TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Application Deadline: December 1, 2015

Transcription

1 TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS Application Deadline: December 1, 2015 PURPOSE: The Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute (TCPLI) is a year-long program of Alameda County Public Health Department s Tobacco Control Program (ACPHD-TCP). This program aims to develop leaders who can be successful advocates for tobacco control policies in their communities. This is an outstanding opportunity for Oakland-based community agencies wishing to increase internal capacity to engage in local tobacco control policy and advocacy work in order to further health equity among African-American communities inequitably burdened by tobacco use and tobacco-related disease. BACKGROUND: Alameda County Public Health Department works in partnership with the community to ensure the optimal health and well being of all people through a dynamic and responsive process respecting the diversity of the community and challenging us to provide for present and future generations. Since 1989, ACPHD-TCP has been committed to environmental and policy change initiatives to reduce inequities in tobacco use and tobacco-related disease. ACPHD-TCP employs a multi-pronged approach to health equity, highlighting community partnerships, local-state-federal policies, innovative research and organizational transformation in addressing the social and environmental determinants of tobacco-related health inequities. ACPHD-TCP s work underscores the critical role that local policy can play in transforming community environments where we live, work, play, and learn to promote individual and collective health. ACPHD-TCP maintains a strong history of engaging community organizations in policy education and advocacy initiatives, as evidenced by the adoption of Oakland s 2008 Tobacco Retailer Licensing Ordinance. ACPHD-TCP also works in non-traditional policy arenas to increase the reach of tobacco control efforts and to improve the overall health of community residents by addressing the social determinants of health. Tobacco control efforts in California have achieved remarkable success over the past 25 years. BRFSS data reflects an overall decline by 51% in adult smoking rates from 1988 (24%) to 2013 (12%). However, many groups have not seen significant health benefit from those worthwhile efforts, as smoking prevalence disparities persist among racial/ethnic population groups. Consistent with trends, African-Americans reported the highest smoking rates (18%) in 2013, in comparison to Whites (14%), Asians (11%), and Latinos (10%) (CHIS, 2013). Similarly, California s high school smoking rates declined 51% between 2000 and 2012, while this rate increased by nearly 16% among African- American youth (CDPH s California Tobacco Facts and Figures, 2015). The health consequences of these disparities are sobering, as tobacco use is a major contributor to the three leading causes of death among African-Americans: heart disease, cancer and stroke (CDC, 2015). Research illustrates low-income communities of color as hardest hit by both the burdens of tobacco-related disease and the inequitable social determinants of health that contribute to poorer health outcomes. 1 P a g e

2 In Alameda County, 2014 smoking prevalence among adults overall (12%) is comparable to the statewide average. Yet, smoking rates among African-American residents in (23%) are again disproportionately higher as compared to other racial/ethnic groups (CHIS, 2014). In Oakland, African-American residents represent 28% of the city s total population (2010 Census) and 31% of Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) students ( ). According to California s Healthy Kids Survey ( ), 13% of OUSD students have smoked cigarettes by 11 th grade and 22% have used e-cigarettes. While gaps exist in local-level data, trends show that African-American youth in Oakland are at higher risk for tobacco use than their counterparts in other racial/ethnic groups. Addressing tobacco-related health inequities by race/ethnicity, socio-economic status and place of residence requires a broad framework with a strong focus on policy, systems and environmental change efforts. Alameda County communities have been at the forefront for local adoption of tobacco control policies. Unfortunately, many agencies have limited experience in policy advocacy and therefore do not often have an effective voice in their community. The Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute is designed to increase internal capacity of Oakland-based community agencies to engage in tobacco control policy and advocacy projects to address tobacco-related health inequities in Oakland s African-American communities. THE PROGRAM: The Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute (TCPLI) strives to: Increase the number of local tobacco control policies in Oakland, California aimed at improving tobacco-related health outcomes among African-American community members. Increase the number of Oakland-based community agencies involved in tobacco control policymaking and working to advance tobacco-related health equity. Foster leadership, advocacy and public policy knowledge and skills among Oakland-based community agencies. Strengthen linkages between Oakland-based community agencies and those who influence and make local tobacco control policy. Bolster relationships among a learning community of fellow Oakland-based agencies working collectively toward tobacco-related health equity and other social justice issues. TCPLI is a twelve-month program which engages participants in six months of tobacco control policy and leadership training, followed by six months of continued tobacco control policy implementation. Training topics include: introduction to tobacco control and prevention; social determinants of health inequities; effective tobacco control interventions; leadership development; local tobacco control policy development; messaging and policy advocacy, and community education. Training sessions will build on existing leadership strengths of participants and will feature interactive exercises as well as guest presentations on respective training topics. Participants will use leadership experience gained through trainings to develop and implement a local tobacco control policy advocacy project of their choosing. Participants will be guided by a supportive cohort of Oakland-based agencies and mentors well-versed in local tobacco control policy work. 2 P a g e

