The H/L Partnership Mini-Grant Program

The Hispanic/Latino Tobacco Education Partnership (H/LP), funded by the California Department of Health Services/Tobacco Control Section, has allocated mini grant funds for the Regale Salud (Gift of Health) secondhand smoke advocacy campaign in the Hispanic/Latino community. The Partnerships (H/LP) Mini-grant Program is to fund short-term, innovative and creative projects and activities that will help achieve the goal and objective of the Partnerships Regale Salud advocacy campaign.

Sample activities or ideas for innovative mini-grant projects could include the following:

• Develop a grass roots educational campaign to educate and work with community organizations, small worksite businesses, apartment manager associations and or housing advocates to inform them about indoor and outdoor tobacco smoke exposure (Secondhand smoke) and its health risks.
• Meet with community organizations, businesses, apartment manager associations and small work site managers or owners regarding tobacco smoke exposure (secondhand smoke) and the adoption of voluntary indoor and/or outdoor policies beyond the parameters of AB13.
• Conduct local level community forums or pláticas to understand willingness and attitudes for the establishment of voluntary secondhand smoke policies beyond AB13.
• Provide secondhand smoke advocacy campaign trainings and skills building workshops to community groups (e.g. Apartment Manager Associations) and other Proposition 99 funded tobacco control programs who are interested in working with the Hispanic/Latino community on the issue of secondhand smoke and smoke-free indoor and outdoor voluntary policy adoption.
• Develop culturally appropriate secondhand smoke educational materials to support the Regale Salud Advocacy Campaign.
• Develop and implement media related activities that support the Regale Salud Advocacy Campaign e.g. participation in local radio talk shows, ads produced for local newspapers or organization newsletters, etc.
• Publicly recognize small work site owners, organizations, businesses, apartment managers, apartment complex owners or resident advocates that adopt or are instrumental in the adoption of voluntary indoor and/or outdoor policies that extends beyond AB13.
• Develop promotional items and incentives that promote messages regarding second-hand smoke and the importance of having clean air and that will help support and enhance the Regale Salud Advocacy Campaign.

What you need to know about the H/LP Mini-grant Program:

• The H/L Partnership staff are available for provide technical assistance and training as you prepare to apply
• The Mini-grant Program seeks to increase the commitment and capacity of organizations and programs in tobacco control activities
• The Mini-grant funds are distributed to communities targeting Hispanics/Latinos throughout the state of California
• We encourage participation from organizations and groups who are not currently receiving and/or have not received tobacco control funds in the past
• Applicants must have a policy that they do not accept financial support from tobacco industry companies (e.g. Altria, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds) or their subsidiaries (e.g. Kraft, Nabisco)
• There is a statewide Mini-Grant Review Committee that makes the funding decisions, staff are not involved in the process
• The new Mini-grant application will be available beginning in November 2004 and the awarding of applicants will begin in December 2004 through March 2007.
• The mini-grant awards will range from $1200 to $2000 per project and must be completed in 3-4 months max.
• A copy of the mini-grant application can be obtained by calling 626/457-6611 or by e-mail at barahona@usc.edu