FY27 Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grants and Survivorship Grants

We are pleased to announce the following intended recipients of FY27 Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grants and Survivorship Grants:

Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation intended grantees:

Can Do Cancer, Expansion of Cancer-Specific Pathways, Year 2, contact Dayna Boyles-Carpenter | In Year 2, Can Do Cancer will expand its peer-support model to serve any adult patient receiving IV-infusion chemotherapy for any cancer diagnosis at partner treatment centers across Central Iowa, eliminating previous cancer-type restrictions. Building on the infrastructure, partnerships, and outcomes tracking established in Year 1, the project will increase access to meals, house cleaning, one-on-one peer support, and comfort items to more than 200 additional cancer patients while strengthening patient matching, referral processes, and impact measurement.

Iowa Medical Society, HPV Prevention & Immunization Project, Year 2, contact [email protected] | In its second year, IMS will expand its HPV cancer prevention and education initiative into underserved rural Iowa communities, including the Ottumwa region and Shelby County, to increase awareness, vaccine confidence, and access to preventive healthcare. The project will also launch a sustainable train-the-trainer program and standardized education toolkit to equip more community educators and healthcare professionals to deliver culturally responsive HPV prevention education and support long-term cancer prevention efforts statewide.

Polk County Health Department, Polk County Cancer Coalition & Plan Development, Year 1, contact Juliann Van Liew | In this first year of its project, Polk County Health Department will establish and active countywide Cancer Coalition with three functioning workgroups, publish a Polk County Cancer Plan, and develop steps for phase 2 implementation.

Siouxland Community Health Center, Advancing Cancer Screening through Community Health Worker Navigation, contact Dave Faldmo | Siouxland Community Health Center (SCHC) will implement a Community Health Worker-led initiative to increase breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening rates among medically underserved patients by providing targeted outreach, education, patient navigation, and follow-up support. Leveraging its extensive healthcare infrastructure, coordinated care model, and trusted community presence, SCHC will reduce barriers to screening, improve early cancer detection, and help address cancer disparities in the Sioux City region.

Managing Conflicts in Funding Decisions

We sometimes get questions about how grant decisions are made, and specifically how the Board of Directors manages conflicts when making Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grant funding decisions. The Consortium board and staff take managing conflicts very seriously and operate in line with the Consortium’s Conduct, Ethics, and Whistleblower Policy and Conflict of Interest Policy. A conflict exists when a board member or their organization is an applicant, collaborator, or writes a letter of support for an Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grant application, or if a board member feels they could not be objective about a grant application for any other reason. All Iowa Cancer Plan Implementation Grant applications are reviewed and scored by multiple external reviewers (non-Consortium-members outside of the state), and scores guide board discussion. Each board member is assigned a few grant applications to become especially familiar with – enough so that they can lead discussion on it during the board meeting. Consortium staff make every effort to avoid conflicts for board members when assigning applications to review, and board members are expected to self-disclose if they are assigned an application with which they have a conflict. During funding discussions, board members in conflict with a specific application are moved to a Zoom waiting room during discussion and decision. Members with any questions or concerns about this process may reach out to Kelly Wells Sittig any time!

Survivorship intended grantees:

Cancer Support Community of Iowa & NW Illinois, Statewide Cancer Support & Wellness Initiative for Survivors & Caregivers, contact Kelsey Allen | Cancer Support Community Iowa & NW Illinois will expand access to free psychosocial cancer support statewide through hybrid and virtual programs that provide emotional support, education, wellness activities, retreats, support groups, and caregiver resources for cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers. The project will reduce isolation and improve quality of life—particularly for rural and underserved populations—through enhanced referral systems, targeted outreach, and accessible evidence-based support services delivered in partnership with healthcare providers across Iowa.
Iowa State University Extension and Outreach – College of Health and Human Sciences, Improving Cancer Caregiver Wellbeing Through Powerful Tools for Caregivers, contact Malisa Rader | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach will implement the evidence-based Powerful Tools for Caregivers program to improve the emotional, physical, and social well-being of cancer caregivers, with a particular focus on rural, older, and lower-income Iowans who face significant barriers to support. Through three virtual six-week training series, the project will equip caregivers with practical self-care and stress-management skills, reduce isolation, strengthen peer support networks, and enhance their ability to care for loved ones with cancer across the survivorship continuum.
Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center, The Family Room, contact Abbey Loughman | Wings of Hope Cancer Support Center will launch The Family Room, a six-week, evidence-based family support program that helps children and caregivers cope with a parent or caregiver’s cancer diagnosis through age-appropriate education, emotional support, and healthy coping strategies. The program will strengthen family communication, reduce isolation, and build resilience by providing parallel support groups for children and caregivers, addressing a critical gap in family-centered cancer care in Southwest Iowa.
YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley, Livestrong Program Expansion, contact Josh Whitson | The YMCA of the Iowa Mississippi Valley will expand its evidence-based Livestrong at the YMCA cancer survivorship program to four additional branches, increasing access to exercise, peer support, and wellness services for cancer survivors across eastern Iowa. Through twice-weekly, instructor-led group sessions, the program will help survivors improve physical and emotional well-being, reduce isolation, and enhance quality of life while addressing barriers faced by rural and underserved populations.

Survivorship grant applications were also externally reviewed and scored this year, with final funding decisions made by Iowa HHS staff and Iowa Cancer Consortium staff.