3 Agency teams will select one of the following focus areas to develop a local tobacco control policy: 1. Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing: Secondhand smoke exposure poses serious health risks to residents of multi-unit housing (i.e. apartments, condominiums, public housing) as smoke migrates through hallways, stairwells, cracks in walls, and shared ventilation systems (CDC, Healthy Homes Manual). This issue is compounded by health inequities, as almost two-thirds of multi-unit housing residents are people of color, and nearly half are low-income or below the poverty level. Adopting local smoke-free multi-unit housing policies can significantly reduce secondhand smoke exposure in the home, ensuring that all residents have the opportunity to live smoke-free, regardless of race, ethnicity or economic ability. A smoke-free multi-unit housing policy would include prohibiting smoking inside units, as smoking is already restricted in indoor and outdoor common areas (ChangeLab Solutions, 2015). 2. Flavored Tobacco Products: Use of flavored tobacco products has increased dramatically in recent years. Additionally, heavy tobacco industry marketing of flavored products targets youth and other vulnerable populations. According to a CDC and FDA study (2015), 70% of middle and high school students using tobacco have used a flavored tobacco product. Further, menthol-flavored tobacco products are disproportionately marketed to and used by African- Americans and youth (Surgeon General Report, 2014). Tobacco products containing menthol and characterizing flavors hinder efforts to reduce smoking rates among youth, exposing new generations to tobacco and nicotine addiction. While federal law prohibits the sale of fruit- and candy-flavored cigarettes, regulations do not extend to other flavored tobacco products such as cigars, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes (ChangeLab Solutions, 2014). In response, communities can enact local policies restricting the sale, distribution and availability of flavored tobacco products to curb rates of tobacco use among youth and other vulnerable populations. 3. E-cigarettes or Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems: E-cigarettes represent a mounting public health concern as availability and popularity has grown rapidly since U.S. introduction in E-cigarettes contain highly-addictive nicotine as well as at least 10 chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects and other reproductive harm. Of particular concern is aggressive e- cigarette marketing and escalating use among youth and young adults. A 2014 national survey reported e-cigarette use doubling traditional cigarette use among 8 th and 10 th graders. In California, e-cigarette use among young adults tripled from 2012 to The multibillion dollar e-cigarette industry is largely unregulated, ensuring few safeguards for consumer protection. Given limited FDA authority to regulate e-cigarettes, cities and counties can enact local policies protecting communities from the harms of e-cigarettes. Local policies may restrict the use and sale of e-cigarettes, and extend existing laws regulating traditional tobacco products to cover e-cigarettes (State Health Officer s Report on E-Cigarettes, 2015). RESPONSIBILITIES OF ACPHD-TCP 1. Award successful applicants $10,000 for full program participation. 2. Host twelve tobacco control policy trainings (twice per month) between February and July Meeting times will accommodate the availability of TCPLI participants. Trainings will average two to three hours in length. 3. Cover program-associated costs for participating agencies including: Training refreshments Trainers and training materials Mentors for each agency team 4. Manage the program and respond to any program-related questions or concerns. 5. Learn from participants feedback to support program improvement. 3 P a g e

