Cancer Navigators, INC
Because people shouldn't have to journey alone
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Cancer is a major problem in Georgia and many Northwest Georgia counties' incidence and mortality rates are significantly higher than the state rate. Surveys show approximately 40% of Northwest Georgia cancer patients suffer financial toxicity due to the high costs of treatment. Lack of food, transportation, insurance, and access to medications create significant issues. CN assesses each patient’s needs and dedicated patient navigators work with patients to develop personalized plans to address treatment and manage the physical, emotional, financial, and social side effects of cancer. Contributions allow CN to provide the following services at no cost to area cancer patients: social support, counseling, complementary care, nutrition, transportation, retreats, weekly support groups and caregiver support. CN annually serves over 1,300 patients with an annual monetary value of over $2 million.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Free Services for Cancer Patients
CN assesses the needs of a patient’s mind, body, and spirit, and a personalized plan is created using a dedicated patient navigator.
The following services are available free of charge to CN patients:
◦ Social Support Services - CN accesses resources to assist patients with insurance and financial services
◦ Counseling - A licensed clinical social worker is on staff to counsel patients
◦ Complementary Care Program - Acupressure, Music Therapy, Stress Management
◦ Nutrition - Referrals (local & state) to provide food to cancer patients, Liquid nutrition (Ensure, Boost, Glucerna) is available to patients
◦ Transportation - Gas card or bus voucher for transportation to treatments
◦ Transformations Retreat Series- Day long & multi-day residential retreats
◦ Weekly Stress Management Patient Support Group
◦ Caregiver Support
Cancer Resources
Part of Cancer Navigators’ mission is to educate our patients and their loved ones on the multiple aspects of their cancer journey–from diagnosis all the way to survivorship.
Where we work
Affiliations & memberships
Floyd Medical Center 2016
Atrium Health Floyd 2022
External reviews
Photos
Videos
Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Evaluation documents
Download evaluation reportsHours of support group services offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Metrics include support groups, Creative Journaling classes, and retreats.
Number of support groups offered
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Metrics include: Weekly Patient Support Group (two options in 2023), monthly art therapy, Caregiver monthly support group, Retreats, and Creative Journaling Workshop.
Total number of counseling sessions performed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of free counseling sessions with CN's licensed clinical social worker.
Number of clients whose nutrition has improved
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Metric includes number of patients who received liquid nutrition, food pantry referrals, and food stamp assistance to assist with nutrition needs.
Number of clients participating in support groups
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Total number of support group attendees. There was a dramatic drop in 2020 & 2021 numbers due to COVID-19 and many patients' struggle with technology. Many turned to one-on-one support.
Number of patient visits
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number of times patients came to the CN office for services. In 2022, patients felt more comfortable coming into the office.
Average number of service recipients per month
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Average number of patients who receive services each month.
Number of food donation partners
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Area food pantries, Hope For The Hungry, and Floyd County Schools' monthly feeding program (CN receives leftover nonperishable food.) One food pantry closed in 2020.
Number of partner churches
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Cancer Resources
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
One church hosts a year-around food pantry for CN patients only. Others provide monetary or in-kind donations.
Number of Facebook followers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Facebook allow CN to promote services to cancer patients and survivors, and current/ potential donors.
Number of attorney volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Two local attorneys serve on the CN board. Additionally, a local law firm participates each year in Cast Off Against Cancer.
Number of clients served
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
In 2022, CN worked with Lean Six Sigma to better account for individual patients. CN doesn't have a patient database software and hopes to purchase in 2023 to help with duplications.
Number of grants received
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Other - describing something else
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Due to new staff, CN applied for a record number of grants in 2019. All grants received benefit CN Programs (direct patient care).
Average online donation
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
CN collects online donations via Facebook fundraisers and donations and the CN website. A majority of donors continue to donate via check.
Total dollars received in contributions
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The amount includes monetary and in-kind donations. CN experienced an increase in 2019, buta decrease in 2020 due to COVID-19 and having to cancel our largest fundraiser.
Total number of volunteer hours contributed to the organization
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Due to COVID-19 volunteer hours decreased drastically in 2020.
