Innovation to Reduce Disparities Request for Proposals 2019 GENERAL INFORMATION Americans also tend to smoke fewer per day, use menthol flavored products and begin Background at a later age compared with whites (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1998). While tobacco use across the has declined dramatically in the last two decades, our As part of our strategic plan, Interact for Health region lags behind. Tobacco use is still one of the has prioritized reducing tobacco use and exposure leading preventable causes of illness, premature to secondhand smoke among low-income adults , lost productivity and health care costs in our and youth in Greater Cincinnati. The term tobacco region, particularly for low-income residents who includes, but is not limited to, cigarettes, , are disproportionately more likely to use tobacco. vaping, hookah, e-cigarettes and . Similar to national progress, the percentage of Through 2022 Interact for Health’s in tobacco Greater Cincinnati adults who smoke has declined will focus on tobacco policy change and from 35% in 1999 to 19% in 2018 (The Health to reduce tobacco disparities. Foundation of Greater Cincinnati, 1999; Interact for Health, 2018). Yet, that is greater than the 14% of adults nationwide who currently smoke (Centers for RFP Goal Disease Control and Prevention, 2019). To pilot and spread promising programs and practices to reduce tobacco Despite these significant reductions, progress has disparities. not been made for all people. Tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure is higher for certain groups of people, resulting in disparities. These RFP Overview disparities occur because these groups are more likely to use tobacco and less likely to try cessation, This strategy is intended to support the planning leading to poorer health outcomes. Disparities are and implementation of community-led pilot also affected by contributing factors such as social projects focused on reducing tobacco disparities determinants of health, tobacco for low-income adults, rural communities and and influence, and a lack comprehensive tobacco- African American adults. While initial funding will control policies (Centers for Disease Control and focus on planning efforts and smaller-scale pilot Prevention, 2015). projects, Interact for Health intends to expand successful projects in the future. Applicants may One of the primary contributors to tobacco select to apply for planning or implementation of a disparities is a higher prevalence of smoking project. among certain groups of people. Across the country, smoking is often more prevalent among Historically, approaches that reduce tobacco use people living in poverty, those with less , among adults have not used an equity lens, which people in the LGBTQ community, those with has contributed to disparities. To reduce overall mental health and substance use disorders, and tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, those living in the South and Midwest, particularly intentional efforts must be developed to reduce in rural communities (Centers for Disease Control tobacco use among groups who are most likely and Prevention, 2015). Although it is a significant to use tobacco and be exposed to secondhand contributor, smoking prevalence does not account smoke. These efforts may include evidence-based for all tobacco disparities. Despite being just strategies that have previously not been used with as likely as white people to be smokers, African these populations or new, innovative approaches Americans experience tobacco-related disparities working to reduce tobacco disparities. and are more likely to die from smoking-related diseases than people who are white (Centers for Low-income adults in our region are Disease Control and Prevention, 2018). African disproportionately more likely to use tobacco

2 Interact for Health Innovation to Reduce Tobacco Disparities Request for Proposals 3 than those with higher incomes. Adults with To address these disparities, Interact for Health will lower incomes have seen little, if any, progress to award up to $400,000 for these efforts in 2019, with reduce smoking and continue to be much more a similar grant round planned for 2020. These funds likely to smoke than adults with higher incomes. will support planning and implementation of efforts Findings from the 2018 Greater Cincinnati Adult focused on reducing tobacco disparities among Tobacco Survey provide insight into who is more adults in our region. These funds are not intended likely to use tobacco, and patterns of tobacco use for youth prevention or policy efforts. To learn more and secondhand smoke exposure for people in about Interact for Health’s policy efforts and related our region affected by tobacco disparities. While funding visit https://www.interactforhealth.org/ additional populations also experience tobacco requests-for-proposals/. disparities, the subgroups below represent large segments of our region, allowing us to dive into Eligibility Criteria tobacco use and related factors more deeply. Projects must focus on reducing tobacco Applicants must: disparities for one of the following populations. • Be a public or private nonprofit or governmental . Low-Income Adults • Provide services in at least one county of • Are more likely to report they are current Interact for Health’s 20-county area (see smokers compared with those who earn more map below). (Interact for Health, 2018). If two or more will be collaborating on • Are more likely to have more close friends who the project, either organization may take the lead smoke, report that smoking is common in their and serve as the fiscal sponsor, but representatives community, allow smoking in their homes and

be exposed to secondhand smoke (Interact for Franklin Butler Warren Clinton County County County County Health, 2018).

Hamilton County Highland Adults in Rural Communities Dearborn County Ripley County County Clermont County • Are more likley to report tobacco use compared Ohio Boone County County Brown Campbell Adams County County with other parts of the region (Interact for Switzerland Kenton County County County Health, 2018). Gallatin County Pendleton Bracken • Have a strong history and community Grant County County County surrounding tobacco use and tobacco farming.

African American Adults from each organization must participate in the application process. • Have been targeted by the tobacco industry, particularly with menthol advertisements, and Commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion are more likely to smoke menthol cigarettes compared with people who are white. Menthol Interact for Health has a large service area cigarettes are easier to start, harder to quit and with diverse communities, and is committed to often perceived as safer than traditional cigarettes. expanding equity, diversity and inclusion among • Are more likely to have more close friends who the grantees it funds. Interact for Health values smoke, report that smoking is common in their organizations that have experience working in community, allow smoking in their homes and communities of color and low-income communities, be exposed to secondhand smoke (Interact for and whose potential staffing of the project is Health, 2018). representative of the community being served.

