Leveraging community colleges for cancer prevention: aligning health communication science and higher education to reduce modifiable risk factors

Objective: This report describes a model for integrating health communication science into cancer center-community college partnerships to promote cancer prevention initiatives and reduce modifiable cancer risk factors among emerging adults. Participants: The collaboration leverages the expertise of a Comprehensive Cancer Center and a Community College in partnership with a Center for Health Communication. Each partner brings an essential skillset to serve diverse populations facing elevated cancer risk factors. Methods: The framework uses health communication science for continuous improvement through theory-driven messaging, audience segmentation, and multi-channel campaign design. The approach supports coalition formation, capacity building, and implementation of evidence-based interventions for modifiable risk factors. Results: The partnership demonstrated documented improvements in modifiable behaviors and significant relationships between campaign awareness and behavioral intentions. Perceived institutional care was a critical moderator that strengthened intervention effectiveness. Conclusions: This collaborative model offers a replicable, theoretically grounded framework for expanding evidence-based cancer prevention to emerging adult populations through institutional partnerships.