**please post widely to your networks **apologies for cross-posting CENTRE FOR URBAN HEALTH INITIATIVES Spotlight on Urban Health Seminar Series **all seminars run from 1:15- 2:45 Free, all are welcome, please RSVP to [log in to unmask] "Focus Groups in Support of Public Health Interventions among Toronto LBGT Smokers and Former Smokers" Thursday April 17, 2008 Gala Arh & Nadia Minian Ontario Tobacco Research Unit, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health CUHI 2006 Seed Grant Recipients Location: Bahen Centre, University of Toronto: Room B024 (40 St. George Street, immediately south of Russell Street) Project Summary While little is know about tobacco use among lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender (LBGT) populations, studies in the United States have found high rates of smoking among LBGT individuals. Our pilot study sought to ascertain attributes of the Toronto Church and Wellesley neighbourhood that facilitate tobacco use among LBGT individuals. As a method of data collection, focus groups have yet to be recognized for their nascent health promotion capacity. Using our example of focus groups conducted with LBGT smokers and former smokers we illustrate how focus groups can be used to translate and disseminate research findings, while building stronger communities, and generating therapeutic support. Bios Gala Arh, M.Ed. Having completed her M.Ed. at OISE/UT, Gala Arh joined the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit as a Research Officer. She is developing, implementing and evaluating the Performance Indicator Monitoring System as well as conducting community-based research with the Evaluation Team Nadia Minian is a Scientist with the Ontario Tobacco Research Unit. She has considerable experience in conducting and directing research and evaluation at the local and community levels on a variety of public health issues, including infectious disease (HIV/AIDS), sexual risk behaviours and cancer screening. At OTRU Nadia leads the evaluation of cessation programming and policy. She is personally committed to social justice and conducting evaluations to promote health. Alexis Kane Speer Centre Coordinator Centre for Urban Health Initiatives (CUHI) University College, Room 259 University of Toronto 15 King's College Circle Toronto, Ontario M5S 3H7 416-978-7223 FAX: 416-946-0669 ------------------- Problems/Questions? Send it to Listserv owner: [log in to unmask] To unsubscribe, send the following message in the text section -- NOT the subject header -- to [log in to unmask] SIGNOFF SDOH DO NOT SEND IT BY HITTING THE REPLY BUTTON. THIS SENDS THE MESSAGE TO THE ENTIRE LISTSERV AND STILL DOES NOT REMOVE YOU. To subscribe to the SDOH list, send the following message to [log in to unmask] in the text section, NOT in the subject header. SUBSCRIBE SDOH yourfirstname yourlastname To post a message to all 1200+ subscribers, send it to [log in to unmask] Include in the Subject, its content, and location and date, if relevant. For a list of SDOH members, send a request to [log in to unmask] To receive messages only once a day, send the following message to [log in to unmask] SET SDOH DIGEST To view the SDOH archives, go to: https://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/sdoh.html