308230
Youth Advocacy in Tobacco Prevention: Passing a Tobacco Retail License Ordinance
Description: In Spring 2013, Evolvement youth advocates collected 5,421 surveys in Denver to assess public opinion regarding youth access to tobacco. Respondents overwhelmingly supported licensing: 80% Denver adults support requiring retailers to obtain a license to sell tobacco products. The results also found that 59% of youth and 69% of youth tobacco users think it is easy for youth to buy tobacco at retail stores in Denver.
Since launching, Evolvement has organized over 20 events to educate the community and has collected more than 900 messages from the public in support of tobacco retail licensing. Using the results, Evolvement members are educating stakeholders and decision-makers about the importance of tobacco retail licensing.
Lessons Learned: By creating a campaign with clear objectives and standardized measures of progress, we can create a youth-led movement and mobilize the public in support of a tobacco retail license ordinance.
Recommendations: Youth-led advocacy should play a critical role in any effort to influence key decision-makers and change policy. Denver’s youth-led movement demonstrates that youth can generate public support and influence decision-makers to address the tobacco epidemic.
Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health educationCommunication and informatics
Public health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Identify the critical role youth advocates serve in influencing decision-makers.
Describe the appropriate blend of youth empowerment and adult coordination for successful youth involvement in policy change.
Discuss the importance of establishing campaign objectives and standardizing involvement for youth to have a clear purpose and reach tangible outcomes.
List the components of passing a local tobacco retail license ordinance.
Keyword(s): Youth, Advocacy
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I develop and manage implementation of public health advocacy campaigns in Virginia, New Mexico, Denver, CO and Las Vegas, NV. I have been the campaign manager of the Licensed to Sell Tobacco Initiative campaign since its launch. Prior to joining Rescue Social Change Group, I worked at M+R Strategic Services where I worked with organizations like the American Lung Association, USAgainstAlzheimer's, and the American Heart Association to develop and implement cutting-edge campaigns.
Any relevant financial relationships? Yes
| Name of Organization | Clinical/Research Area | Type of relationship |
|---|---|---|
| Rescue Social Change Group | None | Employment (includes retainer) |
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.