The Rhode Island Department of Health Tobacco Control Program (RITCP) is offering three (3) short-term project funding opportunities of up to $3,000 each to Rhode Island community/faith-based organizations. The organization(s) must be located or serving in Providence and have demonstrated proven engagement with communities affected by menthol-related health disparities, i.e., African-Immigrants and/or African Americans. Organizations must serve the special populations that reside or work in the Providence Metro area, and must have 501c3 status, i.e., nonprofit, faith-based, public libraries, youth development organizations, etc. The organization(s) must aim to reduce access to menthol and other flavored tobacco/nicotine products in communities. Preference will be given to applications that document a capacity to implement tobacco/nicotine-free policies and educate on the harms of tobacco/nicotine use and tobacco industry practices through policy, environmental, system change strategies, data collection, improved enforcement, and public education. These short-term projects seek to help Providence community members who have been disproportionately affected by menthol products. Awardees would assist in educating the population on the tobacco industry’s marketing tactics, the harms of tobacco/nicotine use on the individual, those around them and their environment, and to offer tailored quit resources. RITCP and award recipients will collaborate with federal, state, and local partners to make tobacco/nicotine-free living the norm, focusing on communities that experience tobacco/nicotine-related disparities in health outcomes. Awardees will work with Oasis International Inc. (Oasis) to implement the following strategies through the Rhode Island Menthol Health Equity Workgroup: 1. Engage diverse partners to promote and support social, economic and community change to increase awareness of the harms of menthol and other flavored tobacco/nicotine product use and the availability of cessation services. 2. Educate the public, community leaders, partners, and decision-makers on policy, systems, and environmental changes that can prevent and reduce menthol tobacco/nicotine use. 3. Implement culturally appropriate interventions tailored for community needs to prevent and reduce menthol and other flavored tobacco/nicotine product use. 4. Use research, surveillance, and evaluation to measure progress made in reducing tobacco/nicotine use and menthol tobacco/nicotine-related disparities and inform public health action.
