Woman to Woman Breast Cancer Program            

The Central Connecticut Health District is conducting a program entitled “Woman to Woman” with support from a $50,000 grant from the Komen Foundation of Connecticut.

The Woman to Woman program was first implemented in the Boston area by the Dana Farber Cancer Institute in worksites to increase the adherence to screening guidelines for breast cancer among women aged 40 and older. 

The program will serve 400 women forty and over. We will be working with outreach organizations within churches and temples since these closely connected communities are already aware of women in greatest need that would be eligible for this offer. Similarly, we will work with Central CT VNA who will make referrals based on home visits within the two towns. The Housing Authorities and Social Services will also be utilized used to reach lower income populations. Other venues for referrals will include the hotels and motels in Newington and Wethersfield, Chambers of Commerce, and physician offices in the area.

There will be scheduled talks given by medical professionals once a month at different locations in the two towns that will address breast health;  educational brochures, materials and mammogram eligibility forms will be given out.

Goals and objectives include: increasing awareness about the importance of breast health care; dissemination of information on general breast health and screening and providing resources on low cost or free services in the community; making referrals to the early detection program and other local programs that would benefit the participants and; increasing the number of women age 40 and over who have not had a mammogram over the past two years to receive one.