The “Introduction” video below describes the purpose of the Toolkit, why there is a need for breast cancer education with the Black and African American communities as well as an overview of breast cancer and the Breast Self-Awareness Key Messages. If you prefer, the same overview can be read in the “Introduction” downloadable document below. The “Program Planning Square” video gives you an explanation on how to use this resource to plan your education session.

Introduction	Program Planning Square

What is the purpose of this Toolkit?
The purpose of this Toolkit is to support you, as an educator, in providing culturally-responsive breast health education that helps Black and African American audiences learn about breast cancer and feel empowered to take action. In particular, the education you provide can help people to enter and stay in the Breast Cancer Continuum of Care. Komen partnered with experts in culturally-responsive health promotion. They were able to identify and select evidence-based strategies to create this Toolkit and guide you carrying out or refining your own breast health education programs.

Who can help?
Everyone can play a role in helping to raise awareness about breast cancer. However, this Toolkit is designed for use by organizations and people that currently conduct, or would like to conduct, breast health education in Black and African American communities. Examples include: health professionals such as nurses, health educators, navigators, community health workers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and others. The user can be someone who identifies as Black or African American, as well as those of other races and ethnicities. Audiences respond best to those they think are most like them, including similarities in race/ethnicity, neighborhood, religion, age, etc., but effective education and support can be provided by those who are deemed “different” as long as communication is culturally-appropriate and respectful.

Included in the Toolkit are:

• Evidence-based strategies for culturally-responsive communication and education,
• Practical tips, tools and resources that you can use to increase awareness and understanding about breast health and early detection within the Black and African American communities based on audience, venue and time-constraints, and
• Tips and tools for evaluating your breast cancer education program.

How can you use the Toolkit?
This Toolkit really is a tool for you to use. It is intended to help you plan for a single outreach or education event, or help you plan more broadly for your organization’s outreach and education program. The Toolkit is divided into four sections that are designed to help you answer the following program planning questions:

1. Who is the Audience?
2. What is the Message?
3. What is the Venue?
4. What are the Resources?

Introduction

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The “Section 1: Who is the Audience” video below highlights the purpose of knowing your audience as well as available resources to support you in this section of the Toolkit. If you prefer, the same overview can be read in the “Section 1: Who is the Audience” downloadable document below.Section 1: Who is the Audience?

Purpose of this section:Whether you are planning a single outreach or educational event, or thinking about your organization’s entire outreach and education program, it is critical to understand your audience. Understanding your audience will help you determine the type of outreach and education that will be most successful.The purpose of this section is to support you in understanding more about your audience, particularly the Black and African American population in the U.S. This section will also help you learn more about your specific community and some of the issues that are important to special audiences within this community, such as men, women under the age of 40, older women and Black immigrants.Learning objectives
After reading this section, you should be able to:

• Describe the diverse nature of the Black and African American populations living in the U.S.,
• Identify resources to help you learn more about the community you serve and potential partners,
• Name ways you can find partners serving your community, and
• Discuss the issues important for special audiences like women under the age of 40, older women, men and Black immigrants.

 

Section 1: Who is the Audience?

Section 1: Who is the Audience? Educator resources are listed below. Click the documents to download them individually. You may notice some of these resources appear in other sections of the Toolkit. They may apply in various settings, so keep this in mind when downloading resources.

 

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The “Section 2: What is the Message” video below highlights the purpose of knowing the Key Messages and how and which to use in your educational sessions based on audience and time-constraints. Supporting resources for this section will also be discussed. If you prefer, the same section overview can be read in the “Section 2: What is the Message” downloadable document below.

The “Breast Self-Awareness Key Messages” video provides an overview of the four Key Messages: Know your risk, Get screened, Know what is normal for you and Make healthy lifestyle choices. These messages can be used to increase awareness and empower people to take action in order to make informed choices about their health.

Section 2: What is the Message?	Breast Self-Awareness Key Messages

Purpose of this section
The purpose of this section of the Toolkit is to provide you with the breast health and breast cancer information that you can share when you are conducting outreach and education in Black and African American communities.
This part of the Toolkit focuses on general information and messages that can be shared with all Black and African American audiences.
This includes:

• Breast cancer and its impact in Black and African American communities
• Actions people can take related to the Breast Self-Awareness Key Messages

Learning objectives
After reading this section, you should be able to:

• Define breast cancer,
• Describe the impact of breast cancer in the Black and African American communities, and
• State actions women can take related to each Key Message.

 

Section 2: What is the Message?

Section 2: What is the Message? Educator resources are listed below. Click the documents to download them individually. You may notice some of these resources appear in other sections of the Toolkit. They may apply in various settings, so keep this in mind when downloading resources.

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The “Section 3: What is the Venue” video below provides guidance in identifying, selecting and preparing venues for educational sessions. There are also additional supporting resources in this section. If you prefer, the same overview can be read in the “Section 3: What is the Venue” downloadable document below.

Section 3: What is the Venue? 

Purpose of this section
You can conduct outreach and education about breast health and breast cancer with individuals, small groups and large groups in many places. The purpose of this section is to provide tips to identify, select and prepare venues for breast health and breast cancer outreach and education, including:

• Potential venues and things you might think about when selecting a venue
• Tips to prepare yourself and your venue for outreach and education

Learning objectives
After reading this section, you should be able to:

• Name several potential venues for breast cancer outreach and education, and factors that should be considered for each one,
• List a few tips that you can use to identify potential venues in your community, and
• Locate resources that can help you prepare to conduct outreach and education at your selected venue(s).

 

Section 3: What is the Venue?

Section 3: What is the Venue? Educator resources are listed below. Click the documents to download them individually. You may notice some of these resources appear in other sections of the Toolkit. They may apply in various settings, so keep this in mind when downloading resources.

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The “Section 4: What are the Resources” video below provides an overview of the educational materials and resources available to you when planning and conducting educational sessions. If you prefer, the same section overview can be read in the “Section 4: What are the Resources” downloadable document below.
The “Evaluation Materials” video provides an overview of the evaluation resources and how they can be used to measure your impact after your education session.

Section 4: What are the Resources?	Evaluation Materials

Purpose of this section
This purpose of this section is to familiarize you with the many resources that are available to help you plan and conduct effective and culturally-responsive breast health and breast cancer education.

Learning objectives
After reviewing this section, you should be able to identify the resources that are available that can help you:

• Understand and reach your audience,
• Communicate about breast cancer and the breast self-awareness messages and associated actions women can take to be empowered to make important breast care decisions, and
• Identify and prepare venues for breast cancer outreach and education.

 

Section 4: What are the Resources?

Section 4: What are the Resources? Educator resources are listed below. Click the documents to download them individually. You may notice some of these resources appear in other sections of the Toolkit. They may apply in various settings, so keep this in mind when downloading resources.

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