RAPID CITY –Staffed by talented individuals and high-performing programs, the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board works hard to improve the health of tribal-citizens across the Great Plains. Last week, one of its programs was recognized as one of the best in the nation.
The South Dakota Department of Health, Health Equity and the American Cancer Society (ACS) has named the Great Plains Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (GPCCSI) the 2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening Organization of the Year.
“GPCCSI has worked for the last five years to increase colorectal cancer screening in over 18 tribal communities of the Great Plains by developing an interactive provider assessment, creating a sustainability toolkit, and developing several AI/AN CRC videos. Their hard work has paid off, as several facilities have seen increases in screening rates by 10-30%,” wrote the ACS.
Under the supervision of Tinka Duran, Director of Prevention Programs, and staffed by Gina Johnson, Rachel Engh, Richard Mousseau, Deanna Swan, Stella Zimmerman, and Eugene Giago, GPCCSI has also worked to provide public education about a tricky topic. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, it attended community events such as the Lakota Nation Invitational and the Black Hills Pow-Wow to meet face-to-face with the people. GPCCSI worked with the 18 IHS and Tribal Healthcare facilities by meeting with providers and staff and assessing baseline implementation efforts and then providing an interactive toolkit to increase Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screenings.
“We are extremely grateful for the important work the GPCCSI staff has done. Colorectal cancers impact our communities at high rates; the effort these people have put forth is life-saving for many of our relatives. Congratulations on this prestigious and well-deserved award,” said GPTLHB CEO Jerilyn Church.
The South Dakota Department of Health, Health Equity and the American Cancer Society (ACS) has named the Great Plains Colorectal Cancer Screening Initiative (GPCCSI) the 2021 Colorectal Cancer Screening Organization of the Year.
“GPCCSI has worked for the last five years to increase colorectal cancer screening in over 18 tribal communities of the Great Plains by developing an interactive provider assessment, creating a sustainability toolkit, and developing several AI/AN CRC videos. Their hard work has paid off, as several facilities have seen increases in screening rates by 10-30%,” wrote the ACS.
Under the supervision of Tinka Duran, Director of Prevention Programs, and staffed by Gina Johnson, Rachel Engh, Richard Mousseau, Deanna Swan, Stella Zimmerman, and Eugene Giago, GPCCSI has also worked to provide public education about a tricky topic. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, it attended community events such as the Lakota Nation Invitational and the Black Hills Pow-Wow to meet face-to-face with the people. GPCCSI worked with the 18 IHS and Tribal Healthcare facilities by meeting with providers and staff and assessing baseline implementation efforts and then providing an interactive toolkit to increase Colorectal Cancer (CRC) screenings.
“We are extremely grateful for the important work the GPCCSI staff has done. Colorectal cancers impact our communities at high rates; the effort these people have put forth is life-saving for many of our relatives. Congratulations on this prestigious and well-deserved award,” said GPTLHB CEO Jerilyn Church.