LOOP Presentation Recording Now Available from APHA Annual Meeting
Our LOOP Team members presented in a session at the recent APHA conference on how theLOOP's previous Leadership Development Program has helped build capacity and strengthen leaders from California's priority populations. Read the related abstract and WATCH therecording!
Abstract Title: 489206 "The LOOP leadership development program: Cultivating future leaders to address tobacco related health disparities"
Session Title: PS1023.0 - Tobacco Poster #1 - Tobacco Control: All Things Considered
Abstract:
Background: Though California is a national leader in tobacco control and enjoys one of thelowest smoking prevalence rates in the U.S, not all of our communities have equally benefited. Native Americans, Pacific Islanders, African Americans, the LGBTQ community, and members of the military are just some of the groups that still have high smoking rates. The LOOP Leadership Development Program (LDP) was designed to build capacity through the lens of health equity in communities disproportionately burdened by tobacco-induced health disparities.
Objective: To cultivate leaders from California’s priority populations, the LDP curriculum and outreach were tailored to engage with groups that might not otherwise be exposed to tobacco control. Inclusion of such “non-traditional” partners allowed “solution-driven” discussions on relevant tobacco control topics.
Methodology: The LDP met once a week online for eight weeks in ninety-minute sessions to discuss topics related to tobacco control. Those accepted were minimally required to be interested in tobacco control and bettering their community.
Results: 42% of the LDP participants were African American, 14% Asian American and Pacific Islander, 11% Latino, and 4% who identified as LGBTQ. On a scale of 1 (Not at all prepared) to 5 (Very prepared), participants completing the LDP felt confident about being prepared to work with priority populations on tobacco control policies (4.00); using a variety of strategies and resources to respond to community needs (4.14); and “facilitating learning experiences that promote autonomy, interaction and choices” (4.30).
Conclusion: Findings suggest that LDP’s approach of tailoring the curriculum to meet cohort needs was beneficial. The LOOP LDP provided a trusting space for participants to become tobacco control champions.
Watch here: