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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Sandra Harker, BA, TTS, Special Action Team, Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention Program, 3838 N Central Ste 1600, Phoenix, AZ 85012, 602-372-8434, sandraharker@mail.maricopa.gov

Evidence demonstrates that implementation of the U.S. Public Health Services Clinical Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence increases abstinence from tobacco use, decreasing tobacco-related disease, disability and premature death.

Maricopa County Tobacco Use Prevention program (MACTUPP) identified populations that are at increased risk for using tobacco. Our collaborated intervention program began focusing on organizations serving the Hispanic communities. MACTUPP fostered relationships with key persons at Mountain Park Health Center, a community clinic that provides services to Hispanics. Collaboration began with clinical staff, asthma educator, behavioral health and Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clinic.

The collaboration included offering, the Arizona Basic Tobacco Intervention Skills Certification, a train-the-trainer model that follows the clinical practice guidelines. Certified individuals gain the knowledge and skills to provide brief tobacco interventions to tobacco users, appropriate to their level of readiness to quit. Each department and organization was given free training and technical support for materials and policy changes.

The clinical departments implemented a tobacco-user identification system and cessation referral process. In the education department, parents of asthmatic children were educated on the dangers of Secondhand smoke and offered an opportunity to sign a smoke free home and car pledge. There were a total of 500 pledges signed. The Behavioral Health department began to screen and counsel for tobacco use and dependence. WIC program implemented a system change that includes identification, documentation and referral. Additionally, the collaborated interventions lead to a 178% increase of cessation referrals and Mountain Park Health Center becoming a smoke free campus.

Learning Objectives: Learning Objectives

1. Key points for collaboration to build community support. 2. Learn methods for providing system changes, identification of tobacco user and providing brief interventions.
• Increase knowledge and skills in providing brief tobacco interventions, appropriate to their level of readiness to quit.

Keywords: Challenges and Opportunities, Community Collaboration

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Handout (.pdf format, 1602.4 kb)