Local
$10,000 grant for Hispanic cancer care outreach in Bridgeport
By CancerCare of Connecticut
Jan 4, 2008 - 1:28:59 AM

Norwalk, CT Jan. 2—The Greater Bridgeport Area Foundation has awarded $10,000 to CancerCare of Connecticut to support an Hispanic Outreach Program in the Bridgeport area. At the same time, CancerCare has initiated a Spanish-language support group at Bridgeport Hospital, one of the only ones of its kind in Connecticut.

Lisa Cannella, regional director of CancerCare, said the award allows the humanitarian nonprofit to continue to assist people of Latino descent in the Greater Bridgeport area who need counseling, support, education and financial aid to help them cope with a cancer diagnosis.

“We want to broaden our ability,” Cannella says, “to meet the needs of the Hispanic community by developing a model based on the integration of CancerCare as a viable resource in the sphere of service providers for an underserved population—covering medical services, faith-based support, anti-poverty initiatives and bilingual education.”

“Beyond what we have already established, our first-year objectives are to establish collaborative relationships with hospitals and cancer centers, to form an advisory committee of community leaders and to develop a psycho-educational program for women with cancer.”

The support group at the hospital is led by Cristina Lima and calls itself “Latin Women with Power.” The group initially has eight members and meets
Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

CancerCare of Connecticut assisted nearly 1,700 individuals last year. The services are furnished by masters-level professionals in oncology social work, all completely free of charge.

© Copyright by NorwalkPlus.com