The Center for Health Equity Research (CHER) has been selected to lead the evaluation efforts for the Los Angeles Tobacco Prevention Network funded by the California Tobacco Control Program of St. Mary Medical Center Foundation. The Los Angeles Tobacco Prevention Network serves as the regional coordinator for tobacco prevention efforts for Asian/Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles County.
It seeks to increase knowledge of potential health risks through disclosure policy in multi-unit housing, assist jurisdictions in the adoption of healthy retail policies that require retailers restrict place and manner of interior store tobacco marketing to decrease appeal to youth in Asian/Pacific Islander communities, and mobilize youth in tobacco control trainings and activities including policy creation and community health data collection.
The strategies currently being implemented to accomplish these goals include:
(a) multi-unit housing disclosure education focused on landlords;
(b) healthy retail policy education for policy makers, elected officials and other community stakeholders; and
(c) policy, data-collection and organizing training for Asian/Pacific Islander youth leaders to conduct tobacco control activities for the Health Departments of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Pasadena, and other community and youth partners.
Currently, CHER is responsible for leading evaluation activities for the project including the developing data collection instruments, protocols, and timelines; conducting data collection training for project staff; overseeing sampling methodology and conduct data collection activities (i.e. surveys), analyzing data and preparing presentations, and interim and final evaluation reports.