Community Program Partners

The Community Program awards grants in the following subject areas:

Adolescent/Young Adult Issues:
Adolescents and young adults living with cancer face a unique set of challenges, but their needs have been relatively neglected and warrant increased resources. While dramatic advances in oncology over the past several decades have resulted in increased survival rates among children and adults, adolescents and young adults have not enjoyed the same progress. The LAF Community Program thus identified adolescent/young adult issues as a primary focus area in 2001-2004.

Cancer Pain, Palliative and End-of-Life Care:
The LAF regards cancer survivorship as an experience that extends along a continuum from the moment of cancer diagnosis and for the balance of the survivor's life, including the last phase of life.

Physical Activity and Nutrition:
While many people may not think about physical activity as part of a cancer treatment or rehabilitation program, a growing body of scientific evidence supports its importance in helping survivors cope successfully with their treatments as well as in their continued pursuit of the daily activities.

Survivorship Education:
Educating cancer survivors about survivorship issues at all stages of their illness and recovery is crucial to enhancing their quality of life. Many survivors, especially those focused immediately on a new diagnosis or on beginning treatment, are unaware of the risks they should discuss with their healthcare providers and of issues they may encounter long after treatment has concluded.

Survivorship Emotional Support:
Just as vital as educating cancer survivors about survivorship issues is empowering them with support mechanisms that give them a way to address these issues and regain control of their lives. The LAF is interested in supporting the delivery of proven survivorship interventions to communities in need of them and of innovative, evidence-based approaches.

Practical Issues of Cancer Survivorship: 
Survivors and their loved ones face practical challenges everyday, such as insurance, employment, and long-term planning. The LAF supports initiatives that address practical issues of cancer survivorship.

Outreach to Underserved Populations: 
The LAF is working to ensure that all people with cancer have access to information and services regardless of their race, ethnicity, geographic location, socioeconomic status, cancer type or age.  Through the Community Program, the LAF funds initiatives that address the cancer survivorship issues of underserved populations.  Underserved populations can include, but are not limited to:  racial and ethnic minorities, adolescents and young adults, and/or rural communities.