Studies show equitable access to supportive cancer care remains a profound challenge, especially for under-resourced communities. One of our grantees, AC Care Alliance (ACCA), addresses this challenge by providing patient navigation and culturally aligned care, ensuring that families receive compassionate, tailored support through shared experiences.
Supportive cancer care programs ensure that the unique needs of people with cancer and their caregivers are met at every step of the cancer journey—integrating clinical care with meeting a person’s needs related to physical and emotional health, as well as needs related to decision-making, economic conditions, and surroundings.
However, communities of color in particular often face systemic barriers that prevent them from receiving timely care, such as delays in diagnosis and treatment, lower rates of preventive services, and a lack of culturally sensitive care options. Medical mistrust, rooted in historical and ongoing disparities, further exacerbates barriers to care. Patient navigation which helps individuals make informed health decisions and ensures they receive the support they need is a key component of the supportive cancer care model and is essential for addressing gaps in care.
Our foundation is investing in organizations that work with trusted community members to provide patient navigation. The ACCA, a member of the Together for Supportive Cancer Care coalition, excels in patient navigation and plays a vital role in connecting health delivery systems to the communities they serve, particularly within African American and Latinx populations. Through their Advanced Illness Care Program (AICP), ACCA provides essential support by identifying and addressing patient needs, offering trusted resources, and empowering patients and caregivers through five core areas—all at no cost.
Founded in 2013 by Cynthia Carter-Perrilliat, MPA, and five African American Pastors, the ACCA has been a trailblazer in engaging communities of color with culturally sensitive patient navigation and support. Operating across six counties in California, five Northern and one Southern, Los Angeles County, ACCA delivers a care model that respects and addresses the unique challenges faced by these communities. Their approach aligns with our foundation’s commitment to improving access, education, and equity in healthcare.
Ricardo Padilla, Care Team supervisor for ACCA, recently worked with an immigrant family, demonstrating the power of culturally sensitive cancer care. Maria and Juan, parents of four, faced not only the emotional turmoil of Juan’s aggressive cancer diagnosis but also the fear of navigating the healthcare system as immigrants. Maria had no idea she could be her husband’s official caregiver—a concept completely unfamiliar to her. As an immigrant navigating an already complex healthcare system, she hadn’t considered that she could take on such a role and access critical resources for her family.
Ricardo not only guided her through the process but also addressed her fears about the perception that if immigrants seek help, it could harm their chances of becoming U.S. citizens. This highlights the importance of culturally aligned patient navigation teams in easing such concerns.
Ricardo speaks Spanish and understands the cultural challenges immigrant families face which was essential in building trust with Maria and Juan. He guided Maria not only, through the caregiver process but also connected the family to a church for spiritual support, honoring their desire to be married and receive spiritual comfort.
“We are listeners, we hear what they need. If we feel they need something different, we provide education. Wherever they walk, we walk alongside them to meet their needs,” Ricardo says.
Stories like Maria and Juan’s reflect why The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation partners with organizations like ACCA. Partnering with groups that foster and strengthen relationships within communities, and provide support networks, aligns with our mission to break down medical mistrust and uplift community health workers. By investing in these partnerships, we aim to champion organizations already educating their communities, ensuring broader and more equitable access to whole-person supportive care for anyone facing a life-altering diagnosis. Patient-centered education and access is key to a national standard of care.
“The greatest weapon against inequality is education. Through education, we empower ourselves to create a better world.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.