Sharsheret Awarded Multi-Year Federal Grant To Support Breast Cancer Programming For Young Jewish Women

Contact: Elana Silber, Director of Operations
Telephone: 201.833.2341
Email: [email protected]

Teaneck, New Jersey (September 30, 2014) – Sharsheret, a national not-for-profit organization supporting young women and their families, of all Jewish backgrounds, facing breast cancer, has been selected to receive federal funding as part of a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). First year funding for the program will total $350,000, and the multi-year program will be fully funded by the CDC. This is the second multi-year CDC grant awarded to Sharsheret in support of its breast cancer programming.

Through the cooperative agreement, Sharsheret will enhance and scale up The LINK Program, four culturally relevant breast cancer support interventions that provide patient navigation, peer support, genetics information, and survivorship resources to young breast cancer survivors. Sharsheret will also partner with public health scientists at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of these support programs.

“We are honored to have been selected by the CDC to amplify our tailored breast cancer programming for young Jewish women,” said Sharsheret Founder and Executive Director Rochelle Shoretz, herself a two-time breast cancer survivor. “In collaboration with more than 40 Sharsheret partners nationwide, we will work to serve more than 40,000 Jewish women and caregivers, enhancing the quality of life and reducing the cancer burden for young breast cancer survivors.”

“Although breast cancer can have extensive impact on the physical and psychosocial well-being of young women, critical gaps exist in direct support, information, and health messaging that addresses the needs of young breast cancer survivors,” said Adina Fleischmann, Director of Support Programs, who oversees The LINK Programs and related grant activities.  “For young Jewish breast cancer survivors, the disease is further complicated by increased hereditary cancer risk associated with breast cancer (BRCA) gene mutations found in 1 in 40 Jewish women of Ashkenazi descent, and cultural norms affected by a breast cancer diagnosis.” Sharsheret will disseminate its project findings to facilitate replication of The LINK Programs by other high risk populations.

Since its founding in 2001, Sharsheret has responded to more than 45,000 breast cancer inquiries, involved more than 3,500 peer supporters, and presented more than 250 educational programs nationwide. Sharsheret offers a continuum of care for the Jewish community – addressing the needs of those who are concerned about the risk of breast cancer in their family, those who have been diagnosed with the disease and are undergoing treatment, and those who face issues of survivorship or recurrence. Sharsheret has launched 12 national programs, including the Peer Support Network, connecting women newly diagnosed or at high risk of developing breast cancer one-on-one with others who share similar diagnoses and experiences; Embrace, supporting women living with advanced breast cancer; Genetics for Life, addressing hereditary breast and ovarian cancer; the Ovarian Cancer Program, providing tailored resources and support for young Jewish women and families facing ovarian cancer; and Thriving Again, providing individualized support, education, and survivorship navigation for young breast cancer survivors, which was developed and funded through a three-year cooperative agreement with the CDC in 2011.  For more information about Sharsheret’s programs, visit www.sharsheret.org or call (866) 474-2774.