Supported by CDC, NACDD partnered with Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research (KPCHR) to engage the Great Plains Tribal Leaders’ Health Board and South Puget Intertribal Planning Agency in a project that used a KPCHR-developed modified version of boot camp translation, a validated community-based participatory approach. Referred to as Listening Sessions, the project brought together American Indian community members to develop culturally and locally relevant colorectal cancer screening messages and materials. Based on learnings from the Listening Session Project, our new Listening Session Guide provides details and best practices for implementing a community engagement session.

A Guide for Conducting Listening Sessions to Create Tailored Messages About Colorectal Health for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities will help public health programs develop tailored messages to increase colorectal cancer screening among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. The Guide can be used to address barriers to health communication by considering specific cultural factors such as community dynamics, language preferences, or healthcare trauma, and building upon the existing strengths and commitment to health in AI/AN communities.

The Listening Session Guide takes users through a process that helps community members, community health representatives, and community leaders/champions learn about barriers and gaps in care (listen), share health information in a collaborative way (empower), and develop messages and materials that resonate with and motivate community members to take control of their health (co-create). Included in the guide are:

• An overview of how to conduct a Listening Session using the Listen, Empower, Co-Create (LEC) approach to engage tribal partners and communities.
• Partner spotlights that demonstrate successful implementation of the Listening Session in two tribal communities from different regions of the United States.
• Sample materials and tailored messages co-created by AI/AN tribal members in prior Listening Sessions.

While the Listening Session Guide focuses on increasing colorectal cancer screening in AI/AN communities, the LEC approach could be adapted to impact other chronic diseases and risk factors among diverse populations. Learn more at chronicdisease.org/cancer/cancer-resources/cancer-screening-in-tribal-communities