Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Program (CCRCP) - The Connecticut (CT) Department of Public Health (DPH) is requesting $827,916 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to enhance the Connecticut Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP). This funding will support efforts to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, diagnostic services, and treatment referrals by implementing evidence-based interventions (EBIs) at partner clinics. Key program activities include (1) increasing CRC screening services to communities with low CRC rates, (2) providing high-quality, appropriate and timely CRC screening, diagnostics, case management, patient navigation, and treatment referral services, and (3) expanding existing partnerships with four health systems—Hartford Health Care (HHC),Yale New Haven Health (YNHH), Nuvance Health and Department of Corrections (DOC)—which currently encompass 24 hospitals, clinics, DOC facilities, and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). Additionally, three new health systems (Community Health Centers, Inc, Prospect Medical Holding and Trinity Health of New England) will be integrated over the five-year grant period. To maximize impact, CT will integrate the CRCCP into the Connecticut Early Detection and Prevention Program (CEDPP), which includes the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (CBCCEDP) and the Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN) Program. By leveraging CEDPP’s well-established infrastructure, seven major contracted health systems and their network partners will deliver CRCCP services, ensuring broad and efficient access to communities in need. CT will further enhance its efforts by utilizing its integrated network to (1) assess each partner clinic’s capacity and readiness to collect high-quality clinic data and implement evidence-based interventions (EBIs), (2) support the implementation of at least three multicomponent EBIs in primary care clinics serving populations with low CRC screening rates to improve clinic-level screening rates, (3) provide technical assistance and resources to partner clinics, (4) drive strategic policy, systems, and environmental changes to reduce the CRC burden, (5) collect and submit high-quality clinic-level CRC screening data (baseline and annual), and (6) enhance the dissemination and utilization of cancer data for state planning. By integrating these efforts, CT aims to expand access to screening and early detection, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing colorectal cancer disparities statewide. Program activities will focus on nine CT communities where CRC age-adjusted incidence rates from 2017 to 2021 were significantly higher than the state average, according to an analysis conducted by the CT Tumor Registry. These targeted communities include Bloomfield (males and both sexes combined); Bridgeport (both sexes combined); East Windsor (both sexes combined); Hartford (females, males and both sexes combined); Meriden (both sexes combined); North Branford (both sexes combined); Norwalk (females); Putnam (both sexes combined); and Waterbury (females, males and both sexes combined). Based on this analysis, CT DPH will implement EBIs in these communities, which are geographically dispersed across the state, to enhance CRC screening and early detection efforts. CT’s priority populations will be those experiencing the highest burden of CRC. To address disparities in morbidity, mortality, screening rates, and access to care, targeted intervention strategies will focus on residents who lack routine preventive health screenings and face barriers to healthcare services. A comprehensive assessment will be conducted to identify essential needs that impact individuals’ ability to access CRC screening, diagnosis, follow-up, and treatment services. These efforts aim to improve access for all CT residents, regardless of insurance status, with a particular emphasis on those who are not well connected to health care services.
