Cheeky Charity Programs
LGBTQ+ Community Cancer Needs Survey
The LGBTQ+ community faces unique health disparities due to stigma, discrimination, and mistrust of healthcare providers. Understanding these barriers are key to reducing cancer incidence and improving early detection rates. This project will gather data to guide future advocacy, education, and outreach efforts to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals receive the cancer screenings and care they need.
The objective of the LGBTQ+ Cancer Community Needs Survey is to identify and quantify the barriers that prevent LGBTQ+ individuals from seeking colorectal and anal cancer screenings, as well as to understand the motivators that encourage them to undergo preventive care. By gathering data from the community, the project aims to:
Highlight Key Barriers: Pinpoint specific challenges, such as healthcare mistrust, stigma, financial constraints, and lack of access to LGBTQ+-competent care, that contribute to lower screening rates within the community.
Amplify Motivators: Identify what prompts LGBTQ+ individuals to get screened, such as personal health concerns, family history, or support from healthcare providers and community campaigns, to create more effective outreach.
Inform Outreach Strategies: Use the insights gained to tailor LGBTQ+ outreach messaging and health initiatives, ensuring that future cancer awareness campaigns resonate with the community and address their unique concerns.
Advocate for Health Equity: Provide data that can be used to collaborate with healthcare providers, policy makers, and LGBTQ+ organizations to improve access to screenings and reduce health disparities in cancer care.
Ultimately, the goal is to enhance cancer prevention efforts within the LGBTQ+ community by removing barriers and increasing screening rates for colorectal and anal cancers.
Project Goals
Survey at least 1,000 LGBTQ+ individuals by the end of 2025, focusing on diverse subpopulations across different regions, income levels, and healthcare access environments. Part I of the survey (Jan-May), we aim to survey at least 200 individuals.
Identify and quantify at least three major barriers and three motivators affecting colorectal and anal cancer screening rates within the LGBTQ+ community.
Establish partnerships with 30 FQHCs, LGBTQ+ clinics, and community organizations to promote the survey and distribute educational materials.
Survey Completion Rate: Aim for a 70% completion rate from participants who start the survey, using incentives and clear communication to drive engagement.
Diverse Representation: Aim for at least 10% of respondents to come from rural areas and 15% from BIPOC LGBTQ+ communities (including the Two-spirit community), representing the diversity of the community.
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To maximize the reach of the LGBTQ+ Cancer Community Needs Survey, we will partner with Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and LGBTQ+ clinics across the country. These partnerships will help engage their patient populations and ensure that the survey captures data from a diverse and representative cross-section of the community.
Identify and Engage Key Partners
FQHCs: As primary access points for underserved populations, FQHCs are ideal for reaching LGBTQ+ individuals who may face financial or systemic barriers to care. Many already serve LGBTQ+ patients and are committed to providing culturally competent healthcare.
LGBTQ+ Clinics: Partnering with LGBTQ+ clinics ensures the survey reaches patients in environments where they feel safe and supported. These clinics often serve as trusted resources, making patients more likely to participate in the survey.
Geographic Focus: Begin with clinics in rural areas that often face unique challenges in accessing affirming care, as well as clinics in urban centers with large LGBTQ+ populations.
Partnership Outreach Messaging
Clear Value Proposition: Craft a message that emphasizes the importance of the survey in improving care for LGBTQ+ patients and eliminating barriers to cancer screenings. Highlight the benefits of participation for clinics, such as receiving insights from the data and being recognized as leaders in LGBTQ+ health equity.
Co-Branding Opportunities: Offer to co-brand the survey materials, providing clinics the chance to demonstrate their commitment to LGBTQ+ health.
Provide Clinics with Survey Promotion Materials
In-Clinic Flyers & Posters: Develop patient-friendly materials clinics can display to encourage participation, such as QR codes or digital access points.
Email and SMS Templates: Create ready-to-use templates for clinics to send invitations via email or text, simplifying outreach.
On-Site Survey Participation: Work with clinics to facilitate on-site participation by providing tablets or digital access during visits, ensuring patients can complete the survey before leaving.
