The Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE) uses needs assessment data to define the cancer burden in the catchment area and comprehensively identify and guide efforts to address the cancer burden and inequities. The OCOE overall goal is to attain health equity for all individuals, regardless of their race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic residence, or any other potentially limiting factor.
To achieve this objective, the OCOE has convened a Community Action Coalition (the Coalition), consisting of over 40 community leaders representing all 13 catchment area counties in Western Washington, to review and guide our response to the dynamic needs of the area. Conducting research between catchment area communities and researchers is a bidirectional process. In partnership with the Coalition, we utilize data and stakeholder feedback to inform goal setting priorities and the development of strategies to address the cancer burden in the catchment area.
Working with communities in the catchment area, the OCOE supports an expanded outreach and research infrastructure, which includes expansion of patient navigation and community health educators to promote engagement of catchment area populations.