If You Build It, They Will Come . . .Using the Built Environment to Enhance Sun-Safety

Awareness at Iowa’s Ballparks

Objectives

1. Describe the intended goals and outcomes of sun-safety project with Iowa’s Minor League Baseball Teams.

2. Identify and discuss the ways public-private collaborations can be utilized to support primary cancer prevention efforts.

3. Describe approaches that can be used to engage community partners for future cancer prevention and control projects.

Iowa Cancer Plan A ‘blue-print’ for cancer control in Iowa. Created by Iowans, for Iowans. Goals:

Prevention Screening Treatment Quality of Life

Healthy People 2020 Healthy People 2020 Community Innovations Grants

RFP to solicit community-level projects that use Healthy People 2020 overarching goals, topic areas and objectives to promote improved health at the community level.

Grants between $5,000-$10,000

The Idea . . . Research to Reality – Online community of practice that links

cancer control practitioners and researchers. Free archived ‘Cyber-Seminars’ featuring current cancer

control projects and tools from across the U.S.

A Great American Pastime . . .

. . . A Social Event

. . . A Family Tradition

Healthy People 2020 Submitted grant in August 2011 based on components of the

Research to Reality webinar on sun-safety. Work with the Iowa Cubs Minor League Baseball Team to:

Install SPF30 sunscreen stations within the stadium Create educational videos about sun-safety featuring Cubbie-Bear Des Moines University to provide free sun-safety screenings at the ballpark

If you Build It . . . Iowa Department of Public Health offered to provide financial

support to pay for the sunscreen within Principal Park. Multiple cancer centers in Des Moines offered to provide

additional financial assistance and support to enhance sun-safety awareness at the ballparks.

. . . They Will Come! Within a few weeks, the original partners agreed to seek

participation from other Minor League teams in Iowa.

Sun Safety & Minor League Baseball

Contacted stakeholders individually and then invited them to participate in larger conference calls (x4)

Worked with GM’s and IDPH to order sunscreen. Linked ICC members and other health organizations in various

towns with their local teams to discuss collaborative opportunities. Cancer Centers, Dermatology Clinics, Car Dealerships, Iowa

Dermatological Association, local public health depts., etc.

Partners

Promoting Our Success Press Release about project amounted to various news

articles and videos about the project. Social Media (Facebook/Twitter) Omaha Stormchasers

http://youtu.be/QLhc14Ys3Fw

Lessons Learned

1. Anything is possible, you just have to be brave enough to ask!2. Engage partners!3. Promote your success through press-releases, newsletters,

and social media.

Future:• Disseminating project information to other Minor

League and community ballparks.• Sustaining sunscreen project during 2013 season &

adding in an evaluation component.• Sun-safety to other outdoor venues.

Thank you!Rachel SchrammIowa Cancer ConsortiumSchramm@CancerIowa.org319-467-4569