Purpose: As part of an ongoing effort to support the equitable delivery of cancer care to historically underserved communities inNew York City (NYC), we examined the impact of COVID-19 on community outreach organizations working with an NCI-comprehensive cancer center Methods: We conducted 16 semi-structured interviews (30-90 minutes;July-September 2020) with stakeholders (SH) including patient navigators, patient advocates, faith-based leaders, community health, and non-profit organizations in NYC-the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the US Using thematic analysis, we characterized experiences and challenges in supporting cancer care delivery during COVID-19 Results: Per SH, COVID-19 required organizations to shift priorities to address day-to-day needs exacerbated by COVID-19 (food insecurity, financial/housing instability, misinformation, emotional distress) Organizations adapted by leveraging existing partnerships, including the cancer center, and partnering with new local/state organizations to broaden their work scope (e g , COVID-19 testing centers, food pantries, technology training), and disseminate reliable COVID-19 information to communities All organizations transitioned to virtual platforms creating challenges for those with limited technical resources and often excluded older or isolated populations;thus, many organizations retained a socially distanced in-person component to remain visible and trustworthy within the community Importantly, SH emphasized the importance of cancer center support via proactive involvement and communication with community members, providing a supportive infrastructure (funding, technical support, personnel), and incorporating community voices into new programs and projects during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic Conclusion: In addition to or in lieu of cancer care delivery efforts, community organizations are compelled to develop innovative approaches that address the more immediate needs of the community resulting from COVID-19 Cancer centers can support their community partners by being responsive and flexible to the community needs, building trust within the community, and strengthening community organizational capacity to reduce the long-term damage of COVID-19 and achieve equity
Voices of community organizations: How cancer centers can support communities in the face of COVID-19