Health Education Council Serving Populations At Risk

PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION

HEALTH ACCESS HEC SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS DEDICATED TO ENSURING EVERYONE HAS ACCESS TO CULTURALLY RELEVANT AND SUPPORTIVE HEALTH PROGRAMS AND ENVIRONMENTS REGARDLESS OF ZIP CODE.INVEST HEALTH ROSEVILLE (IHR): AS ONE OF TEN INVEST HEALTH CITIES IN THE COUNTRY, ROSEVILLE ENGAGES HEC TO SERVE AS THE LEAD ORGANIZATION FOR THIS MULTI-SECTOR COLLABORATIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING IN DOWNTOWN ROSEVILLE'S CORE NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGH PROJECTS RESULTING IN POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES FOR RESIDENTS OF THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS. THE INVEST HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETS MONTHLY TO LEVERAGE RESOURCES, PARTNERSHIPS AND BRING NEW INVESTMENTS TO IMPROVE HEALTH. THE COMMITTEE AVERAGES OVER 75 STAKEHOLDERS AND CONVENES AN AVERAGE OF 20 MEMBERS VIRTUALLY MONTHLY TO DISCUSS AND CARRY OUT COLLECTIVE IDEAS FOR THE COMMUNITY. IN MAY 2022, THE ROSEVILLE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED $3.3 MILLION IN IMPROVEMENTS FOR WEBER PARK AND THE CITY IS WORKING COLLABORATIVELY WITH HEC TO ENSURE THAT LOCAL RESIDENTS ARE INVOLVED AN EQUITABLE PARK STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS THAT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH FALL 2022. HEC TELLS THE STORY OF THIS PROJECT THROUGH ITS CHILDRENS BOOK, A PARK FOR EVERYONE THAT WAS PUBLISHED IN SPRING 2022 HIGHLIGHTING THE STORY OF WEBER PARK (BUILT ENVIRONMENT) AND HOW IHR/HEC HAS SUPPORTED THE PARKS TRANSFORMATION DRIVEN BY RESIDENT PRIORITIES AND SOLUTIONS. THE BOOK WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS, PARTNERS ON THE IHR COALITION, THE LIBRARY, AND OTHER PARTNERS. THE BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE ON AMAZON.WEST SACRAMENTO ACCOUNTABLE COMMUNITY FOR HEALTH (ACH): HEC SERVES AS A BACKBONE ORGANIZER FOR THIS MULTI-SECTOR ALLIANCE OF HEALTH, LOCAL GOVERNMENT, SOCIAL SERVICES, AND RESIDENTS WORKING TO PROMOTE HEALTHY, HAPPY HEARTS IN WEST SACRAMENTO. IT BRINGS TOGETHER SECTOR AND COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP TO ALIGN SYSTEMS/RESOURCES AND TO EMBED EQUITY IN A MULTI STRATEGY APPROACH TO REDUCE WEST SACRAMENTOS HIGH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RATES. IN FEBRUARY 2022, THE ACH INITIATED A FOOD SECURITY ASSESSMENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YOLO FOOD BANK TO BETTER UNDERSTAND BARRIERS THAT LOW-INCOME INDIVIDUALS IN WEST SACRAMENTO FACE AND TO IDENTIFY OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERCOME THEM. ACH PARTNERS IDENTIFIED STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS WHO WERE TRAINED ON HOW TO CONDUCT A KEY INFORMANT INTERVIEW AND COLLECTIVELY COMPLETED 50 INTERVIEWS WITH WEST SACRAMENTO RESIDENTS. EVALUATION OF THE RESULTS WILL BE COMPLETED DURING THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. THE WEST SAC ACH ALSO WORKED WITH HILLCREST ADVISORY GROUP TO INTERVIEW THREE MINI GRANT RECIPIENTS AND CAPTURED THEIR STORIES AND EXPERIENCES NAVIGATING THE PANDEMIC AND HELPED DEVELOP A DATA DASHBOARD SHOWCASING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ACH.SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN, HEC HAS WORKED TO ADDRESS FOOD SECURITY NEEDS ACROSS THE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE REGION. HEC STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE LOCAL FOOD BANKS IN THE TRI-COUNTY REGION, INCLUDING PLACER FOOD BANK, SACRAMENTO FOOD BANK & FAMILY SERVICES, AND THE YOLO FOOD BANK. IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, HEC BEGAN HOSTING A BI- MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION IN AUGUST 2021 AT THE MACK ROAD VALLEY HI COMMUNITY CENTER IN SOUTH SACRAMENTO REACHING APPROXIMATELY 9,960 INDIVIDUALS AND DISTRIBUTED 111,240 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE AND NON-PERISHABLES TO FAMILIES DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR.IN PLACER COUNTY, HEC OFFERS A MONTHLY FOOD DISTRIBUTION ACROSS FOUR SENIOR COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY OF ROSEVILLE: WOODCREEK TERRACE APARTMENTS AND MAIDU VILLAGE SENIOR APARTMENTS I, II AND III. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, HEC SERVED APPROXIMATELY 300 HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS AT WOODCREEK TERRACE APARTMENTS AND 1070 HOUSEHOLDS/INDIVIDUALS AT MAIDU VILLAGE SENIOR APARTMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, HEC PROVIDED NUTRITION EDUCATION TO THESE FAMILIES WITH LOW-COST HEALTHY RECIPES, HEALTHY EATING ON A BUDGET, FOOD LITERACY AND HAS DEVELOPED FOOD RESOURCE LISTS DISTINCT TO EACH COUNTY. THESE FOOD LISTS, ALONG WITH OTHER EDUCATIONAL FOOD RESOURCES CAN BE FOUND ON HECS FOOD PROGRAM LANDING PAGE. ADDITIONALLY IN YOLO COUNTY, HEC PARTNERS WITH THE CENTER FOR LAND BASED LEARNING TO SUPPORT THEIR MOBILE FARMERS MARKET PROGRAM ACROSS FOUR SITES IN LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES WITHIN WEST SACRAMENTO. HEC HAS SUPPORTED THE 2022 MARKET SEASON FROM JUNE 2022 AND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH OCTOBER 2022. THIS FISCAL YEAR THE MOBILE MARKET TRUCK SOLD NEARLY 15,000 POUNDS OF LOCALLY SOURCED ORGANIC PRODUCE.WEST SACRAMENTO HOUSING: HEC PROVIDES SERVICES TO IMPROVE HEALTH, SOCIAL SUPPORT AND CONNECTION, AND FINANCIAL WELL- BEING OF WEST SACRAMENTO LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE IN SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT COMMUNITIES MANAGED BY THE WEST SACRAMENTO HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION. HEC WORKS WITH RESIDENTS TO INCREASE AVAILABILITY AND ACCESS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, PROVIDE EDUCATION ON NUTRITION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, MENTAL HEALTH, AND OTHER TOPICS. MONTHLY NEWSLETTERS WERE PRINTED AND POSTED ON THE DOORS OF ALL 271 UNITS, REACHING NEARLY 800 RESIDENTS EACH MONTH.AT THE START OF THE FISCAL YEAR, HEC WORKED IN CONJUNCTION WITH YOLO FOOD BANK, HEC HOSTS FOOD DISTRIBUTIONS ACROSS SIX LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMPLEXES IN WEST SACRAMENTO. FROM JULY 1, 2021 TO JUNE 30, 2022, HEC SERVED APPROXIMATELY 800 HOUSEHOLDS AND 2070 TOTAL INDIVIDUALS. IN DECEMBER 2021, HEC CONDUCTED OPPORTUNITY ASSESSMENTS TO UNDERSTAND THE NEEDS OF RESIDENTS AT TWO LOW-INCOME HOUSING COMMUNITIES IN WEST SACRAMENTO. BASED ON THE SURVEY RESULTS, RESIDENTS REQUESTED WORKSHOPS ON BUDGETING AND NUTRITION EDUCATION ALONG WITH HEALTH FAIR OPPORTUNITIES FOR RESIDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES. HEC RELAUNCHED STANDING MONTHLY IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS PROVIDING FUN, HEALTHY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS; HEALTHY SNACK DEMONSTRATIONS AND TASTINGS; COMMUNITY RESOURCE REFERRALS; AND NUTRITION EDUCATION. HEC HAS WORKED TO COORDINATE COVID19 VACCINATION CLINICS THIS FISCAL PERIOD WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY PARTNERS INCLUDING NORTHERN VALLEY INDIAN HEALTH AND UC DAVIS HEALTH. VENTANILLA DE SALUD (VDS): THROUGH VDS, THE HEALTH WINDOW AT THE MEXICAN CONSULATE IN