The American Legacy Foundation recently awarded a number of grants to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities as part of its Priority Populations Initiative. Described below is a sampling of the organizations aimed at addressing disparities in tobacco control for this community:

Papa Ola Lokahi will implement a standardized smoking cessation protocol statewide through the Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS). This program builds each system's capacity to address the high smoking rates among its clients, which consist of the medically underserved and uninsured.

Asian Pacific Partners for Empowerment, Advocacy and Leaders will develop effective, replicable and community-competent tobacco cessation strategies for AAPI communities. The objectives include: 1) assess availability and effectiveness of tailored services for AAPI, 2) develop clinical and organizational policies in AAPI health care settings, 3) inventory the accessibility and effectiveness of state quit-lines, and 4) build internal capacity and infrastructure of two AAPI communities to provide services and develop replicable models.

The American Legacy Foundation's Priority Populations Initiative is proud to have supported such a dedicated group of community organizations in an effort to reduce health disparities in Asian American and Pacific Islander ethnic groups.

The American Legacy Foundation in partnership with Papa Ola Lokahi, the Asian Pacific American Health Forum, and Queen's Medical Center sponsored the first Pacific Partnership for Tobacco Free Islands Health Gathering on April 29 and 30 in Honolulu, HI. The Partnership is a coalition of diverse participants from faith-based, traditional, governmental, public health and non-governmental organizations working toward a Pacific-wide tobacco control initiative. The Health Gathering was planned entirely by Pacific Islanders for Pacific Islanders with the agenda reflecting not only topical interests, but also serving as a cultural mosaic.

"It's very exciting to be involved in an initiative that is created by Pacific Islanders for Pacific Islanders," exclaimed George Cruz of Saipan and interim chair of the coalition.