Programs and Initiatives > Clinical Quality Initiatives > Colorectal Cancer Screening Supports
Colorectal Cancer Screening Supports
According to the American Cancer Society, treatment for colorectal cancer in its earliest stage can lead to a 90 percent survival rate after five years, but more than a third of adults aged 45-75 do not get the recommended screening. Regular colorectal cancer screening is one of the most powerful tools against colorectal cancer. Screening can often find colorectal cancer early, when it’s small, hasn’t spread, and might be easier to treat. Regular screening can even prevent colorectal cancer. A polyp can take as many as 10 to 15 years to develop into cancer. With screening, doctors can find and remove polyps before they have the chance to turn into cancer.
Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and leading causes of cancer-related deaths in Massachusetts, and certain populations, such as people of color and those residing in rural areas, are disproportionately impacted. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), routine colorectal cancer screening is the most effective way to reduce risk.
With support from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and funding from the CDC, the League is offering five health centers the opportunity to participate in a learning collaborative designed to increase colorectal cancer screening rates through the implementation of evidence-based interventions.
The Colorectal Cancer Learning Collaborative will provide participating health centers with the opportunity to engage in shared learning with peer organizations and receive coaching from the League. The initiative will focus on improving screening rates using quality improvement (QI) methodology grounded in health equity.
Grantees will be asked to form a colorectal cancer screening team that includes at least a provider champion, a project lead, and an MA/RN representative. Participating health centers must also commit time to learning sessions, internal team meetings, quarterly reports, work plans, and evaluation activities.
Participants will engage in quality improvement activities using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to test and implement changes aimed at improving colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates within their health centers.
- Webinar and/or in-person learning sessions that provide guidance on evidence-based interventions and systems changes designed to improve colorectal cancer screening rates.
- Site-specific coaching focused on executing PDSA cycles, addressing barriers, and implementing evidence-based interventions effectively.
- Dedicated time and structured support to advance colorectal cancer screening efforts, along with access to an Online Learning Community for peer connection and an online Colorectal Cancer Learning Community Library of resources.
- Systems and data support to enhance the use of registries and to develop or strengthen policies and procedures related to colorectal cancer screening.
This learning collaborative is open to all health centers in Massachusetts with colorectal cancer screening rates below 60%. Health Centers that have a committed provider with a strong care team to champion the project and have access to population health management reporting and with leadership support to participate in quality improvement projects are good candidates for this grant. Geographic location in the state will also be considered.
The grant period for participation in the Colorectal Cancer Screening Learning Collaborative is 24 months. The League expects to execute contracts by January 2026. The first grant period will conclude on August 30, 2026, followed by an anticipated second grant period ending on August 30, 2027, and a shorter third grant period expected to conclude on January 14, 2028. Each participating health center may receive up to $100,000 across all three grant periods.
Applications are due on January 5, 2026. To Apply, click HERE. For more information about the grant, please contact Leslie Salas Karnes, Director, Quality Improvement, at lskarnes@massleague.org. To register for the informational session taking place on December 15, 2025 at 12pm, click HERE.
Although the opportunity for formal participation in the learning collaborative is closed, all health centers in Massachusetts are welcome to join the Colorectal Cancer Learning Collaborative Online Community. Here, members will have access to quarterly webinar opportunities, a library of resources including tools developed within the collaborative, and a discussion board to post questions for other members. For more information about joining the online community or for additional support from the Mass League, please contact Leslie Salas Karnes, Senior Manager, Public Health Initiatives, at lskarnes@massleague.org.
Many valuable resources have been collected and disseminated during the collaborative, and selected items are available here on our Colorectal Cancer Screening Resource Library page.
Don’t wait to be screened for colorectal cancer! Watch this important message, a collaboration between American Cancer Society, Boston Medical Center, Boston Public Health Commission, Codman Square Health Center, Dana Farber Cancer Center, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Whittier Street Health Center. This video is free and accessible to any organization, and no permission or approval is required to access or use the video.
To download the video to share on waiting room screens, please use this Dropbox link.
To share on social media, please use this YouTube link.
