Community Outreach and Engagement

Community Outreach and Engagement

Grantmaking

Asako Chihaya teaches a cooking class at the Asian Health & Service Center in Portland, as part of a Tier 3 grant, Phase 2 of Asian Cancer Resource and Support Services (ACRSS).
Asako Chihaya teaches a cooking class at the Asian Health & Service Center in Portland, as part of a Tier 3 grant, Phase 2 of Asian Cancer Resource and Support Services (ACRSS). The grant provided funds for culturally and linguistically-specific support resources and services to Asian cancer patients and family members speaking Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and/or Vietnamese.

Grants fund projects from cancer prevention through survivorship

The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute created the Community Partnership Program to support the development of sustainable collaborations with Oregon communities to address community-identified cancer needs. Grants fund projects anywhere along the cancer continuum from prevention through survivorship. Projects range from the implementation of a community needs assessment about tobacco prevention to supporting the expansion of an existing cancer education program for elementary school students. Generally, proposals are accepted for submission twice per year, in January and July. Three tiers of grants are available to applicants to meet the differing needs of Oregon communities and to help applicants grow proposals into robust, sustainable programs.

Learn more about the three grant tiers.

The Community Partnership Program has awarded $4.8M to 183 projects

To date, the program has invested more than $6.4M in 183 projects across Oregon, which includes $4.8M in grant awards.  While over two-thirds of the program budget directly funds projects, about one-quarter goes toward funding grantee support that provides trainings on project design and evaluation, carries out program evaluation, and supports costs to bring grantees to an annual conference to share learnings. Less than 10% of the program budget is directed to administrative costs to support the grant submission platform, distribution of awards, and organizing the annual grantee conference. 

Overall, 84% of funded projects are new project concepts and 87% are first-time submissions. Focus areas include cancer prevention, survivorship and screening/early detection.
A blue square with white text that reads "Since 2014 60% have a focus on cancer prevention."
An orange square with white text that reads "Since 2014 28% Screening + Early Detection."
A green square with white text that reads "Since 2014 38% Cancer Survivorship."

Geographic and demographic reach

Funded projects have impacted all 36 Oregon counties, and funded organizations are located in 42 cities across the state. The program has reached 100,306 Oregonians since 2014, with 40% focusing exclusively on cancer issues in rural communities only, while an additional 41% include both rural and urban communities. 

View details of funded proposals and filter by project characteristics on our interactive map.

Community Partnership Program has funded organizations in 42 Oregon cities
The program has funded organizations located in the following cities: Albany, Aloha, Ashland, Astoria, Baker City, Beaverton, Bend, Boring, Burns, Coos Bay, Corvallis, Eugene, Forest Grove, Gresham, Hermiston, Hillsboro, Hood River, John Day, Klamath Falls, La Grande, La Pine, Lakeview, Madras, McMinnville, Medford, Milwaukie, Murphy, Myrtle Point, North Bend, Pendleton, Portland, Prineville, Roseburg, Salem, St. Helens, The Dalles, Tigard, Tillamook, Tualatin, West Linn, Winston and Woodburn.

Expand each section below to learn more

67 projects focus on a particular race or ethnicity
Of the funded projects, more than 65 have a focus on at least one of the following races or ethnicities. 
92 Community Partnership Program projects focus on at least one unique population
Of the funded projects, more than 90 have a focus on at least one specific target population. 
14 Community Partnership Program projects focus on a tribe based in Oregon
Of the funded projects, 14 have a focus on at least one federally designated tribe in Oregon.
120 projects focus on at lest one other cancer-related topic
Of the funded projects, 120 have a focus on one of the cancer-related topics shown above. 
58 Community Partnership Program proposals focus on specific cancers
Of the funded projects, 58 have a focus on one of cancers listed above.
81% of Community Partnership Program projects focus on rural areas
Of the funded projects, 40% address cancer issues exclusively in rural communities, while an additional 41% address both rural and urban communities and 19% focus exclusively on urban communities.

Addressing cancer-related health disparities

The Community Partnership Program highly encourages proposals that address cancer-related health disparities and increase equity for Oregon communities that have been historically disadvantaged and/or marginalized. By supporting communities in addressing cancer-related health disparities, including disparities related to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, geographic location and disability, the Community Partnership Program aims to help reduce the disproportionate impact of cancer. 

    Some Community Partnership Program-funded projects have taken steps to address cancer-related health disparities experienced by specific communities and populations.

    Klamath Tribal Health and Family Services

    A person walking in the woods

    Established a walking program in four communities in Klamath County aimed at reducing obesity and other risk factors for cancer.

    Virginia Garcia Memorial Foundation and Health Center

    Spanish language poster promoting Virginia Garcia's STOP Colorectal Cancer project

    Utilized culturally appropriate strategies to increase colorectal screening among low-income Latino/as who were receiving care at Virginia Garcia’s community health centers.

    Asian Health and Service Center

    Linda Paul,of the OHSU School of Nursing and faculty (left) waits as Tin Huynh (right), a Vietnamese speaking volunteer, interprets information to a Vietnamese client at the 2017 Asian Community Health Fair.

    Created a cancer resource center that provides culturally and linguistically appropriate education and support services to the Asian community in the Portland metro area.

    Special Calls

    The Community Partnership Program periodically offers Special Call funding opportunities to address specific community and/or cancer institute priorities. Each Special Call is unique in its focus area, number of grants available, and application/review process. 

    Learn about the most recent Special Call funding opportunity.

    Focus Description Year
    Cancer screening promotion Four grants awarded to create cancer-screening communication plans based on the NCI/NIH The Pink Book. 2022
    COVID-19 14 grants awarded to support community-driven projects related to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) over three priority areas: 1) COVID-19 and its intersection with cancer, 2) COVID-19 in relation to social determinants of health, or 3) Impacts of COVID-19 on populations disproportionately affected 2020
    Community Action Model Four grants awarded to support community organizations in increasing the awareness and acceptability of the HPV vaccine using a two-year, five step process resulting in policy, systems, and/or environmental changes. 2019
    Step It Up Survivors! Four grants awarded to implement evidence-based walking programs among cancer survivors, their friends and family. Results from this initiative were published in a 2020 issue of Preventing Chronic Disease. 2017
    Community physical activity promotion and healthy corner stores Four grants awarded to reduce obesity at the community level through implementation of one of two evidence-based approaches: 1) Improving healthy food offerings at corner stores, or 2) Promotion of physical activity at the community level 2016