4 RESPONSIBILITIES OF PARTICIPATING AGENCIES 1. Adopt an organizational Tobacco Control policy that includes: Tobacco-free workplace, including buildings and grounds; Tobacco-free programs, activities and events sponsored by agency; Divestment of tobacco industry stock and investments; and Refusal of Tobacco Industry Funding that includes no solicitation or acceptance of funds, goods or services from tobacco manufacturers. 2. Ensure that two agency representatives participate in all program activities: Representatives will be expected to attend all required trainings in their entirety. Representatives will be expected to attend quarterly meetings of the Alameda County Tobacco Control Coalition which convenes a diverse group of community based organizations to learn about current tobacco control issues. Representatives will be expected to participate in and implement a local tobacco control policy of the agency s choosing to reduce inequities in tobacco use and tobacco related disease among African-American communities in Oakland. In doing so, agency teams will select one of three above-mentioned focus areas. Representatives will actively work on chosen tobacco control policy project, including participation in tobacco control policy research, community education, policy advocacy, and regular communication with the cohort regarding successes, challenges and lessons learned. Representatives will provide feedback through evaluations after each training and after completion of the program to support program improvement. 3. Fully support agency representatives to spend staff/day time hours to participate in program inside and outside of trainings, even if the tobacco control policy representatives are working on is not top priority for the agency. NOTE: Estimated agency time commitment is ten to fifteen hours per month. 4. Subsidize any program-related travel expenses for agency representatives. 5. In agency teams, ensure completion of four out of the six following objectives: Participation in and implementation of 1 local tobacco control policy advocacy messaging plan to mobilize community and policymaker support. Creation and dissemination of local tobacco control policy educational materials. Delivery of 2 tobacco control policy presentations to groups in low-income communities of color disproportionately burdened by tobacco-related illness. Presentation at 2 or more city or county meetings discussing tobacco control policy. Submission of 2 op-eds to educate the community on tobacco control policy. Tobacco control policy education of elected officials at 2 or more legislative visits. 6. Develop and implement a plan to share learning from this program with other agency staff, volunteers, board (if possible), and community members. AWARD: Seven to eight successful agencies will be awarded a maximum of $10,000 each for full participation in the Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute program. Awards will be provided for twelve months of funding (February 1, 2016 January 31, 2017), with an opportunity for participating agencies to renew funding for an additional year. Participating agencies will receive $5,000 within one month of the contract start date and will receive the $5,000 balance upon successful completion of the program. 4 P a g e

5 BENEFITS OF PARTICIPATION: Receive a $10,000 award to increase agency capacity to lead local tobacco control policy efforts in order to further health equity among community members most disproportionately impacted by tobacco-related illnesses. Partner with local community organizations to leverage shared resources, develop local policy change strategies, and amplify collective impact for achieving tobacco-related health equity. Gain hands-on local policy advocacy knowledge and skills to apply to a variety of social justice issues of organizational interest. Strengthen agency capacity to engage in mutually-beneficial cross-sector collaboration. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Applicants must be Oakland-based community agencies with experience working in partnership with African-American communities which have been inequitably burdened by tobacco use and tobacco-related disease. Non-profit organizations with tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status and in good standing are eligible to apply. If your agency is not currently a 501(c)(3) organization, you may be able to work in partnership with a fiscal sponsor. Agencies with no prior experience working on tobacco control policy are encouraged to apply. Agencies with a history of working on tobacco control policy may be funded if documentation of an ongoing need among constituents is provided, along with documentation of how funding would augment the agency s existing work in a new direction. Organizations currently funded through Alameda County s Master Settlement Agreement funds, including successful applicants for Tobacco Control Program Services RFP No. PHD , are ineligible to apply for this funding. CALENDAR OF EVENTS: EVENT DATE / LOCATION Application Issued November 2, 2015 Networking/Bidders Conference #1 November 10, 9:30 a.m. Networking/Bidders Conference #2 November 16, 3:00 p.m. /Phone Questions Due November 18, 2015 Addendum Issued November 23, 2015 Application Due December 1, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Evaluation Period December 2 15, 2015 Notification of Award December 21, 2015 (approximate) Award Distribution January 15, 2016 Program/Contract Period February 1, 2016 January 31, 2017 at: Alameda County Public Health Department Conference Room 5000B 1000 Broadway, Oakland, CA at: Alameda County Public Health Department Conference Room 5000B 1000 Broadway, Oakland, CA P a g e

