National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program - Every Woman Counts Program - California is the most populous state in the nation, the third largest geographically, and one of the most diverse culturally, ethnically, and racially. The size of California, cost of living, and ethnic and linguistic diversity create challenges to accessing breast and/or cervical screenings and diagnostics, such as the inability to afford health care, poor and unreliable public transportation, limited availability of culturally competent medical providers, and/or the lack of medical providers and specialists in rural areas. As a result, many California women are having challenges accessing and receiving timely screenings and diagnostic services. The Every Woman Counts (EWC) program’s mission is to mitigate the devastating medical, emotional, and financial effects of breast and cervical cancer, and reduce health disparities for medically underserved, low-income individuals. During this grant period, EWC will execute the five NBCCEDP strategies by: ensuring the program is fully staffed, utilizing data to inform program planning, working with current partners, and initiating new collaborations; implementing evidence-based interventions with clinics that have low screening rates, delivering quality breast and cervical cancer screenings administered through a statewide network of providers, and evaluating program outcomes. If awarded, by the end of this grant cycle, EWC will have increased the number of women screened for breast and cervical cancer, and achieved the long term outcomes of decreasing cancer incidence, morbidity, and mortality and reducing cancer disparities in California.
