The Office of Community Outreach & Engagement (OCOE) works to improve health outcomes and address cancer health disparities through authentic relationships, advocacy, and collaboration. This includes community-based research, resource support, and cancer prevention education informed by community-determined needs. The OCOE team works to build community partnerships across Washington State.
Better Outcomes For Everybody
Our mission is better outcomes for everybody. We recognize that marginalized and underrepresented communities shoulder an unequal and unjust burden of cancer. Our vision is to promote health equity by facilitating community partnerships, health education, and cancer research that addresses and reduces cancer health disparities in Washington.
We have offices throughout Washington located in Seattle, Sunnyside, and Spokane.
Our OCOE team members work with community partners and researchers across Washington State.
OCOE Strategic Goals
Define and Continuously Monitor the Cancer Burden in Washington State
Conducting regular qualitative and quantitative Community Health Needs Assessment Reports help us identify community concerns, and inform strategies to address population specific cancer burden, needs, and priorities.
Use an Equitable, Bidirectional Approach to Implement Outreach Education and Programs to Reduce the Cancer Burden in Washington State
This includes identifying community priorities for program implementation and research collaboration, fostering relationship and building trust between researchers and community members, and building capacity and sustainability with partners across Washington State.
Facilitate Research Relevant to the Catchment Area to Reduce the Burden of Cancer, Including Research Between Washington State Communities and the Consortium
By facilitating research opportunities and collaborations between Consortium researchers and community partners, we work toward mutually transformative and beneficial collaborations. We provide resources and connections for community partners to engage in research that is meaningful and relevant to their communities, and support for researchers interested in community-engaged research.
Continue and Expand Cancer Research in High Need Areas Beyond the Catchment Area of Washington State.
This includes building relationships and collaborations with partners outside of Washington State and conducting a needs assessment of community strengths, strategies, and goals.
Catchment Area Needs Assessment Report
This 2023 Community Health Needs Assessment Report presents the cancer incidence and mortality rates of different cancers in our region. It notes barriers and facilitators to cancer care encountered by individuals residing in the communities we serve, and challenges organizations face in attempting to meet communities’ needs. This report also outlines the critical areas in which the Consortium will be focusing efforts over the coming years to address the cancer burden in Washington, including continuing research on female breast, prostate, lung, hematologic, and colorectal cancers, leukemia in children ages 0-14, and ovarian cancer among individuals ages 65 and older. We also emphasize our priority to reduce the disproportionate burden of cancer experienced by Indigenous and Black/African American populations in Washington.
Success Through Community Partnerships
Successful community partnerships include members of OCOE's Coalitions across Washington State. By highlighting and sharing regional community feedback and priorities, coalitions support sustainable cancer care programs and build capacity for research collaboration. Together, we work toward listening to community voices, experiences, and expertise to reduce cancer inequities for residents in Washington State.
Contact Us
We are available to talk about our research, engagement and outreach efforts and how we can support your work.
Mailing Address
Seattle
Fred Hutch Cancer Center – OCOE
1100 Fairview Ave. N.
Mail Stop M4-A402
Seattle, WA 98109
Sunnyside
Fred Hutch Cancer Center – OCOE
320 N. 16th Street
Sunnyside, WA 98944
Spokane
Fred Hutch Cancer Center – OCOE
850 E. Spokane Falls Blvd., Suite 125
Spokane, WA 99202