With the $6.5 million in new funding awarded by the Connecticut General Assembly in the 2006 legislative session, the partnership’s priority programs involving tobacco cessation, nutrition, breast and cervical cancer early detection, clinical trials, survivorship and palliative care, will be implemented.

The partnership supports a collaborative effort in the fight against cancer. Since its establishment, it has grown from a core group of five organizations to a broad and diverse coalition more than 200 strong. New programs include smoking cessation, programs that encourage colorectal screening, and developing a statewide clinical trials network.

Together, its members will continue to work against racial disparities that exist in cancer, and hopefully, one day, create a Connecticut that is no longer burdened by cancer.

Questions And Answers About The CCP

1. What is “comprehensive cancer control”?               

Comprehensive cancer control is a collaborative process through which a community pools resources to reduce the burden of cancer. The collaboration results in risk reduction, early detection, better treatment, and enhanced survivorship. Comprehensive cancer control coordinates and integrates a wide range of activities and programs, including health education, health promotion, and outreach activities.

2. Who are the partnership’s members and who can join?

Currently, there are more than 200 members that represent all reaches of Connecticut’s cancer community, including the public, private, community and advocacy groups, businesses, and academics institutions, along with cancer survivors and other individuals. Any organization or individual that is interested in cancer prevention and control can become a member by contacting the partnership, or filling out a membership application available online at www.CTCancerPartnership.org

3. What are the top priorities for the partnership?

There are five main priorities for the partnership in terms of cancer care: prevention, early detection, treatment, survivorship, and palliative and hospice care. The Connecticut Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan, 2005–2008, outlines goals, objectives, and strategies for implementing certain programs in these top priority areas, as well as in advocacy, health disparities, communications, research, and data, surveillance, and evaluation. The partnership has concentrated its efforts on educating Connecticut’s diverse underserved populations about how they can lower their risks for certain types of cancer.

4. How are the partnership’s activities funded?

In addition to funding from the legislature, the Connecticut Department of Public Health has received numerous grants from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which are used to implement programs that strengthen cancer prevention and control in the state. Also, the 200-plus members contribute thousands of hours of work to the partnership’s efforts.

5. What’s next for the partnership?

The partnership will continue in its collaborative efforts to implement programs outlined in its plan. It will continue to discover resources and funding for its programs and increase its membership diversity to include communities experiencing cancer-related disparities.

To contact the partnership visit its website, www.CTCancerPartnership.org, or call 860-509-7804.