Rural Communities and Areas without Affirming Providers
Mobile Health Clinics and Outreach: In rural areas where access to LGBTQ+ affirming care is limited, partner with mobile health clinics that serve these communities. Work with existing rural health networks and FQHCs to distribute the survey at community health fairs, pop-up events, or through telehealth services.
Lack of Affirming Providers: For LGBTQ+ individuals in areas without access to affirming healthcare, digital campaigns will play a crucial role. Promote the survey through targeted online outreach, ensuring rural and underserved communities can still participate and have their voices heard.
Trusted Community Spaces: In areas without LGBTQ+ specific clinics, partner with local community organizations or advocacy groups that are trusted by LGBTQ+ residents. Leverage libraries, community centers, and other public spaces to distribute survey materials and offer assistance with completing the survey.
Leverage Digital and Community Engagement
Digital Campaigns: Collaborate with clinics and community organizations to promote the survey via their social media, websites, and email newsletters, ensuring widespread digital engagement.
Community Events: Use community health fairs, Pride events, and local LGBTQ+ gatherings to distribute the survey and engage participants face-to-face.
Engage National and Regional Clinic Networks
Leverage National Networks: Connect with national FQHC and LGBTQ+ healthcare organizations to expand the reach of the survey across regions. Use these networks to introduce the survey to additional clinics and providers who may benefit from participating.
Data Sharing and Reporting: Provide partner clinics with tailored, de-identified data from the survey that can help them improve care delivery. Offer to share overall results with national networks to contribute to larger efforts in advancing LGBTQ+ health equity.
PRIDE Awareness Events
Cheeky Charity is dedicated to raising awareness about colorectal and anal cancers in the LGBTQ+ community, a population often overlooked in cancer prevention efforts. Our PRIDE Awareness Events initiative seeks to educate, empower, and advocate for colorectal and anal cancer prevention and early detection by actively engaging with LGBTQ+ individuals at Pride events across the country.
LGBTQ+ individuals face unique healthcare disparities, including lower rates of cancer screening and higher rates of late-stage diagnoses, making this initiative critically important. By attending Pride events, we aim to create safe and welcoming spaces for individuals to learn more about their health, access vital resources, and take proactive steps toward cancer prevention.
Cheeky Awareness @ Pride
This initiative leverages community gatherings at Pride events to raise awareness about colorectal and anal cancer. Through our awareness booths, we directly engage participants with educational materials on prevention and screening. We collaborate with local healthcare providers to offer resources and support, while volunteers advocate for health equity. Our efforts aim to capture media attention and unify messaging around early detection and proactive health care, building national awareness for colorectal and anal cancer within the LGBTQ+ community.
Through these combined efforts, we are committed to reaching LGBTQ+ individuals where they are, providing them with the information and resources they need to protect their health and advocate for comprehensive care. By supporting our PRIDE Awareness Events, sponsors become part of a movement dedicated to improving the health outcomes of LGBTQ+ communities across the nation.
PrideCare: LGBTQ+ Cancer Support Services
Cheeky Charity's PrideCare program addresses the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals, who are often overlooked in cancer care. Offering support groups, educational resources, and a safe space, the program helps LGBTQ+ cancer patients and survivors connect, share experiences, and receive emotional and practical support.
LGBTQ+ communities face significant health disparities, including lower cancer screening rates and higher barriers to care. PrideCare bridges these gaps by providing culturally competent resources and fostering a supportive community.
Program Goals
Offer support groups for LGBTQ+ individuals affected by colorectal and anal cancer.
Create an inclusive space for patients and survivors to connect without fear of discrimination.
Raise awareness of the unique challenges LGBTQ+ cancer patients face and promote health equity.
What Makes PrideCare Essential:
LGBTQ+ individuals often experience social isolation, stigma, and inadequate care during their cancer journey. PrideCare reduces isolation by creating a community of shared understanding and empowerment, helping individuals advocate for their health and well-being.
