CANCER RESOURCE CENTER OF THE DESERT
One of the toughest things to predict for non-profit organizations on a year-toyear basis is the amount of funding they can receive, in order to continue offering their services.
Although the yearly fluctuations coming from the various sources of funding are a challenge, organizations such as the Cancer Resource Center of the Desert have managed to maximize its resources and continue to bring in different options despite some of the financial uncertainties.
The big challenge the CRCD had to endure for this year was the end of funding it received from a program through
Cancer
Care, a national organization which offers counseling services, support groups and financial assistance to cancer patients throughout the country.
Thanks to the funding from that program, patients served through the CRCD would receive financial assistance in an effort to minimize the high costs associated with treating cancer.
Helen Palomino, the chief executive officer for CRCD said they were informed funding for that specific program was coming to an end, due to the fact that the donor for that program couldn’t continue providing the funding.
“It’s just really unfortunate. Many people over the years have come to depend on that program,” she said. “Funding isn’t what it was before for this national organization — it’s going down.”
The CRCD provides a variety of services for local cancer patients, all of which are free of charge to local, cancer patients.
The primary service it provides is guidance for the patients to know what resources are at their disposal. CRCD also helps patients who don’t have health insurance or those whose coverage is insufficient in receiving medical insurance benefits through Medi-Cal or additional help through a grant from various national
Throughout this year, the CRCD has assisted 449 Valley cancer patients, and provided relief for approximately $287,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses relief.
organizations. Other services they provide include transportation for medical appointments and educational services.
In order to sustain the services they provide, Palomino said her staff has to get creative and diversify the sources of funding, whether it’s through grants from philanthropic organizations, governmental sources or even partnering with other local organizations in the Valley. By coming together, the assistance they provide can have a meaningful impact.
Among those who they’ve partnered with include: Spread the Love, United Way, Halos and Tiaras, Center for Family Solutions and many others.
NEW EFFORTS
Despite the uncertainty regarding some of the funding the organization receives, that hasn’t stopped the
CRCD from continuing their efforts to assist cancer patients of the Valley.
The new-and-continued efforts include a couple of new programs and funding the CRCD is hoping to renew.
Palomino said the CRCD is finishing the process of applying for the Avon metastatic breast cancer grant, which provides funding to focus on women with stage-four breast cancer. Since the women at this stage are often facing a difficult decision regarding treatment and the next stage of their lives, including end of life planning, the assistance provided has to be specialized to serve those patients.
Also, the CRCD recently launched a three-year program aimed to assist Latina women. The program is designed and carried out in Spanish and provides counseling given by a peer who has already gone through the experience of dealing with cancer. The goal is to help reduce the stress levels for the patients, who in turn can make better-informed decisions about their treatment and lives.
Another powerful partnership the CRCD has developed is with Georgetown University. The goal of the collaboration is to educate participating partners, such as the CRCD, to better understand the genetic risk factors for women and Latina women with breast cancer.
Furthermore this year, the CRCD obtained their Medicare provider ID number, which will allow the center to receive compensation for the counseling services they offer to patients. Throughout this year, the CRCD has assisted 449 Valley cancer patients, and provided relief for approximately $287,000 in out-of-pocket medical expenses relief.
“I am committed to learning the rules of the game, finding out what is applicable to the people of our community,” Palomino said. “These new partnerships and programs will raise the caliber of CRCD staff, and that is really powerful.”