American Cancer Society Hispanic/Latino Communities Cancer Prevention

The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and service. The Hispanic Partnership Project is a new initiative that supports prevention and health promotion activities, such as cancer screenings, particularly for those cancers that disproportionately affect Hispanic/Latino populations. The American Cancer Society also offers “ACS At Work” to promote early cancer detection and to educate the public by providing employers with the tools, resources, websites, guidelines, referrals, etc. to help their employees. Employees are able to record physical activity and keep track of points. Employers are also encouraged to provide incentives for employee smoking cessation and provided with cessation resources. On Wednesday, September 20, 2006 “Celebration on the Hill” took place in DC to celebrate cancer survivorship and empower survivors and others to advocate for laws that will help fight cancer.

Alexandria Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse

A research-based tobacco prevention program for grades K-12, Get Real About Tobacco (GRAT) was designed to change attitudes and norms about tobacco. There are 10-17 lessons, depending upon the grade level. Each lesson is based on reducing one or more risk factors. GRAT is a comprehensive, student-centered, prevention program that includes components for involving parents and the community.

The goals of the curriculum are to:

• reduce the risk of students using tobacco.
• encourage students who do use tobacco to quit.
• help students promote messages against the use of tobacco

For more information on GRAT implementation, contact:

• Tricia Bassing for access to GRAT kits for community group implementation, 703-838-6400 x155
• Ann Fierstos @ Cora Kelly Elementary School, 703-706-4420
• Amalia Quiñones @ Tucker Elementary School and Essex House, 703-975-1483
• Sandra Cañas @ Ramsay Elementary School and Community Lodgings, 703-303-8280

peers. TNT is proven effective at helping youth to:

• Resist tobacco use and advocate no tobacco use
• Demonstrate effective communication, refusal, and cognitive
• coping skills
• Identify how the media and advertisers influence youth to use
• tobacco products
• Identify methods for building their own self-esteem
• Describe strategies for advocating no tobacco use

This comprehensive approach works well for a wide variety of youth who may have different risk factors influencing their tobacco use.

For more information at each site, contact:

• Angela Wilbon @ GW Middle School, 703-401-8718
• Debra Smalley @ Hammond Middle School, 703-505-0005
• Teddy Jones @ Minnie Howard 9th Grade Center, 703-850-6016
• Amalia Quiñones @ Essex House, 703-975-1483
• Sandra Cañas @ Ramsay Elementary School and Community Lodgings, 703-303-8280

Not On Tobacco (N-O-T) is the American Lung Association’s smoking cessation program designed specifically for teens that want to quit. Through a 10-session curriculum, N-O-T helps high school students stop smoking or cut back on their smoking, which is often the first step to quitting completely. It also teaches young people healthy behaviors such as how to reduce stress, eat better, exercise more, and cope with friends and family who smoke.

For more information on N-O-T at each site, contact:

• James Moore @ STEP, 703-401-8707
• Debra Smalley @ TC Williams, 703-505-000
• Teddy Jones @ Minnie Howard, 703-824-6755

Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities

The Alexandria Department of Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities operates 7 neighborhood centers, 1 aquatics/fitness facility, and 1 part-time adult center. The facilities have the following amenities:

Each facility offers classes and activities that promote physical fitness and healthy lifestyles.  In addition, the Recreation Department coordinates athletic competition through leagues for youth and adults. Access to the neighborhood centers for City residents is free.

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