The Breast Health Connection of Georgia

Accomplishments

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2003

  • Evaluation of our 2002 Bells for Remembrance campaign was solicited from the Community Chairpersons. Based on their feedback, the Board decided to focus 2003 activities on assuring that our resources are most effectively used and that we offer community committees the right tools for the job at hand. Evaluation results indicated that communities needed:
    • Help to better identify and engage community players in the planning and follow-up efforts related to Bells
    • Additional resources and modified materials for the rural communities
    • Increased options for Church Bulletin and bulletin board materials
    • Help with sponsorship of more local Women's Health Day activities or forums.
  • Held a statewide health literacy conference in January in Macon, Georgia - Health Literacy: Is Your Message Getting Through?
  • Collaborated on the first Competency Training for Community Health Advisors (Breast and Cervical Cancer emphasis) on March 5-6, 2003. Other collaborators were American Cancer Society, Department of Community Resources, and Morehouse School of Medicine -- 28 persons were trained
  • The first Hispanic Bells Kickoff will be held in Cobb County, and will include Bells and breast cancer materials in Spanish
  • Participation in the Latino Forum for a Healthy Georgia
  • Participation as a Community Partner in project EXPORT - (Excellence in Partnerships for Community Outreach, Research and Training) of Morehouse School of Medicine and its Center for Health Disparities at MSM, through a grant from the National Institutes of Health's National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
  • Other planned activities include:
  • Ongoing evaluation of efforts through continuous quality improvement methods
  • Membership drive
  • Support of networking opportunities for members, health professionals, and the public
  • Grant writing and fundraising projects
  • Continuous upgrade and enhancement of the Connection website
  • Promotion of our mission to encourage the early detection of breast cancer through personal contact, presentations, media and print

2002

  • Became a state and federal non-profit 501c3 corporation
  • Revised the Mission, Vision and Values statements of the organization
  • Founding Board member June Barnes was recognized as a TBS Super 17 Award recipient for her "super" efforts on behalf of the Breast Health Connection of Georgia. June was recognized for her work with breast cancer patients, and for promoting screening through her community works and her Bells for Remembrance program activities.
  • Created a personal health record, the Health and Wholeness Guide, in conjunction with the Georgia Health Ministry Association. Field testing of this guide was initiated in January 2003.
  • The Governor of Georgia declared May as Bells for Remembrance month for the third year.
  • Expanded the Bells for Remembrance Program to include 23 communities throughout Georgia. Over 845 people attended Bell's Kickoff events and over 450 Bells kits were distributed, ultimately reaching over 223,000 Georgians on or around Mother's Day with educational materials or information.
  • Presented the Bells for Remembrance Program at the National Eliminating Ethnic and Racial Disparities Conference in Washington, DC
  • Presented several educational conferences, including the Annual Meeting in September, and began planning a statewide Health Literacy Conference to be held in January 2003.
  • Created a Breast Health Connection of Georgia Newsletter
  • Entered into a fundraising partnership with the makers of Memory Bells, Inc. Each time the BHCG is selected as the "Charity of Choice" and a bell is ordered 25% of the purchase price will be donated to the Breast Health Connection. The website for information on purchasing a bell is www.memorybell.com

2001

  • The BHCG launched their Web site at www.breasthealthga.org hosted by the Georgia Medical Care Foundation. The website allows the downloading of materials for the Bells Celebration by partner groups all across the U.S. It also links to member organizations' web sites.
  • In 2001 Bells for Remembrance Community Kickoffs expanded and were held in:
    • Atlanta - (Fulton/Dekalb counties)
    • Augusta
    • Blairsville (Union and Fannin Counties)
    • Cobb and Douglas Counties
    • Columbus
    • Gwinnett County
    • Macon
    • Newnan/LaGrange area
    • Savannah
  • BHCG distributed more than 240,000 pieces of donated literature related to breast health related issues on a statewide basis. More than 290,000 members of group and congregational members participated in Bells Program.
  • BHCG designed a new logo and revised its mission statement
  • The web site www.breasthealthga.org was upgraded to include the downloading capacity of BHCG developed educational materials.
  • BHCG helped sponsor a 12 page Breast Cancer Information Insert in the Atlanta Journal/Constitution reaching over 2 million citizens. The ad sales of the insert paid for the development of the insert.
  • In May, 2001 the BHCG met and approved a plan to incorporate as a Nonprofit Corporation in Georgia. This change in status required the formal creation of a membership category, and the development of by-laws. Membership was solicited from those previously attending the BHCG meetings.
  • The first formal membership meeting of the BHCG was held in August 2001. The Board of Directors slate was approved at that meeting. Article of incorporation and by-laws were approved by the Board of Directors. The Breast Health Connection of Georgia, Inc. was approved as a nonprofit entity by the State of Georgia on August 6, 2001.
  • On September 11, 2001 the BHCG held a statewide training conference for those potentially interested in promoting a Bells for Remembrance program in their local community. Over 70 persons attended, and 15-20 communities have expressed interested in hosting Kickoffs in 2002.

2000

  • The Governor of Georgia declared May Bells for Remembrance month for the first time in 2000 and continued this commemoration in 2001.
  • In 2000, the successful Kick-off model used by the Atlanta Multi-City Mammography project was pilot tested in 2 additional cities, Columbus and Macon. This model, bringing together the representative from congregations and groups for an annual or semi-annual educational meeting, helped improve the programs held in the various congregations and increased the commitment of the participating groups.
  • In anticipation of the 2000 Bells for Remembrance celebrations, BHCG distributed more than 92,000 pieces of donated literature related to breast health on a statewide basis. Congregations and groups in 48 counties participated in the program.

1999

  • The number of groups participating in the Bells for Remembrance program in 1999 doubled to over 200 congregations. More than 200,000 Georgians heard the Bells message on or around Mother's Day.

1998

  • By 1998, 100 congregations, groups and businesses were participating in the Bells for Remembrance program.
  • The BHCG began work on the video "Mammograms…For Life". This video funded by the Georgia Medical Care Foundation in conjunction with BHCG focuses on the experience of survivors of breast cancer from the Atlanta community. It includes a cross section of women by age, race and ethnicity. The video was completed and distributed to over 500 congregation between 1999 and 2001.

1997

  • In 1997, the Atlanta Multi-City Mammography project, in conjunction with the BHCG, began an educational series for Congregational Champions in the metro Atlanta area. Two programs or conferences are held each year, one in the spring and one in the fall from 1997 until the present.

1996

  • The first Bells for Remembrance Celebration, the current primary effort of the Coalition, was held in Georgia in 1996.
    • Thirty congregations participated, primarily from the Atlanta metropolitan area.
    • BHCG partnered with the Atlanta Multi-City Mammography project, a Medicare sponsored initiative directed by the Georgia Medical Care Foundation to reduce mammography rate disparities between African American and other Georgia women.

1995

  • The BHCG held it's first public awareness conference "Connection for Detection… Linking Older Women and Breast Health Services" in October 1995. The Breast Health Connection, Piedmont Hospital, AARP, and the Georgia Medical Care Foundation sponsored the conference. The conference featured:
    • Medical experts on cancer screening and treatment options
    • Health and social services professional regarding coping strategies for a new diagnosis
    • Breast cancer survivors and their stories
    • Community based resources for screening and outreach

1994

  • The Breast Health Connection of Georgia (BHCG) began in late 1994 as a group of individuals and organizations interested in promoting breast health awareness and early detection of breast cancer among the elderly.

For more information about the Breast Health Connection of Georgia please contact us via e-mail at breasthealth@gmcf.org or call 1-800-982-0411.