2 Interact for Health Innovation to Reduce Tobacco Disparities Request for Proposals 3 Grantee Requirements – describe the planning activities that need to be completed. Awarded grantees will be expected to do the – identify the specific population of focus and following throughout the duration of funding: how they will be involved in planning efforts. • Attend grantee meetings and technical – identify the timeframe needed for planning. assistance sessions periodically. – specify the funding amount requested. • Work with Interact for Health to develop a community plan (planning grantees only). • If applying for implementation: • Work with Interact for Health to develop an – define the project goal and objectives. evaluation plan (implementation grantees only). – describe the project. • Participate in activities as part of the overall – identify the specific population of focus and evaluation of the initiative. how they are involved in the efforts. LETTER OF INTENT – identify the timeframe needed for implementation. REQUIREMENTS AND FORMAT – specify the funding amount requested. Cover Sheet – list proposed outputs and outcomes that may be used to monitor progress and evaluate Please complete Interact for Health’s Innovation success. to Reduce Tobacco Disparities Proposal Cover Sheet to serve as the cover page for your grant • Identify any collaborators, organizations or application. individuals to be involved. • Identify any in-kind contributions and other Letter of Intent funding to be leveraged.

The letter of intent can: Interact for Health anticipates these awards will be • be up to two pages long, single-spaced; 6-month to 18-month grants between $25,000 and $75,000, depending on size and scope. • use a type font not smaller than 12 points; and Requests must be right-sized for the community • have margins of not less than 1 inch. and work proposed. Please use the following outline to write your letter Budget Form of intent: Complete Interact for Health’s Budget Request • Identify and describe the problem, opportunity Form for the grant period. This should be a and need. To the extent possible this should be general idea of how the funds will be spent (not the local need for your population of focus, not part of letter of intent page limit). the national problem or opportunity. This may include details about the community, population, Letter of Intent Selection Criteria tobacco use rates and any previous efforts. • Describe how the proposed project will focus Proposal application materials will be distributed on low-income adults, rural communities or to those applicants whose letters of intent show African American adults and work to reduce they are able to make the most significant impact tobacco disparities. in achieving the goal of the RFP: to pilot and spread promising programs and practices to • If applying for planning: reduce tobacco disparities. In addition, competitive – define the project goal. applicants’ projects will:

4 Interact for Health Innovation to Reduce Tobacco Disparities Request for Proposals 5 • address reducing tobacco disparities among or Community Outreach Officer Julian Collins at people with low income, African Americans and [email protected] or 513-458-6613. rural communities. • have a realistic timeframe and funding request. Additional Resources • include plans to involve the specific population • https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/disparities/index. of focus. htm. • engage community partners. • https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/ • leverage other funding and/or existing stateandcommunity/best-practices-health- resources. equity/pdfs/bp-health-equity.pdf.

Timeline References

Letter of Intent Q&A 10 a.m.-noon, Sept. 6, 2019 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 1-3 p.m., Sept. 10, 2019 (2015). Best Practices User Guide: Health Equity in Letter of intent deadline 5 p.m., Sept. 18, 2019 Tobacco Prevention and Control. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Norification of acceptance Sept. 25, 2019 Department of Health and Human Services, Centers of letter of intent for Disease Control and Prevention, National If your letter of intent is selected, you will be invited Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health to submit a full proposal due Oct. 30, 2019. Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health.

Letter of Intent Q&A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2018). African Americans and Tobacco Use. Retrieved from For questions regarding the letter of intent process https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/disparities/african- or to discuss potential projects, the program officer americans/index.htm. will be available from 10 a.m. to noon Sept. 6, 2019, and from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 10, 2019, at Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Interact for Health, 3805 Edwards , Suite 500, National Center for Health Statistics, National Cincinnati, OH 45209. Attendance is optional and Health Interview Survey. (2019). Early Release not required in order to submit a letter of intent. of Selected Estimates Based on Data from the Driving directions can be found at https://www. 2018 National Health Interview Survey – Current Smoking. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/ interactforhealth.org/location-directions. nchs/nhis/releases/released201905.htm#8. Letter of Intent Submissions Interact for Health. (2018). Greater Cincinnati Adult Tobacco Survey. Completed letters of intent and required materials must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. Sept. The Health Foundation of Greater Cincinnati (1999). 18, 2019. Please submit your letter of intent via The Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status email to [email protected]. Please Survey. put “Innovation to Reduce Disparities LOI- (your organization’s name)” in the subject line to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ensure delivery. For assistance, please contact (1998). Tobacco Use Among U.S. Racial/Ethnic Minority Grants Manager Kristine Schultz at kschultz@ Groups—African Americans, American Indians interactforhealth.org. and Alaska Natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics: A Report of the Surgeon Questions General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control For any questions regarding the proposal please and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health. contact Senior Program Officer Megan Folkerth at [email protected] or 513-458-6631,

4 Interact for Health Innovation to Reduce Tobacco Disparities Request for Proposals 5