Frequently Asked Questions
Questions about CancerEVOLVE, intimacy-informed cancer care, services, implementation, pricing, and funding? Start here.
How much do services cost?
Pricing depends on the type and scope of work. Some services have established starting prices, while larger or customized engagements are scoped individually.
For example, Basic Staff Training begins at $2,500, Organizational Assessments begin at $4,500, and the 90-day Intimacy-Informed Care Foundation is $21,000 for a standard engagement within one defined program or setting.
The Organizational Readiness Snapshot is available at no cost.
What if we don’t currently have budget for this work?
Intimacy-informed care may not have its own dedicated budget, but organizations can sometimes fund this work through related priorities and programs.
Depending on the organization and project, funding may come from survivorship or supportive care budgets, staff education and professional development, quality improvement initiatives, patient experience programs, community benefit funding, hospital or cancer center foundations, philanthropic gifts, grants, or donor-supported programs.
If funding is a concern, we’re happy to discuss the scope of the work and where the initiative may fit within existing organizational priorities.
Who else in our organization might be able to fund or sponsor this work?
The person interested in the work does not always have to be the person whose department pays for it.
Depending on the project, it may be worth involving leaders in survivorship, supportive care, patient experience, nursing education, quality improvement, community benefit, philanthropy or foundation relations, or a disease-specific program. Some initiatives may also have a donor or philanthropic champion with a particular interest in survivorship, quality of life, women’s health, AYA care, or whole-person cancer care.
Could a donor, foundation, or grant fund a CancerEVOLVE project?
Potentially. CancerEVOLVE work may fit within funding priorities related to survivorship, quality of life, supportive care, health equity, patient education, staff development, psychosocial care, AYA care, or innovation in cancer services.
Hospital foundations and cancer nonprofits may also be able to identify donors who are interested in improving an area of patient care that is not fully supported through operating budgets.
Can more than one department contribute to the cost?
Potentially. Because intimacy-informed care can touch survivorship, supportive care, patient experience, staff education, psychosocial services, rehabilitation, and disease-specific programs, an initiative may serve priorities shared across several parts of an organization.
When appropriate, organizations can explore whether the project could be jointly sponsored rather than relying on a single department’s budget.
Can we start smaller if we cannot fund a larger engagement?
Yes. Not every organization needs to begin with a comprehensive implementation engagement. A focused service such as staff training, an Organizational Assessment, Referral Ecosystem Mapping, or another defined project may address an immediate priority while helping the organization determine what broader work may be useful later.
For organizations that need a more accessible way to begin building the foundations of intimacy-informed care, CancerEVOLVE Essentials may also be an option.
How can we make the case for investing in this work?
CancerEVOLVE can help clarify how a proposed project connects with priorities your organization already cares about, such as whole-person care, survivorship, patient experience, staff preparedness, quality improvement, and access to supportive care.
For larger engagements, we can also provide information about the scope, expected organizational outcomes, and rationale for the work that can be shared with internal decision-makers.
What if there is interest in this work, but we are not ready to move forward yet?
That is completely fine. You can begin with the no-cost Organizational Readiness Snapshot, attend a CancerEVOLVE Orientation, or schedule an initial conversation to better understand what your organization may need.
You can also use that time to identify an internal champion, explore potential funding sources, and determine which organizational priorities the work could support.
Are services virtual or in person?
Many CancerEVOLVE services can be delivered virtually. On-site work may also be available depending on the engagement, location, and needs of the organization.
Can services be customized?
Yes, when customization is useful. CancerEVOLVE starts with established frameworks, tools, and service structures and adapts them to the organization rather than creating every engagement from scratch.
The amount of customization depends on the service and scope of work.
Can a smaller nonprofit or community organization work with CancerEVOLVE?
Yes. Not every organization needs a large implementation engagement. Smaller organizations may benefit from a focused service, training, ready-to-use resources, or other options that fit their needs and capacity.
Do you work with organizations outside the United States?
Yes. Much of CancerEVOLVE’s work can be delivered virtually, making collaboration with organizations in different locations possible. The scope of international projects can be adapted to the healthcare system, cultural context, and needs of the organization.
What happens after we contact you?
We’ll begin by learning what you are working on, what is prompting your interest, and what kind of support you may need.
If there is a clear fit, we can identify an appropriate service or discuss the scope of a more customized engagement. You do not need to know exactly what you need before getting in touch.
Budget, funding and practical questions
What kinds of organizations do you work with?
CancerEVOLVE works with cancer centers and health systems, survivorship and supportive care programs, community organizations and nonprofits, professional education programs, support groups, and other organizations working within or alongside cancer care.
Does our organization need an existing intimacy or sexual health program?
No. Organizations begin in very different places.
You may already have specialists, programs, resources, or staff doing thoughtful work in this area. You may have only a few pieces in place. CancerEVOLVE can help you understand what already exists and determine what would be useful to strengthen or develop.