SACRAMENTO, HEC PROVIDES HEALTH INFORMATION, REFERRALS, AND RESOURCES TO LOW-INCOME IMMIGRANT FAMILIES FROM 24 NORTHERN CA COUNTIES.IN FY 21-22, VDS RESUMED IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES AT THE MEXICAN CONSULATE SITE, WELCOMING NURSING STUDENT INTERNS BACK FROM SAMUEL MERRITT UNIVERSITY AND SACRAMENTO STATE UNIVERSITY. A TOTAL OF 683 (278 MEN, 405 WOMEN) INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED REFERRAL AND NAVIGATION SERVICES FROM A HEC STAFF MEMBER OUT OF THE VDS OFFICE. A TOTAL OF 1498 SERVICES WERE DELIVERED TO THE INDIVIDUALS SERVED, INCLUDING PREVENTATIVE HEALTH SCREENINGS (BLOOD PRESSURE, GLUCOSE, BMI), DENTAL SCREENINGS, VISION SCREENINGS, HIV SCREENINGS, AMONG OTHERS. VDS HOSTED 20 NURSING STUDENTS WHO CONDUCTED OVER 500 HEALTH SCREENINGS AND PROVIDED PREVENTATIVE HEALTH EDUCATION. ALTHOUGH THE PARTNERSHIP WITH ELICA HEALTH CENTERS TO BRING FREE COVID-19 TESTING AND VACCINES ENDED DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, VDS WAS ABLE TO PROVIDE VACCINES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SACRAMENTO COUNTY AND UC DAVIS HEALTHS MOVE-IT UP PROJECT. A TOTAL OF 907 COVID-19 VACCINES WERE GIVEN DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, ALONG WITH 1480 COVID-19 PCR TESTS.HEALTHY AIR QUALITY (PLACER & SAC): IN PLACER COUNTY, HEC CONTINUED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH PLACER COUNTY AIR POLLUTION CONTROL DISTRICT (PCAPCD) TO INCREASE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN DISTRICT GOALS WHICH INCLUDE EDUCATION OF THE DISTRICT EFFORTS, PROMOTION, COORDINATION, COMMUNITY INPUT ON DISTRICT INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. HEC CONDUCTED OUTREACH IN PLACER COUNTY REACHING OVER 600 COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH INFORMATION ON AIR QUALITY AND LOCAL RESOURCES. HEC DEVELOPED A SOCIAL MEDIA TOOLKIT WITH EDUCATIONAL MESSAGES AND RESOURCES INFORMED BY COMMUNITY FEEDBACK THAT WILL LAUNCH IN THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY, HEC COLLABORATED WITH SEVERAL PARTNERS AS PART OF A SACRAMENTO ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY AIR MONITORING PROJECT WITH VALLEY VISION, UNITED LATINOS AND BREATHE CALIFORNIAS SACRAMENTO REGION. THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO ESTABLISH AN AIR-MONITORING NETWORK IN PRIORITY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES TO ASSESS PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS DUE TO VEHICLE EMISSIONS FOCUSING IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES WITHIN THE CITY OF SACRAMENTO. HEC WILL WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH THE MUTUAL ASSISTANCE NETWORK IN THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN THE NORTH HIGHLAND AND WEST ARDEN ARCADE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES. THE DATA GATHERED WILL BE UTILIZED TO ASSESS THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN AIR QUALITY AND RESPIRATORY HEALTH AND ITS CONTRIBUTING CAUSES IN THESE NEIGHBORHOODS.HEALTHY VACAVILLE: HEC BEGAN COLLABORATING WITH THE CITY OF VACAVILLE IN APRIL 2021. THE GOALS OF THIS WORK WERE TO ENGAGE COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 TO ADVISE THE CITY WHERE TO MAKE FUTURE INVESTMENTS TO CREATE A THRIVING NEIGHBORHOOD. DISTRICT 3 IS AN UNDERSERVED NEIGHBORHOOD WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION AND HIGH LEVELS OF POVERTY COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE CITY. HEC CONDUCTED OVER 30 ONE-O

