SAN DIEGO–Jewish Family Service of San Diego (JFS) has been awarded $205,000 in grants by Susan G. Komen San Diego to support its Breast Cancer Case Management (BCCM), which offers free in-home services to individuals diagnosed with breast cancer.
In San Diego, six women a day are diagnosed with breast cancer. Many underserved breast cancer patients – particularly immigrants and/or native Spanish speakers – face social, cultural and linguistic barriers to entry or completion of the continuum of care, lacking sufficient income for treatment costs and basic needs including transportation, childcare, co-pays/deductibles, housing, food and medical insurance. The financial barriers can contribute to a lack of treatment adherence and morbidity rates in the underserved population.
Through its partnership with Susan G. Komen, JFS’s patient care managers provide low-income, uninsured and underserved breast cancer patients throughout San Diego County with clear guidance and individualized support, and coordinate care and transportation.
With the first grant of $155,000, JFS will provide treatment adherence assistance to more than 200 patients with the most critical needs. The funds will be allocated to complete patients’ needs assessments, create financial and transportation plans, provide financial aid and transportation assistance, and analyze the effectiveness of the program. In order to reduce barriers to breast health care and support services, a second grant of $50,000 will be used to conduct home visits, create service plans to address patients’ needs, provide referrals to additional resources and monitor progress through a continuum of care.
“At a time when energy should be directed toward medical care and healing, many patients spend their efforts locating and accessing help,” said JFS CEO Michael Hopkins. “The Susan G. Komen grant helps continue our efforts to provide effective assistance to underserved breast cancer patients, allowing them to complete their treatments and improve their quality of life.”
For more information about JFS’s Breast Cancer Case Management (BCCM) program, visit https://jfssd.org.
