NATIONAL MOTTEP
Background Information

In 1980, Dr. Clive Callender was approached by the South East Organ Procurement Foundation (SEOPF) to determine why Blacks donate less frequently than whites. A focus group was formed and five reasons were identified as to why Blacks in particular were not donating. They were:

  • Lack of awareness;
  • Religious beliefs and superstitions;
  • Fear of permature death;
  • Mistrust of the medical community;
  • Racism

Several local grass roots programs and strategies were implemented to increase awareness of the need for more minority donors and combat these five reasons. After successful implementation of the D.C. Organ Donor Program within the Washington, DC, area which included DOW Take Initiative Program and the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU's) program and the DOW NAACP program. Dr. Callender envisioned a national program which targeted the African American population. Success in this minority population led to the development of MOTTEP in 1991, to spread these successful methodology to all minorities. strategies.

On June 1, 1993, these combined efforts and strategies evolutionized into what is known as National MOTTEP. At that time National MOTTEP was officially awarded contract funds by the office of Research on Minority Health N.I.H to implement a national minority strategy in three cities. In June 1994, the program expanded to eleven cities. In July 1995, the program expanded to fifteen cities an adding a prevention component to its agenda and received $5.6 million from NIH(NIDDK) for implementation.