SOPHE provides technical assistance to over 97 sub-recipients working to implement strategies to prevent chronic diseases and reduce health disparities. SOPHE coordinates trainings and resources through webinars and calls on topics like coalition development, health observances, and clinical and community linkages. They develop online tools and assess sub-recipient needs to deliver beneficial assistance. The goals are to reduce tobacco-related illness and death by 5%, weight-related issues by 3%, and rates of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes by 3%.

1. Technical Assistance Provided by the Society for
Public Health Education
NICOLETTEWARRENPOWE,DRPH,MS,MCHES
Summary
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) technical assistance project is serving more than 97
sub-recipients participating in the National Implementation & Dissemination for Chronic Disease
Prevention Project across the nation. The project was created to implement, evaluate, and disseminate
evidence- and practice-based community health activities. These activities will build local-level capacity
and implement population-based strategies to prevent and reduce chronic diseases, reduce health
disparities, and develop a stronger evidence-base for effective prevention programs. The project aims to
reduce death and disability from tobacco use by five percent; reduce weight-related health issues by three
percent; reduce death and disability rates due to diabetes, heart disease, and stroke by three percent.
Participating organizations in addition to SOPHE are the American Heart Association, the American
Planning Association, the National WIC, the Directors of Health Promotion and Education (DHPE).
Challenge
To continue meeting the technical assistance needs of more than 97 sub-recipients based in
36 states from three different organizations who face somewhat different challenges within
their communities and who bring various levels of expertise and partnership development to
the project. SOPHE continues to assess the needs of the sub-recipients in order to deliver
the most beneficial technical assistance and expertise available.
The American Heart Association, the American Planning Association, and the National WIC Association
communicate with the sub-recipients regularly and continue dissemination efforts of the technical
assistance protocols created by SOPHE and DHPE. Sub-recipients can submit a Technical Request Form
for additional assistance and training. Additionally, one-on-one meetings with the national partners and
bi-weekly joint meeting with the Technical Assistance Work Group are convened. An upcoming technical
assistance workshop will be held for year two sub-recipients. SOPHE developed an on-line assessment
tool to support American Heart Association, the American Planning Association, and the National WIC
Association sub-recipients.
Solution

2. SOPHE and DHPE coordinated trainings, technical assistance opportunities via webinars,
ask-the-expert, and peer calls to provide resources and tools to support community
activities focused on smoke-free and/or tobacco-free environments, healthy food and
beverage options, physical activity opportunities, and chronic disease prevention, risk
reduction or management through clinical and community linkage opportunities. Training
titles included, “Coalition Development: Recruitment, Engagement and Retention,” “How to
Effectively Promote National Health Observances,” and “Opportunities for Clinical and
Community Linkages.”
SOPHE and DHPE’s delivery of trainings via webinar, ask-the-expert and peer calls to
support community-based activities focused on smoke-free and/or tobacco-free
environments, healthy food and beverage options, physical activity opportunities, and
chronic disease prevention, risk reduction or management through clinical and community
linkages opportunities. These trainings are available online in the resource community
directory. Cohort 1 and Cohort 2 have access to all trainings, technical assistance
opportunities, resources and tools to support community activities.
Sustainable Success
Results
Technical Assistance Provided by the Society for
Public Health Education