Arkansas Department of Health and Human Services: Pink Carnation Sunday

Grant Award Amount: $9,000

Pink Carnation Sunday, a BreastCare program, seeks to increase breast cancer awareness and education about the importance of annual mammography among minority women age 40 and older. The program provides information about free screening, diagnostic and treatment services. The events are conducted semi-annually, during the months of April and October, and are held in faith-based organizations across the state. Trained by BreastCare staff, faith-based volunteers give an educational speech to their congregations promoting breast cancer awareness. Women 40 and over are given a pink carnation and pledge to get a mammogram, if they have not received one during the past year. BreastCare staff follow-up on pledges, address screening barriers and enroll women into the program. Pink Carnation Sunday began in 2000 with 12 churches in three counties. The program currently has 185 faith-based organizations that participated in April’s event or are registered to participate in this year’s October event. This project continues to reach the hard to serve Arkansas women. It has been a vital tool for BreastCare, employing action amongst citizens, particularly minorities, and has proven to be effective in getting women to commit to breast cancer screening.