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Innovative Education
Community Health Worker Program Expands Cancer Preventative Services Reach
Community health workers (CHWs) play a vital role in reaching vulnerable populations that may otherwise forgo cancer services due to a lack of resources. Often thought of as community gatekeepers, CHWs are uniquely poised to build rapport with patients and guide them through the cancer continuum.
As part of its long-standing partnership with Legacy Community Health, Houston Methodist is now home to C-CUR, a Cancer Prevention Institute of Texas (CPRIT)-funded outreach program that identifies patients who may need additional assistance in cancer screening and care. CHWs lead these outreach efforts, offering eligible patients hepatitis C and liver, breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. If patients test positive for cancer, they receive care through Harris County Health, Medicare/Medicaid, or at the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center.
“Throughout cancer treatment, CHWs are in touch with patients, ensuring they have access to the resources they need. As a trusted community member, they play an integral role in patients staying consistent with treatment and receiving recurring screenings, if necessary,” explained Arica A. Brandford, PhD, JD, RN, Dorothy and Mickey Ables Endowed Chair in Community Outreach and Engagement and Assistant Director for Community Outreach and Engagement at the t Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center.
Brandford leads C-CUR alongside Nestor Esnaola, MD, MPH, MBA, FACS, Diane Harkins Modesett Chair and Interim Director of the Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center. Brandford brings multidisciplinary expertise from her experience leading the Texas C-STEP program at the Texas A&M Health Science Center alongside Jane Bolin, PhD, JD, BSN, Houston Methodist’s former Associate Director of Community Outreach and Engagement. Brandford and Bolin recently published their findings on building and implementing the Texas C-STEP program in Health Promotion Practice.
Using lessons from Texas C-STEP, we have introduced a targeted initiative and created a tailored initiative for Houston residents who are patients of Legacy Community Health. I've taken our success and found a niche way to integrate it into the Houston community to drive Neal Cancer Center community impact.
Arica A. Brandford, PhD, JD, RN
Dorothy and Mickey Ables Community Outreach and Engagement Distinguished New Century Chair
Associate Director, Community Outreach and Engagement
Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center
Assistant Research Professor, Community Engagement in Medicine
Dr. Mary and Ron Neal Cancer Center
“I've taken our success with the Texas C-STEP program and found a niche way to integrate it into the Neal Cancer Center so the Houston community can benefit,” Brandford said. “We currently have around 10 CHWs working to bring cancer services and improved health outcomes to communities in need.”
C-CUR’s progress is evident. In its first year, the program has already screened more than 700 patients for breast cancer and 300 for colorectal cancer. As the program continues, it will roll out its other cancer screening services.
“Programs like ours usually take until their second year to begin screening patients, but we’ve been really efficient,” said Monique Gongora, MSW, Community Outreach Program Manager at Houston Methodist. “We've already identified three patients who tested positive for breast cancer, and they have been guided to Harris County Health for treatment.”
To sustain C-CUR and address the growing need for more CHWs trained in cancer care, Brandford has also launched a pilot CHW training program with the goal of Houston Methodist collaborating to become an official cancer prevention and control training site.
Brandford hopes C-CUR assists Houston Methodist in its mission to become a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated cancer center. Currently, there are four NCI-designated cancer centers in Texas and 73 nationwide.
Callie Rainosek Wren, MS
August 2025
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