CANCER ACTION COUNCILS
Michigan Cancer HealthLink is a statewide network created to build research capacity in diverse communities. HealthLink brings together community members and cancer researchers to develop research ideas as well as educational and service-based programs. If community members and researchers work together, targeted research and programming can be developed to improve a wide range of cancer outcomes in our area.
At the heart of Michigan Cancer HealthLink are the Cancer Action Councils (CACs): groups of community members and leaders who use their local knowledge to improve the lives of cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers in their communities.
Cancer Actions Councils (CACs) are groups made up of community members and representatives from community-based organizations who apply their knowledge about local cancer issues to improving the lives of cancer patients, survivors, and care givers in their communities. CAC members are actively engaged in their communities and are working to create healthier neighborhoods.
LGBT CAC
Detroit LGBT CAC is working on a caregiving project as it relates to the LGBTQ community.
ACCESS – Dearborn CAC
ACCESS Community CAC is working on project to interview the Arabic community about the subject of Financial Toxicity of Cancer in their community.
Metro Flint/Genesee County CAC
Ebenezer Ministries/Flint/ Genesee County CAC, is in their second year and is currently working on survey questions and possible focus group around COVID-19 and cancer in the Flint community.
Black Men's CAC
Black Men’s CAC is currently in their first year which means they are completing the Building Your Capacity Curriculum, which teaches lay populations about research. They will also develop research questions based on their cancer concerns and will conduct 2 Town Hall meetings regarding their future research direction.
CONNER CREEK
Conner Creek just completed a Focus Group on caregiving and working on a funded intervention on cancer survivorship and caregiving.
Western Wayne CAC
Western Wayne is in their 4th year and will be working with researcher Dr. Jannel Allen, as she seeks to develop a project around Colorectal Cancer Screening.
Macomb County CAC
Mt Clemens/Macomb County CAC, is in their second year and are working on sharing their research questions with the community. They also want to develop cancer resource guide for the Macomb County community.
Oakland COunty CAC
Oakland County CAC is meeting for the second year and are preparing to share their research questions with the Oakland County Community. They are interested in developing a cancer patient prompt list.
What do CACs do?
- Learn more about the ways in which cancer affects communities in Detroit and Wayne County
- Participate in conversations with cancer researchers about research that can benefit Detroit and Wayne County
- Gain skills in partnering with cancer researchers to develop and fund projects and programs
- Address cancer-related health needs in their communities
- Set priorities for future cancer care research and funding
- Improve access to cancer care