Priority Populations Initiative
Tobacco is not an equal opportunity killer.
Certain communities are more burdened with smoking-related diseases and death. Because of this, in 2001 the Foundation developed the Priority Populations Initiative (PPI), a $25 million grant program aimed at reducing disparities in access to tobacco prevention and cessation services in six underserved populations.
- PPI focuses on culturally tailored prevention and cessation support for: African Americans, Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders, Hispanics/Latinos, Native Americans/Alaska Natives, Lesbian/Gay/Bisexual/Transgender, Low Socioeconomic Status.
- PPI grants support community-based organizations, academic institutions and government agencies, such as health care consortiums, substance abuse service providers, universities and local health departments.
- PPI also offers technical assistance, training opportunities and ongoing support from program officers.
Socio-economic differences, historical factors, and cultural practices—as well as aggressive marketing by the tobacco industry targeted at particular groups—have all contributed to a higher rate of tobacco use and related disease in certain populations. PPI offers specific strategies, practices and lessons learned that have proven successful for grantees.
Priority Populations Initiative: Breaking New Ground and Building Capacity in Cultural Tailoring
Part of a series of dissemination publications, this report explores strategies used by Legacy grant recipients to tailor tobacco control programs to meet the unique cultural needs of a target population. Learn more.