BREAST CANCER SOLUTIONS
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Mission Statement
The mission of BCS is to provide breast cancer patients with direct assistance, community referrals, and compassionate support. Our organization was conceived and built on the concept of equalizing access to breast cancer treatment for all patients; our program provides thoughtful and effective assistance to ensure that patients continue and complete their breast cancer treatment. Through the provision of financial assistance for living expenses and personal medical costs (e.g., copayments, patient share of cost, mediations), extensive individualized resource navigation, and professional mental health support and referrals, BCS is a local best practice that mitigates inequity in breast cancer treatment so that our clients can focus on their care and healing.
About This Cause
History: In 1997, a woman experiencing homelessness contacted county social services for help: She was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer while living in her car and could not complete the final step of her treatment, a bilateral mastectomy, because she lacked stable housing. There were no available resources to provide immediate housing or financial relief, so the social services team collected funds from colleagues to secure a hotel room for the woman’s post-operative recovery and worked to find her a permanent housing solution. Because of this experience, the team members founded Breast Cancer Solutions (BCS) in 1998 to address the issue of financial hardship hindering access to breast cancer treatment. In the words of our founding board chair, “If we help even just one person, it will be worth it.” Community Need: Annually, over 4,500 individuals in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (CA) are diagnosed with breast cancer. As many as 50% of those patients experience severe to catastrophic financial hardship because of lost or eliminated wages combined with necessary treatment expenses (copayments, deductibles, medications, increased transportation costs, etc.). Five years ago, our clients’ average household financial shortfall was $1,500/month while going through treatment. In 2022, that figure averaged $2,000/month. Many of our clients already live paycheck to paycheck, lack personal savings, and struggle to make ends meet; their ability to “stretch their dollars” is extremely limited, thus creating significant financial insecurity while going through treatment for a life-threatening disease. Paying for housing/occupancy costs, food, and transportation (gasoline) are typically the most significant needs expressed during client intake. Program Goals and Objectives: BCS is the only local organization of its kind providing a combined program of financial assistance, extensive resource navigation, and both peer and (when needed) professional mental health support. Working toward a program goal of eliminating financial barriers to breast cancer treatment, our 2023-2024 program objectives, strategies, and measures include: • Objective #1: Eliminate financial barriers to breast cancer treatment for 160 clients. Strategies: Provide clients with monthly financial assistance for living expenses and out-of-pocket medical costs. Measures: While in our program, 1) clients’ monthly financial shortfall reduced by an average of 35%, and 2) 90% percent report not missing treatment appointments. • Objective #2: Reduce impact of treatment-induced financial hardship for 250 clients. Strategies: Navigate clients to community support resources; provide professional mental health assessment/support and peer mentoring. Measures: 1) Number of clients who receive navigation/support (250), 2) number of resource referrals (1,250); and 3) minimum 3.5 average program evaluation rating (4.0 scale). To meet these objectives, the program team administers the following client services: • Intake and Community Resource Navigation: At first contact from clients (referral from medical facility/partner agency or self-referred), program staff conducts intake and needs assessment. Staff Program Navigators connect clients with supportive resources they may not know how to access and guide clients through applications to those programs and services. • Financial Assistance: Clients in need of financial assistance complete BCS’s application that includes diagnosis/treatment plan verification, household financial summary and intake survey. Program Navigators conduct phone interviews to assess financial need, treatment barriers/duration, and prepare an assistance recommendation tailored to the clients’ needs for our Application Review Panel (ARP - comprised of staff and trained volunteers). Following ARP evaluation and approval, assistance is then disbursed monthly via checks written to clients’ payees (e.g., landlords, utility companies) or direct gasoline and grocery store gift cards. Staff Program Navigators and Volunteer Support Navigators conduct monthly client need assessments and confirm use of financial assistance. Maximum lifetime support is $6,000; annual allocation is based on our budget (typically $1,000-1,500). • Professional Mental Health and Peer Social Support: Each client is provided with extensive, individualized social support. Because many of our clients face challenges beyond their treatment (e.g., divorce/custody, employment, legal disputes, etc.), our program team is available by phone for clients to ask questions, share concerns, or to simply connect with a caring mentor. Higher-need clients work with our bilingual Client Advocate (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) to receive professional mental health assessment/support and referrals. Organizational Capacity: For 25 years, BCS has offered a vital safety-net program, ensuring that local breast cancer patients receive the necessary support to overcome healthcare accessibility challenges, poor treatment outcomes, and long-term financial struggles. As a prudent and careful steward of resources, our diverse board of directors develops and carries out a new organizational strategic plan every five years (our current plan went into effect in January 2023). All board members, staff and volunteers adhere to nondiscrimination, confidentiality, financial control, and conflict of interest policies as we support 200-300 clients annually to make sure they receive the breast cancer treatment they need and deserve. Since 1998, BCS has enabled access to treatment, reduced psychological distress, and decreased long-term financial distress for nearly 5,100 clients through over 35,000 referrals, 75,000 support hours, and $5.5 million in direct financial assistance. Sustainability: BCS’ program is supported by diverse revenue sources that include grants, fundraising, individual giving, targeted donation campaigns, and corporate contributions. We hold three major annual fundraisers: a spring golf tournament, fall dinner/auction fundraiser, and year-end mail campaign. BCS Foundation, our sister organization, raises funds for BCS through social enterprise projects. Finally, community groups and local companies hold annual fundraising events for our organization throughout the year, but primarily in October in support of breast cancer awareness month.