Coalition Activities
Barber Shop Comes to Monmouth County
Barber Shop's first-ever program in Monmouth County is a success.
MONMOUTH CANCER COALITION INITIATES BARBER
SHOP
On
January 30, 2010, Barber Shop came to
Monmouth
County.
This cold, dreary Saturday morning promised little for this innovative program that provides free prostate screening for low income men of color.
Yet, twelve men from
Asbury Park came to the
Community
Health
Center at
Asbury Park for a free PSA test and a chance to obtain much needed care.
Anita Linton, New Jersey Barber Shop Coordinator, and the Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey as grant recipient of the CEED Program teamed up for this first-ever Barber Shop in Monmouth County.
Jean's World of Beauty, just two blocks from the
Community
Health
Center, provided the venue where low-income men of color were recruited.
Other local barbers, CEED outreach workers and Interfaith Neighbors of Asbury Park also helped to publicize the program.
Barber Shop not only included a free prostate screen but many other benefits as well.
Men were provided with healthy snacks, gifts and a free haircut.
While at the barber shop or waiting for his test, Anita Linton educated each recipient about prostate health and the importance of regular screening for prostate cancer.
Twelve men received free PSA tests and physicals.
Two with elevated PSA levels were referred to the urology clinic at
Jersey
Shore
University
Medical
Center. One patient (age 78), who was asymptomatic, had a normal screening more than 2years ago. He has returned to the
Community
Health
Center at
Asbury Park for a follow-up physical and hypertension management. The second patient (age 52) had never been screened, and yet, reported symptoms for a year. He was also encouraged to return to the clinic for a complete physical.
Barber Shop plans to continue its program in
Monmouth
County with screening events in other low income neighborhoods.
For more information about Barber Shop, contact the Monmouth Cancer Coalition Coordinator at 732-418-3219, the CEED Coordinator at 732-224-6905 or Anita Linton, Barber Shop Coordinator, at 732-915-0067.
Patricia H. Virga, Ph.D. is the Monmouth Cancer Coalition Coordinator. She also serves as Vice President for Consulting Services at New Solutions, Inc., New Brunswick, New Jersey
