A community-driven action plan to eliminate breast and cervical cancer disparity: successes and limitations.

<bold>Background: </bold>The objective of Alabama Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health 2010 is to implement and evaluate a community action plan (CAP) developed by a diverse coalition to reduce breast and cervical cancer screening disparities between African American and White women. <bold>Methods: </bold>The CAP entailed (1) establishing a core working group (CWG) in each county, (2) training CWG members to promote screenings, and (3) providing coalition members with technical assistance to write mini-grants. <bold>Results: </bold>Overall, 241 CWG members were trained. They have conducted 2800 cancer screening surveys. A total of 8 coalition members received mini-grants. <bold>Conclusion: </bold>Community capacity building can lead to a sense of ownership and empowerment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]