Do we need a sexual health specialist on staff?
No. Intimacy-informed care does not depend on every organization having a dedicated specialist.
Part of the work is helping staff understand what they can appropriately address within their own roles and creating clear pathways to additional or specialist support when it is needed.
Where should our organization begin?
Start with what you need now.
If you already know that your team needs training, clearer referral pathways, program development, staff resources, or another specific service, you can begin there.
If you would first like a clearer picture of what is happening across your organization, the no-cost Organizational Readiness Snapshot is a simple place to start. If you are not sure what would be most useful, we can also begin with a conversation.
Do we have to complete the Organizational Readiness Snapshot before working with CancerEVOLVE?
No. The Snapshot is an optional starting point for organizations that want to reflect on their current approach before deciding what to do next.
What is the difference between the Readiness Snapshot and an Organizational Assessment?
The Organizational Readiness Snapshot is a no-cost, self-guided tool that gives you an initial picture of how intimacy-informed care shows up across your organization.
The Organizational Assessment is a deeper consulting engagement. It includes organizational input and analysis across the CancerEVOLVE Framework, followed by findings and prioritized recommendations for what to strengthen next.
Can we work with CancerEVOLVE on one specific need?
Yes. Many engagements focus on a particular need, such as staff training, Referral Ecosystem Mapping, program or curriculum development, or staff resources and digital tools.
Other organizations want help connecting several pieces or establishing a broader foundation for intimacy-informed care. CancerEVOLVE offers Implementation Services for that work.
Services and implementation
What is the CancerEVOLVE Framework?
The CancerEVOLVE Framework looks at intimacy-informed care through two complementary lenses: Six Domains of Integration and Five Levels of Care.
The Six Domains look at the organizational conditions that support care: Culture, Conversations, Capability, Pathways, Resources, and Integration.
The Five Levels look at the range of support patients may need, from visibility and routine inquiry through guided support, targeted intervention, and specialist care.
Together, they help organizations see what is already working, where gaps or inconsistencies exist, and what may be worth strengthening.
What is the difference between Core Services and Implementation Services?
Core Services address a defined need, such as assessment, training, referral mapping, program development, or staff resources.
Implementation Services bring multiple elements together to help an organization establish a more complete approach to intimacy-informed care. They range from ready-to-use tools and guidance to guided organizational support.
Do you provide staff training?
Yes. CancerEVOLVE offers practical education for staff and facilitators, including Basic Staff Training, Start With Self, and Support Group Leader Training.
The goal is not to turn staff into sexual health specialists. Training helps people recognize concerns, respond appropriately within their roles, and know what to do when additional support is needed.
Can you review or develop a program or curriculum?
Yes. CancerEVOLVE can review existing patient-facing or professional programs and curricula or provide more extensive support for developing or redesigning an offering.
Support may include content, structure, educational strategy, facilitator materials, and implementation planning depending on the project.
Do you offer resources staff can use after training?
Yes. CancerEVOLVE develops practical resources and digital tools that staff can use when questions or concerns arise. These can include conversation guidance, role and response tools, referral resources, and digital support such as Clarity®.
Can CancerEVOLVE help us implement intimacy-informed care, rather than just recommend what to do?
Yes. Implementation is a central part of CancerEVOLVE’s work.
For organizations ready to establish a working foundation for intimacy-informed care, CancerEVOLVE offers guided Implementation Services that can bring together staff roles, conversations, resources, referral pathways, training, and practical processes within a defined program or setting.
Working with CancerEVOLVE
What is CancerEVOLVE?
What is intimacy-informed cancer care?
Intimacy-informed cancer care recognizes that cancer can affect far more than sexual function. It can change how people experience their bodies, sexuality, relationships, identity, communication, touch, desire, pleasure, and connection with themselves and others.
It means making these concerns a legitimate part of whole-person cancer care and giving patients appropriate opportunities for information, conversation, support, and referral when needed.
Does intimacy-informed care mean every clinician needs to discuss sex with every patient?
No. Different staff members have different roles, and patients need different levels of support.
For one person, appropriate care might mean knowing that intimacy-related concerns are common and that support is available. Another may need useful information or a conversation with a member of their care team. Some concerns require more focused or specialist care.
CancerEVOLVE helps organizations clarify what different levels of support can look like and who is responsible for what.
Is CancerEVOLVE only focused on sexual health?
No. Sexual health is one part of the work, but intimacy-informed care is broader. It can include body image, relationships, communication, changing roles, dating, identity, desire, pleasure, touch, emotional and physical connection, and other ways cancer affects intimate life.
About CancerEVOLVE
Still have a question?
If you’re wondering whether CancerEVOLVE is right for your organization, we’d be glad to learn more about what you’re working on and see whether we can help.