6 NETWORKING/BIDDERS CONFERENCES Networking/bidders conferences will be held to: Provide applicants with an opportunity to request program and application related clarification. Provide the County with an opportunity to receive program and application related feedback. All questions will be addressed, and the list of attendees will be included, in an application Addendum following the networking/bidders conference(s). Potential applicants are strongly encouraged to attend networking/bidders conference(s) in order to further facilitate participant relationships. Attendance at a networking/bidders conference is highly recommended but is not required. SELECTION CRITERIA: Members of the Alameda County Public Health Department s Tobacco Control Program Selection Committee will assess eligible and complete applications based on criteria including: Experience working in partnership with African-American communities in Oakland on social justice related initiatives Potential for leadership in local tobacco control policy work Capacity to ensure full program participation of agency representatives Commitment to incorporate program experience into agency s future health equity initiatives Please see application questions (page 8) for point assignments which will determine scoring. The final maximum score for any application is one hundred (100) points. APPLICATION PROCESS: To apply, please submit the attached Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute application with all applicable documentation to Rachel.Gratz-Lazarus@acgov.org by December 1, 2105 at 5:00 p.m. Please include Application Cover Sheet (Page 7) and responses to Application Questions (Page 8) up to the maximum single-spaced length requested. Only completed applications will be accepted. Late submissions will not be considered. confirmation will be sent within two business days of successful application submission. ACPHD-TCP reserves the right to request additional information or clarification from applicants as needed. Oral interviews may be conducted as needed with highest scoring bidders. QUESTIONS: Please direct program and application related questions to Rachel Gratz-Lazarus, Program Specialist, at Rachel.Gratz-Lazarus@acgov.org or by November 18, P a g e

7 TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS APPLICATION COVER SHEET Application Deadline: December 1, 2015 at 5:00 p.m. Please be sure to read funding announcement to ensure eligibility prior to application completion. Agency Name: Street Address: City: State: Zip Code: Phone Number: Webpage: Agency Primary Contact Information: Name / Title: Telephone Number: Address: Type of Entity / Organizational Structure (check one): Fax Number: Non-Profit Agency with 501(c)(3) Agency working in partnership with Fiscal Sponsor (If checked, please include below) Fiscal Sponsor Organization Name: Street Address: City: State: Zip Code: Contact Name/Title: Phone Number: Webpage: Agency or Fiscal Sponsor Federal Tax Identification Number (EIN): Certification The undersigned hereby affirms that the statements contained in the application package are true and complete to the best of the applicant s knowledge and accepts as a condition of award the obligation to comply with applicable state and federal requirements, policies, standards and regulations. The undersigned is authorized to bind the agency to adhere to program requirements. Name and Title of Agency Signer: Signature of Agency Authorized Representative: Name and Title of Fiscal Sponsor Signer: Signature of Fiscal Sponsor Authorized Representative: Date: Date: 7 P a g e

8 TOBACCO CONTROL POLICY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - APPLICATION QUESTIONS Please respond to the following questions on separate pages. For narrative questions 1 through 6, please limit combined responses to a maximum length of three single-spaced pages. 1) Please describe your agency s mission and two agency successes (10 points). 2) Please describe your agency s experience working in partnership with African-American communities in Oakland on social justice related initiatives (20 points). 3) Please describe how participation in the Tobacco Control Policy Leadership Institute will benefit your agency s existing work (20 points). 4) Please describe the experience your agency has with working on tobacco control initiatives or local policy change efforts (Pass/Fail, 0 points). Note: Prior experience working on tobacco control initiatives or local policy change is not required. 5) Please describe your agency s capacity to ensure full program participation of agency representatives, including attendance at all required trainings/meetings and implementation of chosen tobacco control policy (20 points). 6) Please describe how your agency might incorporate this program experience into your agency s future health equity initiatives (20 points) ) Additional Required Documentation (10 points). a. Resumes and/or biographical sketches of two proposed agency representatives b. Proof of non-profit status, if applicable c. If fiscally sponsored, a letter from the fiscal sponsor confirming partnership 8 P a g e