Who We Are
Who We Are
MBHC (Missouri Breast Health Coalition) is a dedicated organization aiming to bring about positive change in breast health awareness and access to affordable care in the state of Missouri. We follow a comprehensive approach guided by the socio-ecological model, social and political determinants of health, and an equity-focused lens. The key principles that guide our work include prioritizing health equity, collaborating closely with stakeholders, and developing innovative and sustainable plans.
MBHC's approach involves utilizing best practices such as the Coalition Theory of Change and Health in All Policies (HiAP) to drive impactful outcomes. MBHC has a flexible timeline that allows them to adapt to evolving needs and conduct strategic activities, including thorough reviews, collaboration with stakeholders, and engagement with intended beneficiaries. MBHC actively engages intended beneficiaries, including patients, survivors, healthcare professionals, community health workers, and political figures, ensuring representation from diverse backgrounds. We use our website and social media to engage constituents, gather feedback, and incorporate their voices in decision-making.ll follow your lead…
MBHC actively reduces healthcare disparities by building on past successes and developing inclusive, sustainable strategies. Recognizing the impact of political determinants, we invite critical stakeholders, emphasize consensus-building, and strategically leverage partnerships. Continuous feedback and regional liaisons ensure ongoing progress, and a detailed 18-month work plan promotes transparency and accountability in achieving Coalition goals.
OVERALL COALITION OBJECTIVES
Through these key objectives, MBHC envisions a comprehensive and sustainable approach to breast health improvement in Missouri, addressing awareness, healthcare systems, policy reform, community engagement, and ongoing evaluation.
Realizing an increase in breast health awareness and awareness with the general public about options for access to affordable care options in the state of Missouri
Accomplishing changes to how healthcare systems deliver breast health care, including but not limited to: clinical exams, mammography and diagnostic imaging, patient and family support and navigation during treatment, and survivor support
Achieving the protection of the existing breast health programs within our public policy infrastructure in Missouri, such as SMHW and BCCT Medicaid
Reforming those programs to ensure they are reaching their intended constituents in a cost-effective and successful manner.
Key Deliverables
Consistent evaluative activities to determine the efficacy of Coalition based on co-created goals
Identify collaborators at the local, regional, and state levels to help propel the work forward and assist with sustainability
Identify capacity building resources + support
Action Plans: Statewide + related Region-Specific
Our Approach
MBHC is committed to using the socio-ecological model, social determinants of health, political determinants of health, and an equity approach (e.g., racial, health) to develop an overarching, statewide strategic plan in addition to developing regional plans and utilizing the connections and resources across levels (e.g., local, regional, state, and national) by tapping into our diverse networks across the state, employing a plan that is both innovative and sustainable, rooted in and guided by best practices.
MBHC will also utilize the Health in All Policies (HiAP) best practice in our work which allows us to go much deeper and it is steeped in health equity which, as we know, is the impetus behind this work. This denotes a newer phenomenon that public health and associated professionals are becoming aware of and focusing on to best combat the issues of structural and social racism and it’s called the political determinants of health (PDOH). Noting that health decisions are increasingly becoming more rooted in politics than research, MBHC has decided that it is important to acknowledge this and determine how we attack the issue of public health disparities with this in mind, navigating the unique nuances associated with political versus social determinants of health. With political determinants of health (PDOH), the drivers are different and while there is crossover in decision makers, social determinants of health are fueled by a desire to remove social inequities of health, we must acknowledge that political determinants of health are the factors that create the social drivers that determine these inequities. Without addressing the political determinants (underlying components), we cannot truly effect significant, sustained change as it pertains to the social determinants of health without addressing the underlying factors of these inequities.
MBHC is committed to promoting transparency and accountability as we work together to achieve Coalition goals.
How We Engage Stakeholders
It’s essential that ALL voices are represented at the table because they are invaluable to this work and any missing piece is one that is critical to our ability to move the work forward in a way that is significant and sustainable. We invite critical stakeholders, emphasize consensus-building, and strategically leverage partnerships to ensure that we are able to effectively and efficiently support the MBHC in moving this work forward and achieving sustainable change.
We are committed to having representation from all impacted and all who impact and influence breast health from patients, survivors, family members, community health workers (CHWs), nurses, doctors, people who carry political weight and can help advance the work of the Coalition and/or assist with providing education around policies and laws and how we can navigate those for healthier Missourians, organizations (e.g., hospitals, FQHCs, doctor’s offices, nonprofits, government agencies), and more. MBHC is intentional about ensuring that the Coalition has representation from ALL six (6) regions to ensure that we are aware of and focused on meeting the unique needs of each region.
We will use the information that we gather from Coalition members to inform the regional and state level sustainability plans that will be in place by the end of the 18-month project and instrumental in improving the trajectory of breast health across the state of Missouri.