The purpose of the Nuestras Voces (Our Voices): Networking2Save Program, led by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance) is to expand multi-sector networks and their capacity to effectively address the threats of commercial tobacco use and reduce the impact of tobacco related cancers on the nation’s health and well-being, with a particular focus on reducing disparities in underserved Hispanic communities.
The proposed Network will achieve the following outcomes over its five years of operation through management of a national network; training and technical assistance to Network members and CDC-funded programs; and increasing reach of culturally proficient national, state, tribal, territorial, and local interventions and mass reach health communications.
• Short-term outcome: Increased capacity of CDC-funded tobacco and cancer control programs to improve the collection and use of Hispanic population data.
• Intermediate outcome: Strengthened relationships between Hispanic serving CBOs, CDC-funded program/partners, national organizations with state and local reach, and other funded National networks to achieve increased delivery of culturally proficient evidence-based interventions to reach and impact commercial tobacco use and cancers in Hispanic communities.
• Long-term outcome: Decreased incidence of advanced stage disease, including tobacco-related cancers, among Hispanic communities.
The Nuestras Voces Network will be comprised of several components.
Regional Lead Agencies (RLAs). A regional network of leading Hispanic CBOs will serve as RLAs:
• Midwest Chicago Hispanic Health Coalition Chicago, IL
• Northeast Hispanic Federation New York, NY
• Northwest El Centro de la Raza Seattle, WA
• Southeast Hispanic Health Coalition of Georgia Alpharetta, GA
• Southwest Dia de la Mujer Latina y la Familia Houston, TX
• West Family Health Centers of San Diego San Diego, CA
Each of these agencies have a broad history with implementing culturally proficient EBIs including in tobacco control and cancer, are trusted agents of change in their region, have a long history of collaboration with the Alliance, and operate networks that are regional with a reach amplified by their multi-sectoral collaborations. In addition to RLAs, the following will be operational under Nuestras Voces:
Nuestras Voces Network. Membership currently stands at 325 cross sectoral members and open to organizations and individuals committed to advancing culturally proficient interventions to address commercial tobacco use and related cancers in underserved Hispanic communities.
National Advisory Committee (NAC). The Alliance developed a multi-sectoral group with the capacity to support local, state, and regional partnerships and EBI training and technical assistance in support of the Nuestras Voces proposed outcomes. NAC members include:
• American Cancer Society
• American Heart Association
• American Public Health Association
• Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
• ChangeLab Solutions
• City of Houston Health Department (Chair)
• Indiana Latino Institute
• National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable
• National League of Cities
• Nuestra Salud
• Prevention Institute
• Truth Initiative
• USC Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prev.
• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
Cross-Network Siblings (CNS). The Nuestras Voces program will formalize collaborations with sibling Networks. Key activities will be a report to the field on strategies to reduce tobacco and cancer related disparities and an annual portfolio of six infographs on key cross-sectional issues in tobacco and cancer related disparities.
The Nuestras Voces program will benefit from the Alliance’s principled stance of not accepting funding from tobacco, alcohol, or sugar sweetened beverage companies and more than four decades of working leading culturally proficient efforts in tobacco and cancer control