Partnership to expand cancer prevention, screening awareness, radon mitigation, and healthcare access in rural Johnson County and Iowa County

Iowa continues to have one of the highest cancer incidence rates in the nation. Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) is proud to join a statewide initiative to reduce cancer-related disparities and improve access to cancer prevention, screening, and early detection services for rural communities across Iowa, where residents often face barriers to cancer screening and timely detection.

Led by Marion County Public Health Department through funding from the State of Iowa's Rural Health Transformation Program, the initiative brings together 67 local public health agencies across Iowa. As part of this effort, Johnson County Public Health will support cancer prevention activities in the rural areas of Johnson County and throughout Iowa County in partnership with Healthy Hometowns.

Through this initiative, JCPH will help raise awareness about cancer prevention, promote recommended cancer screenings, support early detection efforts, and connect residents with resources that improve access to care. The project will also support radon testing and mitigation efforts by strengthening the rural radon mitigation workforce, helping reduce lung cancer risk. Additionally, telehealth tablets will be placed in rural communities to increase access to healthcare services.

“Cancer prevention and early detection can save lives, but many rural communities face barriers to accessing these services,” said Tasneem Ali, Public Health Systems Analyst at Johnson County Public Health. “Through this partnership, we are excited to bring additional resources, education, and screening awareness to residents in rural Johnson County and Iowa County.”

Additional information about local activities and resources will be shared as the initiative moves forward.

Funding Acknowledgement

This project is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $209,040,063.71, with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.