Partnered for Progress

The concept for Partnered for Progress, the Los Angeles, County Regional Cancer Detection Partnership, began via a series of community meetings to discuss the breast cancer and breast health needs of medically underserved women in Los Angeles County. The meetings were convened as a result of the passage of the Breast Cancer Act of 1993. Meeting participants were stakeholders in breast cancer and breast health, including health care professionals and organizations, breast cancer advocates and survivors, public health officials, community organizations and leaders, and concerned individuals.

With technical assistance and some funding from the State Department of Health and the University of California at Davis, these stakeholders began a community-based collective planning process to design a comprehensive breast cancer early detection program for medically underserved women. These stakeholders would later lay the foundation for the organizational structure of the Partnership and occupy key positions in the organization.

This planning process also set the stage for the application for funding for the Partnership program. Partnered for Progress was funded in 1995 and was one of initial fourteen (14) regional partnerships throughout the State to implement the Breast Cancer Early Detection Program (BCEDP) in Los Angeles County. The first contract had two phases: a community planning or assessment phase and an implementation phase. In December 1996, the Partnership was awarded a three (3) year contract beginning March 1997 to begin the evaluation phase of the project.

This contract was subsequently extended until February 2002. In March 2002, the Partnership was granted another three (3) year contract to continue its work in breast health and expand its scope to cervical health and healthy lifestyle, implementing the newly established Cancer Detection Programs: Every Woman Counts (CDP: EWC) locally. Subsequently, the Partnership was granted an extension through February 2007. In March 2007, Partnered for Progress was awarded a 27-month contract and became a Regional Contractor for the CDP: EWC. The new Regional Contractor model is less community driven and focuses on tailored education and provider technical assistance. The contract is now administered by the California Department of Public Health. The contract period is March 2007 through June 2009. This agreement has been extended through June 2010.

In 2008, Partnered for Progress and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) were awarded a California Breast Cancer Research Program (CBCRP) Community Research Collaborative (CRC) award. UCLA and Partnered for Progress are undertaking a CRC pilot project entitled Latina Breast Cancer Survivors: Our Experience to study survivorship issues for Latinas after treatment for breast cancer. The Partnership’s Latina Task Force is serving as the Advisory Committee for the study.

The Partnership continues to work at the community level to address the critical needs and issues of local underserved women who might otherwise not receive the care they need. In addition to establishing systems of care that address diagnostic, screening and follow-up services, the Partnership also facilitates the development of education, support, and treatment services. In essence, the Partnership is creating a community-based system of care that respects the needs of women and their families and nurtures community self-reliance.

Questions? Comments? Please contact us at info@partneredforprogress.org