The Young And A Survivor (YAAS!) project at the University of Illinois Cancer Center hosted a reunion in June for alumni of its Breast Cancer Survivorship Navigator Virtual Learning Collaborative (VLC).
The VLC is a free 14-week online training program for patient navigators and community health workers to support individuals with breast cancer.
About Breast Cancer Navigator Training
The first VLC launched in January 2021 and since then 110 people from 70 organizations have participated, including patient navigators, community health workers, case managers, promotoras, social workers, and two rural hospital cancer center directors.
Five VLCs have been conducted in English and one in Spanish. The next English cohort will start in September and the next Spanish cohort also will start this fall.
Through a series of 14 interactive 60-minute virtual sessions, participants learn from survivorship experts about supporting patients in a variety of areas including psychosocial care, managing treatment side effects, insurance and financial toxicity, clinical trials, sexual health, and family risk and genetics. Each topic presentation is followed by discussion of real-life de-identified cases presented by participants. The de-identified case presentations provide participants the opportunity to receive guidance and resources for their clients, as well as support from their peers.
More About YAAS!
YAAS! is a network of healthcare providers, community-based organizations, young survivors, and metastatic thrivers working together to bring resources and services to young women affected by breast cancer and their loved ones.
The YAAS! Network is especially focused on young women who have limited access to resources and support because of race, color, sexual orientation and/or identity, disability, education, income and other structural barriers.
By providing education and training to healthcare providers and community-based health workers, the YAAS! Network increases awareness of the needs of young women affected by breast cancer and provides young women the support they need.