The recipient entity's physical address:
           4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

The recipient entity's mailing address (if different):
           4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Type of Entity (for instance, a nonprofit corporation):  Non-Profit Corporation

If the entity is a corporation, list the names of the incorporators:
          Brett Furr
Jonas Fontenot

The last four digits of the entity's taxpayer ID number:  0520

What is the dollar amount of the request?  $250,000

What type of request is this?  General Appropriation

Is this entity in good standing with the Secretary of State?  Yes

Provide the name of each member of the recipient entity's governing board and officers:
           Thomas J. Adamek
Stonehenge Capital Company
236 3rd Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801
Cordell Haymon
Petroleum Service Corporation, Retired

John Boyce,
James Walker, Retired

Sandra Brown
Southern University and A&M College, School of Nursing
Dean and Professor, College of Nursing and Allied Health
P.O. Box 11784
J.K. Haynes Building
170 Swan Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70813


Katherine Castle
Southeast Louisiana Radiation Oncology Group
4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809


Mark K. Dearman
Rubicon, LLC
P.O. Box 517
Geismar, LA 70734

Jonas D. Fontenot
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center
President & CEO
4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Kyle France
Louisiana Business Advisory Group
3421 N. Causeway Boulevard, Suite 105
Metairie, LA 70002


Catherine S. Giering
Keogh, Cox & Wilson, Ltd.
701 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Gerald T. Goss
Goss Wealth Management, LLC
10235 Jefferson Hwy, Bldg 6, Suite A
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Vanessa O. Graham
VGraham, LLC
P.O. Box 85324
Baton Rouge, LA 70810

Bryan J. Bienvenu, M.D.
Louisiana Hematology Oncology Associates
4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Cordell Haymon
PSC Group - retired

Steven Moore
Steven J. Moore, LLC, Attorney at Law
6513 Perkins Road
Baton Rouge, LA 70808

Matthew Mullins
Alexander Sides
Partner, Attorney
4232 Bluebonnet Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Rebecca Nelson
Community Volunteer

Anthony O’Connor
Cadence Insurance
Risk Advisor
4041 Essen Lane, Suite 400
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Cynthia Peterson, PhD
Louisiana State University
Dean, College of Basic Science
124 Hatcher Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Hank Saurage, IV
Saurage Rotenberg Commercial Real Estate
Managing Partner
5135 Bluebonnet Blvd.
Baton Rouge, LA 70809

Mawuena Takyi
Dent Asset Management
301 Main Street, #1502
Baton Rouge, LA 70801

Nathaniel Tannehill
Wampold Hospitality Collection
Bluebonnet Boulevard
Baton Rouge, LA 70820

Provide a summary of the project or program:
           Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center has delivered no cost, community-based screenings to the medically underserved since 2002 in an effort to address the high mortality rate from cancer. We screen for five cancer types (breast, colorectal, skin, oral cavity and prostate) on our mobile medical clinics that drive into high needs neighborhoods identified through the Community Needs Index. We provide a patient navigator for each participant with an abnormal finding to ensure adequate follow-up until resolution of any finding.
The Early Detection and Education program increases access to free, lifesaving cancer screenings to adults aged 18 and older, who are medically underserved – specifically those who are uninsured or underinsured or otherwise have barriers to accessing recommended cancer screenings in 31 parishes in Louisiana. The project’s beneficiaries are often characterized as populations with health disparities, such as racial and ethnic minorities and the elderly. Through the use of our mobile medical clinic, we are able to drive into high need communities and offer the service for free, which removes barriers to screening access – both structural barriers and client out-of-pocket costs. The mobile clinic also allows us to eliminate barriers to transportation and the frequent fragmentation of the healthcare provider system. Participants in the program benefit by having increased access to recommended cancer screenings as well as enhanced health literacy in the areas of informed decision making about healthy lifestyles, better understanding of risks and screening schedules, and knowledge of nationally recommended screening guidelines.
The screening program utilizes evidence-based practices aligned with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) Cancer Prevention and Control’s The Community Guide. Our average time between identification of an abnormal finding and resolution of the finding is 10 days, which is much less than the national standard of care of 60 days. Each screening event also focuses on education about cancer risks, screening guidelines and healthy lifestyles. Our outreach staff also participates regularly in health fairs and community events to educate community members about recommended screening guidelines, healthy lifestyles, and free screening events scheduled in both rural and urban neighborhoods in the area.
Utilizing three mobile medical clinics designed with three exam rooms each and built on a truck chassis, clinical and community outreach staff drive into medically underserved neighborhoods to offer screenings at times and locations convenient to the medically underserved in Louisiana. A clinician attends each screening event, to meet with each screening participant for individual exams on the mobile clinic.
The patient navigators also provide support to participants for all types of cancers screened who have an abnormal finding on the day of the screening event as a result of the physician’s examination. For those participants whose screening comes back later with a finding (for instance, from the FIT Kit), the navigator contacts the screening client, explains the results of the screening exam and “next steps,” including help making appointments, referral paperwork, and follow up phone calls until the finding is resolved. Patients with insurance are referred for treatment by their providers to the cancer center of their choice. If they do not have insurance, our patient navigators assist the participants with receiving treatment through the public system.
Of the thousands of adults screened in 2023, 41percent had never been screened before, 59 percent had no insurance (66% of breast cancer participants did not have insurance), 52 percent were racial/ethnic minorities (who are historically characterized as having health disparities), and 11 percent had an abnormal finding that needed follow up tests, also provided through our program if a participant was uninsured or unable to pay.

