Using a Financial Assistance Program as a Gateway to Support and Education for Underserved Breast Cancer Survivors

Living Beyond Breast Cancer's Cis B. Golder Quality of Life Grant assists with the financial burden of breast cancer treatment. Since 2006, the grant has funded more than 1,100 women and helped pay bills such as rent/mortgage (53% of funds disbursed), utilities (34%), and childcare. More than $1 million has been distributed in the Philadelphia region. 90% of recipients earn less than 300% of the federal poverty line. 41% are African-American; 60% live in urban counties. A 2010 needs assessment indicated that recipients were not familiar with LBBC's programs and had limited interactions with the organization. For many recipients, personal and financial crises made seeking information and support a low priority. Interventions were developed to increase contact time with recipients and provide personalized invitations to other LBBC education and support programs. All applicants receive a peer support phone call from an LBBC Breast Cancer Helpline volunteer to share information about upcoming programs and refer to resources to meet their needs. Special invitations are sent to recipients offering registration fee waivers to LBBC conferences and inviting them to tailored programs for low-income families. 65% of applicants were previously unaware of Living Beyond Breast Cancer and its support and education programs. All applicants receive 10-20 minutes of phone peer support and invitations to two local programs. Applicants receive several breast cancer publications on topics related to their concerns or experience. A nutrition-on-a-budget education series was piloted in 2013 to address recipients' other wellness needs and provide meals. 14 women participated and reported that the program increased their knowledge of other nutrition resources available to them (70%), improved their confidence in cooking healthy meals (85%), and increased their likelihood of using other LBBC services (85%). A financial assistance program provides a unique opportunity to engage underserved breast cancer survivors who may not otherwise seek support and education from an organization. The addition of peer support interventions helps assess and alleviate other concerns and connects recipients to a support system that they can access throughout their experience. Although LBBC's financial assistance is regionally restricted, its interventions can act as a model for other grant programs. Engaging underserved patients through a financial assistance program allows researchers to begin to as