The University of Minnesota Cancer Center strives to build community relationships to spread the message of cancer education and prevention. An example is the Pastors' Wives Project. Supported by the Minnesota Cancer Alliance and funded by the Cancer Center and American Cancer Society, the Pastors' Wives Project is a creative outreach and education program that bridges health disparity gaps by providing support and resources to African-American women. Benita Robinson coordinates the project.

As a pastor's wife, Benita Robinson concluded that an effective way to reach a group of people is through the church. "I was trying to think of a new way to reach groups of African-American woman to let them know about the need for breast and cervical cancer screening," she says. "I realized that working through a congregation was a way to target a group of woman who feel comfortable together. It's a great way to spread the message of health."

Robinson approached a group of women who, like her, are pastors' wives and they agreed to be facilitators for the project. On April 29, 2006, 16 women attended the first session of the Pastors' Wives Project to learn more about breast and cervical cancer. The number of women attending has been increasing with each session.

Women hear about the project through their church friends, invitations, and posters. The sessions are conducted in a party-like setting with light food and tablecloths aimed at creating a relaxed atmosphere to discuss a personal topic. Attendees receive an incentive to listen — each woman is given a $10 Cub Foods gift voucher.

"We educate women in a familiar setting, provide new information, and reduce the barriers for screening by giving them resource tools . . . I will even set up the appointment for them, find maps or bus tokens, and follow up with them. This Pastors' Wives Project gives a personal touch to cancer education."
— Benita Robinson

Robinson gives a talk on the whole spectrum of women's health following the American Cancer Society's friend-to-friend model for breast cancer. She also provides information on cervical cancer. Gay Lynn Richards, from the Minnesota Department of Health's Sage Screening Program, accompanies Robinson to provide additional health information and answer questions. Women are encouraged to register for breast and cervical cancer screening. The large group then breaks up to form smaller groups to discuss myths and facts.

"We educate women in a familiar setting, provide new information, and reduce the barriers for screening by giving them resource tools," says Robinson. "I will even set up the appointment for them, find maps or bus tokens, and follow up with them. This Pastors' Wives Project gives a personal touch to cancer education."

Marva Bohen, R.N., outreach director for the Cancer Center, says the Cancer Center's support of the Pastors' Wives Project forges relationships that can help influence behavior changes, improve chances of prevention, and empower people to take advantage of the best resources available on cancer.

Reaching out to the community to sponsor education programs about cancer is part of the mission of the University of Minnesota Cancer Center. Information about cancer also maybe obtained from the Cancer Center's Web site or by contacting the Information Line at ccinfo@umn.edu, 612-624-2620 or toll-free in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Dakotas at 1-888-CANCER MN (1-888-226-2376).

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This article was originally published in the University of Minnesota Cancer Center 2006 Annual Report (PDF).