Ambassador Program
The Cheeky Charity Ambassador Program is uniquely focused on raising awareness for colorectal and anal cancer within LGBTQ+ and underserved communities—groups that often face significant health disparities. We offer personalized mentorship and leadership development, empowering ambassadors not just to share their stories but to become long-term advocates and community leaders.
We onboard new ambassadors every quarter, ensuring continual growth and momentum, while offering immediate opportunities for involvement and advocacy. Through this program, ambassadors receive ongoing training and access to a supportive network of peers, giving them the tools to create meaningful change in public understanding of colorectal and anal cancer. Our approach isn’t just about amplifying individual voices; it’s about building a collective movement that fosters health equity and lasting community impact.
Program Goals
Amplify Diverse Voices: Highlight the stories and experiences of individuals in underserved and LGBTQ+ communities affected by colorectal and anal cancer.
Empower Leaders: Provide ambassadors with tailored mentorship and leadership training, equipping them to become long-term advocates.
Foster Health Equity: Build a strong, nationwide network of advocates who can influence health equity and policy at both local and national levels.
Continuous Community Building: Onboard ambassadors every quarter to maintain engagement, accelerate impact, and foster a strong sense of community.
Public Resource and Education Program (PREP)
1 in 3 LGBTQ+ people report that their healthcare provider has never discussed cancer screening with them, and overall, LGBTQ+ people are significantly less likely to get screened for colorectal cancer. Cheeky Charity’s Public Resource and Education Program (PREP) is an initiative by Cheeky Charity to ensure that lifesaving information about colorectal and anal cancer reaches populations that are too often overlooked. This program focuses on distributing educational materials and resources to LGBTQ+ healthcare clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and community-based practices in underserved communities.
Our outreach is powered by Cheeky Charity Ambassadors and volunteer distributors, who bring these essential resources directly to the public, healthcare providers, and community leaders, increasing awareness about the importance of cancer screening. By providing clinics and community centers with targeted, culturally sensitive resources, we can help close the gap in healthcare disparities and improve outcomes for these at-risk groups.
Program Goals
Ensure that LGBTQ+ clinics, FQHCs, and community health centers have access to up-to-date information and materials on colorectal and anal cancer screening.
Equip healthcare providers in underserved areas with resources to educate patients and the public about cancer prevention and early detection.
Reach underserved populations through the trusted voices of Cheeky Charity Ambassadors and volunteers, who distribute educational resources in their communities.
Cheeky Chats Podcast
Cheeky Charity presents a short-form podcast dedicated to raising awareness about colorectal and anal cancer in the LGBTQ+ community. Each episode, running between 7 and 15 minutes, features a blend of personal stories, expert advice, and essential health information. The goal of the podcast is to create an open, inclusive space for LGBTQ+ individuals to learn, share, and take action in protecting their health.
From survivor stories to expert interviews, each episode offers valuable insights into colorectal and anal cancer prevention, early detection, and living with cancer. The podcast will also address common concerns, break down stigmas surrounding colorectal health, and provide practical tips for maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Episodes are designed to be easily digestible and packed with actionable takeaways, making them perfect for busy listeners who want to stay informed.
#CheekyChallenge
The #CheekyChallenge is a social media campaign that encourages participants to “flip the script" on social media and submit a “cheeky” photo or video facing away from the camera to raise awareness for colorectal and anal cancers. By leveraging the power of social media, we aim to reach a wide audience, spark conversations about colorectal and anal cancer screenings, and encourage people to take action in protecting their health.
This lighthearted yet impactful campaign uses the power of community engagement and personal storytelling to bring attention to serious issues—especially within younger and LGBTQ+ communities, who are often underrepresented in cancer awareness efforts.
How It Works: Participants are invited to post a cheeky photo/video of their backside on social media using the hashtag #CheekyChallenge and tag @CheekyCharity. They can use one of our provided captions to raise awareness about colorectal cancer and encourage their friends, family, and even celebrities to take the challenge.
Through this cheeky movement, we aim to:
Raise awareness about colorectal and anal cancer symptoms, especially within younger and LGBTQ+ communities.
Encourage screening for colorectal cancer and anal cancers and support individuals who may not have access to affordable care.