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Cancer Screenings for Incarcerated Women

A Good Idea

Description

Many women in correctional facilities are underserved because they often have low incomes, little or no health insurance, and no routine health care. In addition to these socioeconomic factors, free breast and cervical cancer screenings are not readily available in most jails. The Indiana State Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP) collaborated with the University of Southern Indiana Nurse Practitioner Program and the Vanderburgh County Jail and Safe House to reach the low-income, uninsured population of incarcerated women and provide them with ongoing access to cancer screenings.

Goal / Mission

The goal of this program is to provide routine cancer screenings to the underserved population of incarcerated women in Indiana.

Results / Accomplishments

BCCP staff members educated women at the Vanderburgh County Jail and Safe House about breast and cervical cancer and enrolled them in the program. A nurse practitioner performed Pap tests on-site for the inmates, and mammography screening was scheduled at a local breast center. Follow-up procedures for abnormal results also were provided. Further partnerships are being pursued with parole offices to help maintain contact and facilitate rescreenings after the women are released from prison.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
The Indiana State Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP)
Primary Contact
Indiana State Department of Health
Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program
2 North Meridian Street
Mailstop 6B-F4
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-1964
(317) 233-7901
http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/bccp/
Topics
Health / Cancer
Health / Women's Health
Health / Prevention & Safety
Organization(s)
The Indiana State Department of Health Breast and Cervical Cancer Program (BCCP)
Source
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Steps to a Healthier U.S.
Date of publication
2003
Location
Indianapolis, IN
For more details
http://www.in.gov/isdh/24967.htm
Target Audience
Women

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A Good Idea meets the following HCI criteria:

  1. The program description includes: the sponsoring organization, program goals, program funding source, program implementation steps and outcomes.
  2. The program evaluation is limited to descriptive measure(s) of success/accomplishment (i.e., program participation rates, number of services/education sessions/radio messages provided). Note: oftentimes, the program has been newly implemented and a program evaluation has not yet been conducted. Programs that have not yet been evaluated, but which show promise in improving health or quality of life, are classified as Good Ideas until an evaluation is conducted.