Cancer patients in East Tennessee often face significant barriers to accessing the practical support services necessary to maintain stability during treatment. Across Knox and the eight surrounding counties, an estimated 55,000–65,000 residents are living with cancer, with approximately 4,800 new diagnoses each year. At the same time, roughly 13–14% of residents in this region live below the federal poverty level. Research indicates that up to one in eight cancer patients lives in poverty, and many more experience financial hardship, transportation barriers, food insecurity, and housing instability during treatment. While numerous community organizations offer support services, patients and providers often struggle to identify and access these resources due to fragmented information and limited coordination among service providers.

Guided Path proposes to address this challenge by strengthening the use of the Tennessee Community Compass platform as a coordinated information-and-referral network for cancer support services across Knox County and the eight surrounding counties. Through the East Tennessee Cancer Task Force, this planning project will engage county health councils, healthcare providers, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and community partners to identify available resources and develop a regional referral model using Community Compass. The planning process will increase the visibility and accessibility of supportive services while establishing a framework for coordinated referrals among community members.