The Asian American Health Coalition (AAHC) dba HOPE Clinic proposes to develop a the project called “Eliminating Cancer Disparities in the multicultural community of Southwest Houston”, to address the great cancer disparities in the Asian American community of Houston as well as other ethnic and racial groups receiving care at HOPE Clinic. Through this funding opportunity, HOPE Clinic will continue its work addressing the cancer burden in the Houston Asian Community by developing a comprehensive outreach strategy in coordination with several other community organizations and second a sustainable individual cancer prevention education program that is integrated into the patient visit and s...

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The Asian American Health Coalition (AAHC) dba HOPE Clinic proposes to develop a the project called “Eliminating Cancer Disparities in the multicultural community of Southwest Houston”, to address the great cancer disparities in the Asian American community of Houston as well as other ethnic and racial groups receiving care at HOPE Clinic. Through this funding opportunity, HOPE Clinic will continue its work addressing the cancer burden in the Houston Asian Community by developing a comprehensive outreach strategy in coordination with several other community organizations and second a sustainable individual cancer prevention education program that is integrated into the patient visit and sustainable.

HOPE Clinic will address: cervical, breast, lung, colorectal and liver cancer. The target population within the Asian community including: Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, Indian, Pakistani, and Southeast Asians, as well as other underserved and underinsured populations, including Hispanics and African Americans. The main goal of this project is to reduce the cancer burden in Asian Americans in Houston. Cancer has been the leading cause of death of Asians since 1980.

This project has two components: One, to deliver a uniform cancer education message through coordinated cancer outreach by HOPE Clinic and its 21 partner organizations; reducing duplication of services, inconsistencies and leveraging resources to further reach in to the community. This component will also include increased capacity building for this organization, so they can be sustainable and independent. Second, to develop a sustainable intensive cancer prevention education program at HOPE Clinic, which would be outcome driven and integrated in to the clinical practice though prompts in the Electronic Health Records system. This program would ensure that patients are receiving screening at the appropriate intervals and that education is given to patients in a systematic and timely manner.

The cancer burden in the Asian community is unusual and unnecessary, because it includes a disproportionate share of cancers associated with infectious agents. And unnecessary due to the low participation in preventive health practices, such as early detection and regular screenings. Texas is home to the 3rd largest Asian community in the country and the fastest growing after California. Nearly 260,000 Asians live in Houston, yet HOPE Clinic is the only clinic targeting this population. 80% of the people in this community speak a language other than English and have particular challenges accessing early detection screenings and health care services in general. HOPE Clinic is located in the heart of “Asia Town” in Alief, the most diverse neighborhood in Houston. The clinic provides primary and preventive care to all regardless of their ability to pay; it provides well children and well women exams, sick visits, mammograms, pharmacy services, immunizations and lab.

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