received a gold 2006 MarCom Creative Award in the category of Brochure/Public Awareness.
- The Partnership published Planning for Comprehensive Cancer Control in Connecticut.
2007
- Partnership and partners presented papers to the 600 registered attendees at 5th Annual New England Regional Minority Conference held at the Foxwoods Conference Center in April The conference was co-hosted by the Connecticut Department of Public Health and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.
- Funds appropriated by the Legislature in 2006 to implement the Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan were awarded to expand the Connecticut QuitLine Program. Nine organizations received community smoking cessation awards, through a request for proposals (RFP) process, to conduct individual or group counseling. $2 million was allocated to expand counseling on the Connecticut QuitLine and to provide free nicotine replacement therapy.
- Partnership’s Fourth Annual Meeting, held in September in Meriden, highlighted the ‘Power of Collaboration.” Keynote by Tom Kean, C-Change Director and comprehensive cancer control visionary. A panel session featured successful collaborative initiatives being carried out in Connecticut .
- Partnership funding request for Fiscal Years 2008-2009 was formulated by Partnership Committees, approved by Board, and presented to Legislature. However, the Legislature and Governor did not approve funding in the 2007 session for Partnership programming.
- Connecticut State Senator Donald Williams, President Pro-Tempore of the Connecticut Senate, was presented one of three C-Change Exemplary Comprehensive Cancer Control Leadership awards in Washington D.C. in October by former President George H.W. Bush and former First Lady Barbara Bush, for his efforts to reduce the number of cancers in Connecticut.
Page last updated 01/07/2008
Connecticut Cancer Partnership
538 Preston Avenue, P.O. Box 1004,
Meriden, CT 06450-1004
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