SOCIAL CONNECTION HEC SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS DEDICATED TO STRENGTHENING FAMILY AND COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS IN ORDER TO REMOVE STIGMA AND BOOST SUPPORT RELATED TO ADDRESSING MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH ISSUES.PEERS HELPING PEERS/FACILITADORES COMMUNITARIOS: CREATED IN 2020 WITH A GRANT FROM SACRAMENTO COUNTYS CALIFORNIA MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AUTHORITY AND THE DIVISION BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THROUGH THE VOTER APPROVED PROPOSITION 63, PHP HAS A THREE-FOLD MISSION FOR SPANISH SPEAKING ADULTS AND YOUTH 17-24 YEARS OLD, 1.) TO DECREASE MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA THROUGHOUT SACRAMENTO COUNTY 2.) INCREASE SOCIAL CONNECTION AND THE ABILITY OF PARTICIPANTS TO SERVE AS MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS FOR THEIR PEERS, AND 3.) INTRODUCE PARTICIPANTS TO ENTRY-LEVEL MENTAL HEALTH JOBS THROUGH COMMUNITY PROJECTS AND PAID INTERNSHIPS. SINCE FALL 2020, PHP HAS GRADUATED OVER 130 YOUTH AND ADULT PARTICIPANTS FROM ITS TRAINING PROGRAM. OVER 85 PERCENT OF PHP PARTICIPANTS REPORTED BEING MORE AWARE OF MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY; KNOWING HOW TO REFER A FRIEND TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES AND FEELING MORE COMFORTABLE ENCOURAGING FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO SEEK MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.MENTE SANA, VIDA SANA: LOCATED AT THE MEXICAN CONSULATE IN SACRAMENTO, THIS HEC PROGRAM PROMOTES EARLY DETECTION, PREVENTION, AND TREATMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY. UTILIZING CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY APPROPRIATE SCREENING TOOLS AND COUNSELING SERVICES, MENTE SANA PROVIDES DIRECT SERVICES TO THE SPANISH- SPEAKING COMMUNITY AND WORKS TO DECREASE THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH MENTAL HEALTH.DURING FY 2021-22, MSVS RETURNED TO MANY OF THE USUAL IN-PERSON ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING DEPRESSION SCREENINGS, HEALTH FAIRS, EDUCATIONAL PRESENTATIONS, AND COUNSELING SESSIONS. MSVS HAS RETAINED SOME VIRTUAL/TELE ACTIVITIES IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE PARTICIPANTS THAT FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IN THAT MODALITY OR TO ELIMINATE TRANSPORTATION AND GEOGRAPHICAL BARRIERS. THIS YEAR WE STRENGTHENED THE ROLE OF THE FEMA/SAMHSA TRAINED CRISIS COUNSELORS ON THE MSVS TEAM. TWO SPANISH-SPEAKING CRISIS COUNSELORS PROVIDED CRISIS COUNSELING TO 64 INDIVIDUALS DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR. ON AVERAGE, INDIVIDUALS MET WITH THE CRISIS COUNSELOR FOR 5 SESSIONS, EACH SESSION WAS ONE HOUR LONG. INDIVIDUALS WHO RECEIVED CRISIS COUNSELING REPORTED A POSITIVE CHANGE IN THEIR OUTLOOK OF THEIR SITUATION.WALK WITH FRIENDS: HEC COMMUNITY-CENTERED WALKING GROUPS ACROSS THE SACRAMENTO REGION ARE DESIGNED TO INCREASE ACTIVE LIVING AND SOCIAL CONNECTION AMONG RESIDENTS BY UTILIZING LOCAL PARKS AND WALKING TRAILS. IN AUGUST 2021, THE WALK WITH FRIENDS (WWF) PROGRAM WAS RELAUNCHED AT ROBLA COMMUNITY PARK IN NORTH SACRAMENTO AND ELKHORN PARK IN WEST SACRAMENTO. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, AN AVERAGE OF 25 INDIVIDUALS ATTENDED THE ROBLA WALKING GROUP ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND AN AVERAGE OF 10 PEOPLE ATTENDED EACH WEEK AT THE ELKHORN GROUP. ROBLA WALK WITH FRIENDS ALSO INCORPORATES A MONTHLY NUTRITION LESSON INTO THE PROGRAM WHERE PARTICIPANTS GET TO VIEW A FOOD DEMONSTRATION AND LEARN MORE ABOUT HEALTHY EATING AND FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE ELKHORN AND ROBLA SITES, HEC DISTRIBUTED 45,066 POUNDS OF FRESH PRODUCE.

