Community Health Coalitions

Each Local Health Officer must document the demographics of the county Community Health Coalition to ensure it reflects the diversity of the county. Health-General 13-1009 also recommends inclusion of local management boards, public school systems, hospitals, clinics, physicians, other health care providers, law enforcement, businesses, religious organizations, media, and institutions of higher learning. Representatives of community-based groups (including minority, rural, and medically underserved populations) and youth that are familiar with all communities and cultures in the county must be included.

Community Initiatives

The Community component strives to mobilize community actions through coalition participation, tobacco prevention education, marketing, grassroots and faith based campaigns to promote non-smoking norms, eliminate disparities associated with tobacco use, and to encourage policy interventions.  Local health departments with technical assistance from the state health department engage key stakeholders through local tobacco coalitions and community organizations.

Key Accomplishments – FY2019

- 126,681 individuals were educated through community engagement/outreach activities on a spectrum of tobacco use prevention and control strategies and programs in a variety of venues including LHDs, community outlets, and faith-based and grass-roots organizations​

- 29 faith-based collaborations raised awareness in the faith community about tobacco use, youth access to tobacco products, and prevention through collaborative events, reaching 1,864 participants. ​

School-based Initiatives

The School-based component promotes tobacco use prevention education for youth Pre-K through 12th grade within the school environment. Local health departments engage in partnership with school systems to enhance youth awareness of the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use through instruction, peer support programs, parent involvement, and policy promotions.

Key Accomplishments – FY2019

- 77 school-based collaborations that raised awareness about youth access to tobacco products and prevention were implemented, with 12,201 attendees.​

- 105,727 youth were educated through ESD prevention and awareness activities in a host of community settings to address the skyrocketing ESD use rates.

Tobacco Enforcement Initiatives

The Enforcement component ensures the public, youth and tobacco retailers are aware of and follow the tobacco sales laws that prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors.  Utilizing under age youth, local health departments, designees and local law enforcement agencies conduct random and unannounced tobacco sale compliance checks to monitor store compliance with the law. Local community organizations engage and educate tobacco retailers with education campaigns, as well as increase community awareness and vigilance on the issue.

Key Accomplishments – FY2019

- 6,430 tobacco retailer (stores) compliance checks were conducted.

- 123 tobacco sale outlets were referred to the Office of the Comptroller because of multiple affirmed violations for illegal sales of tobacco to youth. 

- 3,200 tobacco sales vendors were educated (face-to-face) on state tobacco sales laws by local health department staff

Cessation Initiatives/ Tobacco Cessation

The Cessation component promotes the cessation of tobacco products among adults and youth. Local health department programs offer behavior change cessation sessions individually or as a group, free nicotine replacement products, and ongoing assistance to quit tobacco use. 

Key Accomplishments – FY2019

- 5,645 adults participated in smoking cessation services.

- 109 pregnant women participated in smoking cessation services

- 1,452 of the smoking cessation service participants were behavioral health clients.

- 474 nurses and healthcare providers were trained on various smoking cessation models and clinical guidelines