Community advocacy & training on cancer and health (CATCH)

Background: Since Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AAs & NHPIs) continue to remain underrepresented in health leadership and advocacy roles, there is a need for competent and effective cancer advocates representing the AA and NHPI populations in the US.

Purpose: CATCH Trainings provide individuals, organizations, and health advocates in the AA and NHPI communities with the necessary skills, tools, and knowledge to become competent, confident, and effective advocates on public health issues.

Methods: CATCH Trainings provide education and hands-on practice in the following 5 Modules: I) Cancer 101 and Introduction to AA and NHPI communities; II) Communications and Media Advocacy; III) Data Advocacy; IV) Policy and Legislative Advocacy; IV) Ethnic-Specific and Language-Specific AA and NHPI Cancer Support Groups. Evaluations concerning participants' knowledge and skills are conducted through surveys that are given prior to, during, and after each training.

Results: These trainings have been effective in strengthening and expanding the reach of the Asian & Pacific Islander National Cancer Survivors Network to more than 140 individuals representing various cultural and community organizations, healthcare facilities, health departments, and academic institutions in California, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Minnesota, Texas, and Ohio. The majority of participants agree that CATCH Trainings achieve its objectives in enhancing personal and community capacities for advocacy and leadership.

Conclusion: Quantitative and qualitative evaluations prove that CATCH Leadership Trainings are successful in enhancing participants' competence in cancer advocacy and in developing their leadership skills at all levels.