| Socioeconomic
Status Related
Cancer Disparities Program (SESRCD)
SESRCD Trains Psychologists and other Behavioral and Social Science Volunteers (BSSVs) in the Fight Against Cancer Related Health Disparities
Since February, APA's Socioeconomic Status Related Cancer Disparities
Program (SESRCD) has
actively recruited a multidisciplinary and diverse group of behavioral
and social science volunteers (BSSVs) from across the U.S. The program
is a cooperative agreement between APA and the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC) to address cancer prevention and control in underserved
populations. Recognizing the important role psychologists and other behavioral
and social scientists can play in supporting the efforts of community
cancer serving organizations and stakeholders in combating cancer disparities
in socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, SESRCD has made developing
and maintaining a network of BSSVs a major component of its activities.
In June, 26 of the approximately 40 BSSVs recruited participated in the
inaugural SESRCD-BSSV training held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The volunteers
came from various disciplines, including: psychology, public health, anthropology,
social work, and sociology, yet all were motivated to participate in a
meaningful service opportunity.
Modeled after the American Psychological Association's Office on AIDS BSSV Training, the SESRCD-BSSV Training focused on orienting and preparing volunteers to offer capacity building assistance to comprehensive cancer control coalitions (CCCCs), community based organizations (CBOs), or health departments (HD) seeking to initiate or improve cancer prevention, early detection, and/or survivorship activities for socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. SESRCD's CDC Project Officer Staci Lofton presented an overview of comprehensive cancer control in the US as well as current CDC priorities in addressing the cancer burden in underserved populations. The training also introduced volunteers to major components of SESRCD that will support BSSVs' work in providing capacity building assistance, including the National Translation and Dissemination Network (NTDN) and the Professional Development Training Resource (PDTR) Workshop entitled: "Reducing Cancer Disparities & Promoting Health Equity Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Populations."
The interactive training allowed BSSVs to role play and respond to various scenarios and situations likely to come up when offering capacity building assistance to community cancer serving organizations.
A major highlight of the training was a panel discussion comprised of experienced Office on AIDS BSSVs and Melody Robinson, a representative from the Louisiana Comprehensive Cancer Control Program. The Office on AIDS BSSVs shared their personal insights and gave specific examples of the challenges and rewards of the BSSV experience. Ms. Robinson painted a powerful picture of the cancer disparities and inequities in Louisiana at both the state and local levels. She also shared the unique challenges Louisiana faces in providing comprehensive cancer control services to socioeconomically disadvantaged populations.
With the assistance of a trained BSSV, SESRCD believes professionals
at community cancer serving organizations can more effectively focus their
efforts to tackle behavioral, social, economic, cultural, and environmental
barriers that often underlie cancer health disparities among socioeconomically
disadvantaged populations.
For more information about SESRCD, please visit http://www.apa.org/pi/ses/sesrcd.html.
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