WELLNESS EDUCATION HEC SUPPORTS PROGRAMS AND COLLABORATES WITH PARTNERS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING FREE RESOURCES AND TOOLS TO INCREASE UNDERSTANDING OF PRIORITY HEALTH CONDITIONS AND CULTIVATE HEALTHIER BEHAVIORS TO COMBAT THEM. NUTRITION EDUCATION OBESITY PREVENTION (NEOP). NEOP STRIVES TO ADVANCE STUDENT AND FAMILY HEALTH AND WELL-BEING ACROSS SCHOOLS AND DISTRICTS IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY IN EFFORTS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND PREVENT CHRONIC DISEASE.HECS TEAM NUTRITION PROGRAM AT TWIN RIVERS UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT (TRUSD) WORKED WITH CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY SACRAMENTO NURSING STUDENT INTERNS TO DELIVER VIRTUAL AND HYBRID NUTRITION EDUCATION LESSONS TO 1ST-3RD GRADE STUDENTS. FOCUSED ON TEACHING STUDENTS HEALTHY EATING STRATEGIES, THE PROGRAM WORKED WITH 24 SCHOOLS AND REACHED OVER 2500 STUDENTS. HECS HARVEST OF THE MONTH 2.0 PROGRAM INTRODUCED OVER 2,300 STUDENTS FROM 77 TRUSD CLASSROOMS TO NEW FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. THE PROGRAM FOR 3RD-6TH GRADE TEACHERS PROVIDED MONTHLY TASTING KITS AND LESSON PLANS FOR HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES IN THEIR CLASSROOMS. THE PARENT WORKSHOP PARTNERED WITH TOMORROWS KITCHEN TO PROVIDE VIRTUAL COOKING WORKSHOP SERIES WITH AN ENGAGING NUTRITION LESSON AND FAMILY COOKING DEMONSTRATION. THESE 5-WEEK WORKSHOPS TAUGHT 120 PARENTS HOW TO COOK HEALTHY RECIPES THEIR CHILDREN WOULD LOVE.HECS SECOND ANNUAL VIRTUAL SCHOOL WELLNESS SUMMIT WAS HELD FROM SEPTEMBER 28 TO OCTOBER 1, 2021. THE THEME FOR THE SUMMIT WAS BRIDGING THE GAP TO STUDENT HEALTH. THE SUMMIT FEATURED A KEYNOTE ADDRESS AND PANEL PRESENTATIONS ON WHOLE STUDENT HEALTH AS WELL AS SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICIES, TOBACCO USE PREVENTION, AND SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING. OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED THE SCHOOL WELLNESS SUMMIT.LATINOS UNIDOS CONTRA EL HABITO Y ADICCION AL TABACO (LUCHA). LUCHA WORKS TO REDUCE TOBACCO-RELATED DISPARITIES IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY ACROSS A 14-COUNTY REGION IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. SPECIALLY, THE PROGRAM AIMS TO INCREASE LATINO ACCESS TO AND AWARENESS OF CESSATION PROGRAMS AND SMOKE-FREE MULTI-UNIT HOUSING AS WELL AS TO DECREASE ACCESS TO FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS. LUCHA USES A VARIETY OF POLICY AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH STRATEGIES TO ACHIEVE ITS GOALS AND DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENGAGED 300 COMMUNITY MEMBERS IN POLICY RELATED ACTIVITIES WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THREE LOCAL POLICIES.LUCHA TEAM DESIGNED AND IMPLEMENTED A NEW TOBACCO PREVENTION AMBASSADOR CORPS PROGRAM. THE TWO-PART TRAINING TAUGHT LOCAL YOUTH HOW THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY UTILIZES SOCIAL MEDIA TO APPEAL TO YOUTH, MINORITIES, AND PEOPLE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR MENTAL HEALTH. THE 30 PARTICIPATING STUDENTS WERE TASKED DESIGNING AND SHARING TOBACCO PREVENTION MESSAGING WITH THEIR PEERS.THE ORGANIZATIONS TOBACCO PREVENTION TEAM ALSO LEADS DONT BUY THE LIE (DBTL), A CONTEST ENGAGING YOUTH IN GRADES 6-12 IN THE GREATER SACRAMENTO AREA IN THE USE OF ARTISTIC EXPRESSION TO SHARE THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW BIG TOBACCO TARGETS YOUTH AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. CONTESTANTS WERE INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR CREATION WITH THEIR PREFERRED FORM OF MEDIA (ARTWORK, DANCE, SKIT, MUSIC, POETRY, SPOKEN WORD, ETC.) WINNING PRIZES RANGE FROM $580-$1000. THE CONTEST IS SUPPORTED WITH FUNDING FROM KAISER PERMANENTE. THIS FISCAL YEAR THE CONTEST REACHED 460 YOUTH, PARENTS, AND PARTNERS.