Clark County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation is your source for tobacco education, cessation services, youth prevention, and tobacco-free policy advocacy.

Cessation Services--Becoming the area's primary resource for tobacco cessation system changes

• We work to educate and train all health care providers in Clark County about the necessity for tobacco use intervention, the complex nature of tobacco addiction, and provide a referral source for those who seek assistance to quit at 1-800 QUIT NOW.
• We work to educate businesses on the need to support employees in their quit attempts by offering cessation benefits on their health care plan and promoting the Indiana Tobacco Quitline.
• We offer on-site business cessation programs when part of a policy change program.  Please contact us for more information.

Community Outreach--Educating our community about the social and financial impact of tobacco use in Indiana, encouraging cessation and smoke-free homes and workplaces

• We generate earned media through multiple media interviews for: The Evening News, The Courier-Journal, Indiana News Channel 9, Fox 41, WFPL, and WABG.
• We have encouraged county residents to write Letters to the Editor regarding the need for smoke-free policies, the targeting of specific gender and cultural groups by Big Tobacco, and the need for FDA regulation of tobacco products.
• We have encouraged residents to contact their elected officials in support of local smoke-free policies, and to support recently proposed legislation allowing FDA regulation of tobacco - act HR1108.  Congressman Baron Hill responded to our letters by supporting the bill.
• We regularly make presentations to businesses, health care training sessions, community organizations, and local government officials regarding the impact of tobacco and secondhand smoke on our community.

Clark County Smoke-Free Workplaces Task Force--Assisting cities in efforts to implement and maintain  smoke-free workplaces ordinances

• We provided factual, material, and support resources to policy makers - from the small business owner to our elected officials.
• We are always available to assist municipalities as well as individual businesses to transitition to a smoke-free environment. The bottom line is this:  smoke-free workplaces are better for workers, patrons, and YOUR bottom line. If you need more information to support the previous statement, please call us and we will be happy to provide it. 

Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative--Implementing Clark Memorial Hospital's tobacco-free campus policy and assisting other hospitals in their efforts to do the same.

• We continue to actively work with Clark Memorial Hospital to help team members and patients cope with the tobacco-free campus policy, including providing free cessation services for any who are interested in kicking the habit.
• We reach out to other health care providers and facilities in the community and encourage that they join us in the effort to promote a healthier environment for all residents.

Youth and Schools--Providing tobacco prevention and education to area schools and aiding school districts in implementing new tobacco-free campus policies

• We make presentations to students on any tobacco-related topic when asked by teachers or school administrators.
• We work with Greater Clark County School Multicultural studies director to provide culturally appropriate prevention materials for posting at the schools.

Capacity Building--Increasing our knowledge base to better assist individuals to quit smoking and avoid secondhand smoke exposure

• Both the Coordinator and Assistant are QuitSmart(TM) cessation method certified.
• We always utilize the CDC Best Practices in Smoking Cessation, and have been certified.
• We continually educate ourselves on the most current scientific data regarding adult and youth tobacco use, addiction, secondhand smoke, and effective tobacco control policies.
  

A Multicultural Approach -- because of a recent additional grant received to better serve minority populations who have thus far been hard to reach, we have more resources than ever to open up the channels of communication and provide the same services for everyone while embracing the cultural changes in our community.

• Upon receipt of our Minority Grant from ITPC in February 2008, compensation was available to provide for a part-time Minority Outreach Lead (Hispanic and Other) and an additional part-time position for a specialist in African American outreach. We are currently in the process of building relationships and looking to develop or enhance exisiting community programs for minority groups in the area of tobacco prevention and cessation.