Taking the First Steps to Reach the LGBT Population in Kansas with Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Messages and Resources K Moore, C Cryer, J Brandes, C Cramer, G Park, C Satzler

Have two meetings with local LGBT community leader: Sedgwick County Health Department and Kansas Department of Health and Environment representatives met with community leaders and learned that a main concern with quitting tobacco involved weight gain, especially when taking hormones since weight gain was already a problem. Find one champion: The workgroup is searching for a champion to lead the initiative. Create or distribute one customized piece of media: A customized advertisement for Liberty Press, Kansas’ largest LGBT publication was developed and ran in the publication Postcards at Pride: Sedgwick County Health Department distributed Quitline information at the Wichita Pride event. Introduction The Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) began efforts to reach out to the LGBT population this year. Efforts were sparked primarily by the Kansas Tobacco Prevention for Specific Populations planning process. These efforts have been eclectic and dynamic. Thus, rather than following a traditional academic project outline, this poster presentation highlights sample resources and summaries of efforts to-date. Specific Populations Planning Process In 2006, Kansas’ Tobacco Use Prevention Program (TUPP) was awarded a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to develop a strategic plan for addressing disparities related to tobacco. Kansas began work on the project in September 2006, and a diverse workgroup representing multiple specific populations – including the LGBT population – met in the spring of Specific Populations Workgroup members were selected from nomination forms distributed around the state. Members were assured that their names would not be published as a representative of a specific population. A special effort was made to reach out to the LGBT population during the recruitment and nomination process. Members were asked to self- identify the populations they represented or served to avoid any assumptions. Note from chart at right that three workgroup members identified themselves as representing the LGBT population. For more information see Technical Assistance and Training A toll-free call held on April 3, 2007 was titled Engaging the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community in Tobacco Control Efforts. Scout, Ph.D. from the Fenway Institute, Boston, MA presented on the call. The Fenway Institute also traveled to Topeka at the end of April to provide a full-day training, which was offered in-person and at satellite locations across the state via video conferencing. The complete presentation and other LGBT technical assistance resources are available online at the Specific Populations website, where a section was added to direct grantees and workgroup members to LGBT materials: Kansas Tobacco Quitline and Improved Data Collection The KS Quitline logo recognizes that tobacco cessation is unique to each individual-as unique as their thumbprint! Kansas Quitline. The Kansas Tobacco Quitline is central to Kansas’ tobacco prevention efforts. LGBT-related outreach activities include ordering and distributing customized Quitline materials (highlighted in panel at right), running customized Quitline ads, and improving data collection efforts. Improved Data Collection. LGBT populations are self- identified in both the Quitline calls during the intake part of the call, and in the Adult Tobacco Survey (ATS). The ATS is a random sample of Kansans over the age of 18. See specific verbiage at right: IMPORTANT TALKING POINTS: The question should be asked in the same standard, nonchalant way all other questions are asked. No apologies, cautions, etc... If the person answers TRANSGENDERED, choose "Other". If the person does not understand the question or does not want to answer, use "Refused" and go on to the next question. If the caller asks why we are asking: 1st RESPONSE - "We are gathering information to find out if services are reaching diverse populations and if they are effective.” 2ND RESPONSE - if the caller wants more information, you can elaborate with the following statement - "The information is kept completely confidential. No names or identifying information is given when the information is shared. If you have more questions, I can have someone contact you directly.” 90. Which of the following best describes how you think of yourself? READ: 1. Heterosexual or Straight 2. Gay 3. Lesbian 4. Bisexual 5. Other DO NOT READ: 7. Don't know/Not sure 9. Refused of the call. Question is asked in this order: Heterosexual, Straight, Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Other: _________ Customized Media and Resources with Limited Budget With a limited budget earmarked for targeted materials, we were able to create some ads that were customized and made available to grantees for publication thanks to our in-house media coordinator and our contracted media company. With permission we were able to customize available targeted materials at a very minimal cost. Resources will be offered to the Specific Populations workgroup members and are available for grantees to help themselves at training rather than spread minimal resources across the state where they may not be widely distributed. Kansas Tobacco Prevention for Specific Populations Six-Month LGBT Plan The below “ecomap” from the Specific Populations Marketing Plan is a pictorial representation of how the Kansas Tobacco Use Prevention Program is collaboratively reaching out to multiple sectors of specific populations and how “everyone benefits” from tobacco prevention and cessation.