The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #43659

Robert Cameron McMillen, PhD, Social Science Research Center, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762, 662.325.2742, robert.mcmillen@ssrc.msstate.edu, Bonita Reinert, PhD, RN, Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi, 350 W. Woodrow Wilson Dr., Suite 499, Jackson, MS 39213, and Julie Breen, BA, Social Science Research Center, Mississippi State University, 103 Research Park, Mississippi State, MS 39762.

The Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi is a non-profit agency made up of more than 800 public and private organizations. Its mission is to create a healthier environment in Mississippi by: 1.) Decreasing youth tobacco initiation, 2.) Increasing youth tobacco cessation, and 3.) Developing and enforcing policy decreasing youths' access to tobacco and increasing clean indoor air. In order to achieve these objectives, The Partnership follows a PRECEDE-PROCEED Model for Health Promotion and Planning. This model combines educational and ecological approaches to emphasize the importance of matching the multiple determinants of behavior with multiple learning experiences or educational interventions. This purpose of this session is to provide professionals with a close look at the collaboration of The Partnership with university researchers to develop a social climate survey as a both a planning and an evaluation tool. This annual cross-sectional survey monitors progress towards intermediate goals such as changes in policy, social norms, exposure of individuals to ETS, and the impact of pro-tobacco influences. Contrasts of the 2000 and 2001 survey data revealed significant improvements in beliefs and practices from 2000 to 2001. Discussions will highlight the collaborative application of these findings to inform programmatic decisions, demonstrate program successes to policy makers, and illustrate public support for clean air act legislation.

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