Number of volunteer health care providers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Healthcare provides who serve on CN board and actively assist with fundraising activities. (2019 includes Cast Off team members from Floyd Medical Center.)
Number of volunteers
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Input - describing resources we use
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
Number includes board members, weekly volunteers, and Cast Off fundraiser volunteers.
Number of participants counseled
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Population(s) Served
People with diseases and illnesses
Related Program
Free Services for Cancer Patients
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
The number of annual one-hour counseling sessions with CN's counselor - average number of patients each year is 75.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Cancer is not just an illness, but impacts the entire life of the patient and their loved ones and takes a toll physically, financially, and emotionally. Cancer Navigators is here to address the needs of a patient’s mind, body, and spirit, to offer reassurance, resources, renewal, and to ensure no one fights cancer alone.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
CN assesses each patient’s needs and a personalized plan is created using dedicated patient navigators. CN patients provide proof of income and medical records, and the CN patient navigators conduct an evaluation to determine for which services patients qualify. The following services are available free of charge to CN patients:
◦ Social Support Services
CN accesses resources to assist patients with insurance and financial services
◦ Counseling
A licensed clinical social worker is on staff to counsel patients
◦ Complementary Care Program
Acupressure, Music Therapy, Stress Management
◦ Nutrition
Referrals (local & state) to provide food to cancer patients
Liquid nutrition (Ensure, Boost, Glucerna) is available to patients
◦ Transportation
Gas card or bus voucher for transportation to treatments
◦ Transformations Retreat Series
Day long & multi-day residential retreats
◦ Weekly Stress Management Patient Support Group
◦ Caregiver Support
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
- Cancer Navigators (CN) employs two experienced social workers (LCSW) who are able to assist patients with social support services. One LCSW is also a counselor.
- CN also has acupressure bands and iPods pre-loaded with music to provide patients as part of the complementary care program.
- CN works with local food banks. CN distributed $20,000 in liquid nutrition in 2022 to patients undergoing active treatment as part of the nutrition program.
- In 2022, CN distributed 1,289 gas cards to patients in active cancer treatment, totaling over $44,000. Transportation is the number one barrier cancer patients in this area face daily and 90% of CN patients qualify for gas cards or public transportation vouchers. CN strives to increase funding, through grants, for the transportation program.
- CN hosts a weekly cancer support group, four retreats annually, and provides one-on-one caregiver support to help patients and caregivers with stress management.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Cancer Navigators has recognized and is fulfilling the needs of thousands of cancer patients in Northwest Georgia. There is no organization in this area like CN that makes certain no one journeys through cancer alone. CN is not only providing free services, but hope.
Cancer Navigators wishes to expand fundraising and community outreach efforts, to in turn, assist more cancer patients.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?
To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals
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Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?
We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We take steps to get feedback from marginalized or under-represented people, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We take steps to ensure people feel comfortable being honest with us, We look for patterns in feedback based on demographics (e.g., race, age, gender, etc.), We look for patterns in feedback based on people’s interactions with us (e.g., site, frequency of service, etc.), We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive, We tell the people who gave us feedback how we acted on their feedback, We ask the people who gave us feedback how well they think we responded
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What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?
It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, Our patients do not feel well and some are illiterate. We try to be mindful of their situations.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Cancer Navigators, INC
Board of directorsas of 01/17/2024
Dr. Gregory Harris
Reed Biggers
Retired, Heritage First Bank
Lauren Adams
Floyd Healthcare Foundation
Aimee Griffin
Atrium Health Floyd
Dr. Matthew Mumber
Radiation Oncologist, Harbin Clinic Cancer Center
Ansley Rice
Howse, Rice & Brown, CPA, PC
Thad Watters
Self employed
Allen Stephens
Atrium Health Floyd
Ann Knight
RN
Mimi Weed
Owner, Mel & Mimi
Molly Steeves
Hardy Realty
Dan Sweitzer
Retired, Floyd Medical Center
Karen Steely
AdventHealth Redmond
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Transgender Identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
No data
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/27/2023GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
- We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
- We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
- We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.