California Dialogue on Cancer

CCCCP Evaluation Report - Fiscal Year 2010-2011

(To download the entire report: click here.)

Executive Summary

California's Comprehensive Cancer Control Program convened an evaluation committee to evaluate specific areas of the statewide Comprehensive Cancer Control initiative for the fiscal year: June 29, 2010 - June 30, 2011.  This evaluation report focuses on the three components that make up the initiative: the partnership (California Dialogue on Cancer), the plan (Comprehensive Cancer Control in California, 2004) and the program (California Comprehensive Cancer Control Program).

Background

California received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2002 to establish California's Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (CCCCP) and the California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC).  CCCCP is housed under the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and is administered by the Public Health Institute.  The CCCCP provides leadership for, and coordination of, California's statewide comprehensive cancer control efforts.  Comprehensive cancer control is based on the idea that people and organizations working together to identify problems and develop solutions will lead to better use of limited resources and generation of new resources through new partnerships.

The California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC) is a dynamic coalition of cancer control leaders and organizations from throughout the state concerned with the cancer burden on the residents of California.  CDOC serves as the vehicle for comprehensive cancer control in California and was formed to help design and implement California's Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan.  The long-term goal of the program is to reduce the burden of cancer in California through the coordinated efforts of CDOC.

Findings at a Glance

PROGRAM - California Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (CCCCP)
The CDOC Disparities, Access to Care and Early Detection (DAD) Implementation Team's Access to Cancer Care Community Coalitions were evaluated as part of the CCCCP as support of some of their activities are a part of the CCCCP work plan.  Information on coalition activities extracted from reports and a leadership training indicate that the coalitions have accomplished several goals in continuing to address access to cancer care issues in their local communities.  The geographic reach of the coalitions has greatly enabled the coalitons to conduct a vast amount of work at the local level throughout the state.  This year, the work of the coalitions demonstrates their continuing contributions to comprehensive cancer control efforts in California.

PROGRAM - CCCCP Mini-Grant Program

The CCCCP Mini-Grant Program continues to successfully reach local communities throughout California on issues around colorectal, ovarian and skin cancers.  This year, 20 projects were funded a total of approximately $130,000 to conduct continuing medical education seminars, increase awareness about prevention, screening, early detection, symptom recognition, and address survivorship issues.

PARTNERSHIP - California Dialogue on Cancer (CDOC)

The overall results of a web-based survey administered to CDOC stakeholders indicated that the majority of respondents were engaged in CDOC efforts.  Specific areas of strength include but are not limited to more than half of stakeholders being engaged with coalition activities and being confident in the efficacy of coalition activities.  Other responses indicate that stakeholders would like more communication around coalition activities, roles and benefits of members.  Respondents also suggested a public awareness campaign to engage more cancer control stakeholders in coalition activities.

PLAN - Comprehensive Cancer Control in California, 2004

CDOC and the CCCCP have made significant progress in accomplishing selected goals and strategies outlined in Comprehensive Cancer Control in California, 2004.  However, some of the goals and objectives evaluated were not reached or able to be measured because they were highly optimistic or did not have baseline information available.  Recommendations were communicated early to program staff in regards to developing realistic and measurable goals as well as using valid resources to set baselines and develop objectives as the revision process coincided with the implementation of this evaluation.

Recommendations

PROGRAM
*Access to Cancer Cancer Community Coalitions
  1. CCCCP should improve communication with and among Access to Cancer Care Coalitions to ensure that objectives are in alignment with CDOC and the state cancer plan and to clarify CDOC expectations.
  2. CCCCP and CDOC should provide additional technical assistance and resources to Access to Cancer Care Coalitions to support implementation of objectives, including but not limited to financial, communication support, training, regular meetings with other coalitions, and staff support as necessary and available.
  3. The Access to Cancer Care Community Coalition annual final report template should be revised in order to more efficiently collect information for reporting progress.

*Additional Programs Mini-Grant Program

  1. Continue the disbursement of funds through the Mini-Grant Program as available.

PARTNERSHIP

  1. CDOC stakeholders should receive more communications regarding coalition decision making, structure and activities as well as stakeholder roles and benefits.
  2. The work of the coalition should include an emphasis on ensuring participation from all relevant stakeholders throughout the state including involving representatives from local communities.
  3. The coalition should develop a campaign to increase public awareness of its existence, purpose and activities.
  4. The coalition should hold additional meetings that involve stakeholder interaction and participation.

PLAN

  1. The revision process of California's new state cancer plan should ensure that objectives included are realistic and measurable.  In addition, resources to set baselines and develop objectives should guarantee data availability for evaluating progress.