Our Community Need

The Komen Kansas City Affiliate serves a community of more than 2 million people across a 17-county bi-state area: over 500,000 are women over the age of 40. Periodically, each Komen for the Cure Affiliate does a comprehensive study of its service area. Using guidelines set by the Komen for the Cure, the “Community Profile” strives to answer the following questions:

• What are the demographics of women living in the service area?
• How does breast cancer impact women living in the service area?
• What kinds of breast health and breast cancer services are currently available?
• What knowledge, attitudes, and cultural factors impact utilization of breast health services?
• What health care system issues impact utilization of breast health services?
• What are the needs related to breast health services?
• Where are the gaps between needs and resources 

Through the 2011 Community Profile process the following three (3) gaps were uncovered:

1. The need for community-based organizations to promote breast self-awareness and available services which reduce socioeconomic status barriers.
Komen Kansas City will work with community organizations to educate people in the target populations about breast health. The breast self-awareness message includes:

1) Know your risk
2) Get screened
    - Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you
    - Have an annual mammogram beginning at 40
    - Have a clinical breast exam beginning at age 20
3) Know what is normal for you
4) Make healthy lifestyle choices


2. The need for breast self-awareness education and knowledge of available community services throughout the service area that decreases barriers to screening.
Komen Kansas City will expand individuals breast self-awareness beyond looking/feeling only for lumps and address confusion about frequency of screenings.

3. The need for collaborative relationships among the Affiliate, community organizations and healthcare providers throughout the service area to identify services that meet community needs idenified in the community profile.
Komen Kansas City will develop a resource that educates the community on breast health services available.

To download the full Community Profile report, please click here.