Heritage Health Center has been chosen as a recipient of a 2021 WBCI community grant to provide vital services in Powell and Greybull. The grant was written and approved to provide breast cancer awareness baggies. They will contain an overview of what the State of Wyoming can provide for patients to receive affordable cancer screenings, when a patient should be getting screenings, what the health center is able to assist with in this process and additional breast cancer awareness swag. 

The breast cancer awareness baggies will be provided throughout the year to Heritage Health patients and anyone looking for resources in Wyoming.

According to Hannah Little, receiving the WBCI community grant allows Heritage Health Center the opportunity to further educate the Big Horn Basin about early breast cancer detection and the resources available to the community for affordable cancer screenings. Heritage Health Center has been providing increasing education/awareness and early detection screening navigation services since 2015. 

Breast cancer is one of the few cancers where early detection can literally be the difference between life and death. Yet, Wyoming ranks among the worst in the nation for breast cancer early detection screenings. And a Wyoming resident is diagnosed with breast cancer every single day, according to the Department of Health. 

Enter the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative (WBCI).

Started in 2016, WBCI is one of the only non-profits in Wyoming solely dedicated to increasing early detection, decreasing late-stage diagnosis and supporting breast cancer survivors. Through year-round efforts, WBCI raises and then disperses funds to local programs through grants. WBCI community grants are awarded to programs that provide services in one of four funding priority areas: education and awareness, screening and early detection testing, patient navigation and providing support to breast cancer patients and survivors. The organization has awarded more than $500,000 since its founding.

“It’s truly incredible when you stop to think about it,” said WBCI Board President Cara Nett. “Our funds don’t come from big foundations or businesses, they really come from local Wyoming residents, many who have felt the devastation of breast cancer personally. Nothing makes us more proud than knowing we are being good stewards of our donors’ hard earned money.”

Nett added that Heritage Health Center is only one of 19 other projects in Wyoming WBCI is funding. “Every funded project brings us close to our mission of increasing early detection, decreasing late-stage diagnosis and supporting those in the fight of their lives,” she said.

Heritage Health Center offers primary care for everyone in the Big Horn Basin and across Wyoming. They provide care to insured and uninsured patients, accepting all private or commercial plans, Medicaid/CHIP and Medicare. For uninsured patients, the cost of care is based on household income and size. For anyone who does not fall under those categories, Heritage Health also offers payment plans. Health Center services range from preventative care to behavioral health care. Being a federally qualified health center allows Heritage to offer an integrated health system regardless of patient’s ability to pay.

To learn more about breast cancer awareness baggies, contact Little at hlittle@heritagehealthcenter.org or 307-764-4107.

To learn more about the Wyoming Breast Cancer Initiative and how to support breast cancer projects in Wyoming, visit www.wyomingbreastcancer.org or follow WBCI on social media.