Utilizing 10-material development best practice steps to develop effective, culturally, and linguistically tailored tobacco education materials

Effective tobacco education materials that educate and counter pro-tobacco influences have continually provided support for tobacco control campaigns, but they make a bigger difference when they are tailored specifically to the target audience and at the local level. The Tobacco Education and Materials Lab (TEAM Lab) at the University of Southern California is funded by the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP), provides training and technical assistance (TA) to over 100 CTCP-funded projects to produce high-quality, evidence-based tobacco education materials. We aim to build the overall capacity of CTCP-funded projects by utilizing 10-steps to creating effective materials based on material development best practices. Technical assistance is provided through webinars, tutorials, conference calls and resources on the TEAM Lab website, to develop and test population-specific tobacco education and advocacy material. Between September 2009 and June 2012 TEAM Lab responded to approximately 125 TA request, received 213 materials, and selected and adapted materials from 20 agencies, field tested with target audiences, and conducted in-depth critical reviews by an expert community-based Materials Review Committee (MRC). The MRC boasts expertise in a specified tobacco control topic area and in specific population and cultural groups. Between 2009 and 2012 TEAM Lab produced 62 topic- and culturally-specific materials for multiple audiences, and 34 materials have been approved for statewide and national distribution that will be included in the Tobacco Education Clearinghouse of California (TECC) Sales Catalog. Utilizing material development best practices, materials can be culturally adapted for global use.