Launch Of Queens Library Healthlink Initiative

WHO:

Speakers: Borough President Helen Marshall; City Councilmember Helen Sears; Queens Library Director Thomas W. Galante; Dr. Robert Wittes, Physician-in Chief of Memorial Hospital; Alan Aviles, President of the New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation; Don Distasio, CEO of the American Cancer Society, Eastern Division; Anthony Tassi, Director of New York City Office of Adult Education

Guests: Tony Martin, Executive Director of Queens Hospital Center; Ann Sullivan, Senior Vice President of Queens Health Network

Entertainers: Jazz Band of Renaissance Charter School, Jackson Heights

WHAT: Launch of Queens Library HealthLink Initiative

WHEN: Wednesday, January 17, 2007, from 11:00am-12:00pm

WHERE: Queens Library at Jackson Heights, located at 35-51 81st Street in Jackson Heights.

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DETAILS: This new initiative is a five-year, nearly $2 million dollar federally-funded collaboration among Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, the American Cancer Society's Queens office, the Queens Library and the Queens Cancer Center of Queens Hospital.

The goal of this project, initiated by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, is to improve access to cancer screening and care in underserved communities The Queens Library HealthLink services will make available a Queens Health Network mobile cancer screening van that will visit community libraries; supply American Cancer Society educational programming at community libraries; provide free or low-cost cancer screening services through the New York State Healthy Living Partnership and furnish access to cancer treatment at the Queens Cancer Center regardless of ability to pay or immigration status.

The Queens Library HealthLink will:

* Build on the already strong relationships that the Queens Library has within the diverse neighborhoods it serves.

* Include 20 Queens Library community libraries that will join in the effort, serving as outlets for health outreach where they will partner and work closely with other organizations such as community agencies, religious institutions and local businesses.

* Provide links to information and health services through the American Cancer Society and at the Queens Cancer Center.

* Provide specialized staff with expertise in health and community organizing (HealthLink Specialists) to work with neighborhood residents to identify community health priorities and needs.

* Conduct surveys within the 20 participating library neighborhoods throughout the five-year project in order to measure the impact of Queens Library HealthLink programs.

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Contact: Christine Hickey
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center