Crook County receives grant to boost HPV vaccinations
The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine can prevent six different types of cancer, but only 34 percent of Crook County adolescents are up to date on their HPV vaccine. A new grant-funded program aims to boost those numbers and reduce the risk of related cancers.
On March 25, the Crook County Health Department applied for an OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program grant to help reduce HPV-related cancers by increasing awareness of the HPV vaccine among Crook County adolescents and parents.
As of August 1, the county was one of four applicants awarded $100,000 over the course of two years.
How the project will reduce HPV-related cancers in Crook County
The project utilizes the Community Action Model (CAM), a community-driven framework used to enhance the skills and resources required to plan, implement, and evaluate health-related policies and actions.
The co-director of the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program, Jackilen Shannon, explains, “The goal is that each program results in policy, systems and/or environmental changes, which can have a larger impact on improving public health than a single project and/or organization.”
The CAM framework is proven effective through research and has initiated successful community drive policy to address tobacco-related health disparities in San Francisco. The community-based model allows the department to collaborate with community leaders who are passionate and determined to lower HPV related cancers by improving HPV vaccination rates.
“We know that HPV can cause six types of cancer, and the vaccine can prevent up to 90% of those cancers, so the work these four projects are undertaking is of critical importance to the health of Oregonians,” Shannon says.
Recruiting Community Leaders
Over the next month, Crook County Health Department will be recruiting six community leaders–both youth and adults — who are passionate about lowering cancer rates in Crook County and can commit to a two-year project. The community leaders will receive a stipend for their participation, and will also receive experience and training in public health, research, public speaking, how to create community-wide projects, and community outreach.
To Learn More:
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute Community Partnership Program website: https://www.ohsu.edu/knight-cancer-institute/community-partnership-program-grants OHSU press release: https://news.ohsu.edu/2019/07/31/ohsu-funds-four-projects-across-the-state-to-increase-hpv-vaccination-rates The Community Action Model: A Community-Driven Model Designed to Address Disparities in Health: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449228/ Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination & Cancer Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/index.html
For more Information and general questions contact:
Katie Walsh
Project Coordinator
541-447-3260
Katie Plumb
Prevention & Health Promotion Supervisor
541-447-3260
