Letter of Support for Crescent Community Health Center's funding request for the Advanced Cancer Prevention and Care for Blacks/African Americans ProgramCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 019.
Copyrighted
May 6, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Letter of Support for Crescent Community Health Center's funding
request for the Advance Cancer Prevention and Care for Blacks/African
Americans Program
SUMMARY: City Manager providing a copy of a letter of support to the Iowa Cancer
Consortium Board of Directors to fund Crescent Community Health
Center's Advance Cancer Prevention and Care for Blacks/African
Americans Program.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Letter of Support
Type
Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF
DUB TE
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
Office of the Mayor
N1-AmeHuQ4 City Hall
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50 West 13th Street
I Dubuque, IA 52001-4845
2007,2012.2013 www.citVofdubuque.org
May 1, 2024
Iowa Cancer Consortium
P.O. Box 859
North Liberty, IA 52317-0859
Iowa Cancer Consortium Board of Directors:
On behalf of the City of Dubuque, I am writing in support of a third year of funding for Crescent
Community Health Center's (CCHC's) growing program to Advance Cancer Prevention and
Care for Blacks/African Americans. This program has been making outstanding progress, is
directly correlated with the FY25 Iowa Cancer Care Plan, and supports the city's long-range
goals.
The City of Dubuque has had long-standing, positive collaborations with CCHC to increase
equitable healthcare services for this area's most vulnerable residents. This includes
partnerships and projects through the many city departments, including Health Services,
Community Development, Shared Prosperity & Neighborhood Support, and Equity & Human
Rights. Notably, the city has worked with CCHC to build inclusive strategies and community
outreach that breaks down barriers and promotes service access.
The City of Dubuque strongly supports CCHC's proposal to advance this program to serve the
Black/African American population and will assist by fulfilling the following expanding roles in
partnership with CHCC:
• Implement the completed Community Health Needs Assessment and Health
Improvement Plan (CHNA-HIP), help encourage Blacks/African Americans to participate
through CCHC and other avenues; then plan/support methods of addressing gaps in
services.
• Share data and reports on progress to build additional services for Blacks/African
Americans from CCHC's population health program.
• Continue implementing public engagement methods to bring the needs of Blacks/African
Americans to the greater community and to support awareness of services.
• As applicable, support CCHC's efforts through city funding opportunities related to health
and access to care needs of residents, including medical, oral, and behavioral health
needs.
As shared in my last letter, CCHC has long addressed the city's priority of equitable healthcare.
CCHC continues to work alongside public health leaders to address the need for accessible
services for all. Crescent has specifically provided and expanded access to oral/dental health
care, medical care, behavioral health needs, and addressing lifestyle behaviors in a culturally
competent and equitable manner.
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork
A recent city report, the Poverty Prevention & Reduction Plan, found a profoundly
disproportionate level of poverty and lack of services endured by Blacks and other minority
populations. One key strategy, based on research, is to continue to maintain, develop, and
expand community health workers in healthcare systems.
The city sees the difference CCHC's program is making and the bridges being made between
vulnerable community members and essential health services. This is especially important in
linking these individuals with cancer prevention information, screenings, and treatment services,
plus addressing the social determinants of health so critical to ensuring the success of target
populations and the whole communities.
Thank you for this opportunity to share our support for this grant proposal.
Sincerely,
rad M. Ca. agh, Mayor
City of Dubuque, Iowa
Service People Integrity Responsibility Innovation Teamwork