Melinda D. Martin, BS¹, Elisa Wong, BA², Jeffrey Caballero, MPH¹, and Nina Lynn Agbayani, BSN, RN¹. (1) Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations, 439 - 23rd Street, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-272-9536, mmartin@aapcho.org, (2) Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Orgranizations, 439 23rd St., Oakland, CA 94612

To increase policymakers’ awareness of the disproportionate impact of diabetes on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and of the need for resources for the prevention and care of diabetes, AAPCHO’s BALANCE Program for Diabetes developed an education and awareness plan targeting policymakers that included: 1) utilization of the program’s policy position paper to shape recommendations that fall in line with the current national focuses on diabetes and the priorities of the current administration, 2) targeted distribution of the policy position paper to Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and Diabetes Caucus members, and 3) one-on-one meetings with State Representatives to provide information on the need for increased awareness, research and collaboration related to the prevention and care of diabetes in AAPI communities.

As a result of these efforts, AAPCHO and the BALANCE Program were invited to provide feedback on a legislative diabetes bill proposed by the chairpersons of the Diabetes Caucus that would benefit minority populations at risk for and living with diabetes. Additionally, AAPCHO was invited to provide testimony on the need for resources in diabetes prevention and care in AAPI communities prior to the introduction of this bill to Congress.

Targeting specific policymakers and providing them with information that informs their work is an effective way of conducting diabetes education with policymakers. Influence on national diabetes policies can occur as a result of these awareness and education activities.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will be able to describe and identify methods in which to conduct diabetes awareness and education activities among policymakers and how those efforts can result in their involvement in national diabetes policy agendas.
• Participants will learn how to employ specific policy activities to create and maximize educational opportunities with relevant policymakers.

Keywords: Asian and Pacific Islander, Politics

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.