What is the budget relative to the project for which funding is requested?:
          Salaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Professional Services. . . $0
          Contracts . . . . . . . . . . . $0
          Acquisitions . . . . . . . . . $0
          Major Repairs . . . . . . . $0
          Operating Services. . . . $250,000
          Other Charges. . . . . . . $0

Does your organization have any outstanding audit issues or findings?  No

If 'Yes' is your organization working with the appropriate governmental agencies to resolve those issues or findings?
          Not Applicable

What is the entity's public purpose, sought to be achieved through the use of state monies?
          Early detection of cancer saves lives by finding cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment is most effective. The burden of cancer continues to be one of the most critical public health issues in our state. Louisiana has one of the highest cancer mortality rates in the nation. The Louisiana Tumor Registry reports that high cancer mortality rates are a function of residents’ lack of health literacy, inadequate access to cancer screening for early detection, a lack of primary health care in some regions, and the high percentages of late stage diagnosis—making cancer difficult, if not impossible, to treat successfully. Our program is significant to health care and health equity in our state because it works to reduce cancer mortality among medically underserved adults.
Cancer health disparities disproportionately affect minority and underserved populations in Louisiana (LA). Malignancies such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), endometrial cancer, advanced prostate and kidney cancer have a high incidence and mortality rate in LA. Social determinants and access to health care may explain these inequities. Poverty, unequal access to health care, lack of education, and stigma are all underlying contributing factors of health inequities in LA. Eliminating these differences remains a public health priority and an ethical imperative.
Within Louisiana, we see disparities in cancer outcomes predominantly in patients who identify as Black or African-Americans. The Black or African-Americans population in the U.S. is primarily concentrated in the South and represents 33% of Louisiana’s population. Collectively, Black or African-Americans have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the U.S. for most cancers. Black or African-Americans in Louisiana have a cancer mortality rate of 210.0 per 100,000. Nationally, this rate is 181.7. Whites in Louisiana have cancer mortality rates of 180.0. The causes of these inequalities are complex and reflect social and economic disparities and cultural differences that affect cancer risk as well as differences to access high-quality health care. This is especially true among the underserved populations, including low-income individuals, rural populations and the uninsured.
Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center’s (MBPCC) Early Detection and Education program targets residents who have barriers to healthcare by providing free community-based cancer screening events every month throughout the year in neighborhoods most in need. Because of barriers faced by our target population, we hold our screenings in alternative settings to increase access. The Early Detection screenings are held at locations that are convenient for adults who lack insurance or healthcare provider and are often held during non-work hours.

What are the goals and objectives for achieving such purpose?
          Our goal is to reduce Louisiana’s inordinately high cancer mortality rate. Objectives include include: (1) providing no-cost cancer screenings for five different types of cancer – breast, prostate, oral cavity, skin and colorectal – for the medically underserved; (2) providing patient navigation for 100% of participants with an abnormal finding; and (3) increasing cancer prevention and early detection education to residents. By providing these services, we strive to detect cancer in its earliest stages, which is essential to effective treatment and long-term survivorship.

What is the proposed length of time estimated by the entity to accomplish the purpose?
           1 year

If any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official is an officer, director, trustee, or employee of the recipient entity who receives compensation or holds any ownership interest therein:
     (a) If an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of the official and the office held by such person:
                 N/a
    
     (b) If an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official, the name and address of such person; the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related; and the nature of the relationship:
                 N/a

     (c) The percentage of the official's or immediate family member's ownership interest in the recipient entity, if any:
                 N/a

     (d) The position, if any, held by the official or immediate family member in the recipient entity:
                  N/a

If the recipient entity has a contract with any elected or appointed state official or an immediate family member of such an official or with the state or any political subdivision of the state:
(a) If the contract is with an elected or appointed state official, provide the name and address of the official and the office held by such person: 
               N/a

(b) If the contract is with an immediate family member of an elected or appointed state official:
          Provide the name and address of such person:
               N/a

          Provide the name, address, and office of the official to whom the person is related:
                N/a

          What is the nature of the relationship?  N/a

(c) If the contract is with the state or a political subdivision of the state, provide the name and address of the state entity or political subdivision of the state:
                 Louisiana Department of Health
28 N. 4th Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

(d) The nature of the contract, including a description of the goods or services provided or to be provided pursuant to the contract:
               We provide no cost, community-based cancer screenings to the medically underserved for five different types of cancer – breast, prostate, colorectal, skin and oral cavity.


Contact Information
name:  Renea Duffin 
                                       address:  4950 Essen Lane
Baton Rouge, LA 70809
                                       phone:  225-215-1227
                                       fax: 
                                       e-mail:  rduffin@marybird.com
                                       relationship to entity:  Employee