Conversations with tobacco control professionals about funding cuts and the future of services

Background: The Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Tobacco Control Program provides tobacco prevention and cessation services in seven counties. In the fall of 2009, the program underwent a 45% budget cut when the state government re-directed Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds. Interviews about the anticipated unmet community needs were conducted with 24 tobacco control professionals to understand their concerns about the repercussions of the cuts on programming. Continued program monitoring and ongoing conversation with local service providers will capture actual and anticipated service changes due to these funding cuts.

Findings: Repercussions from the funding cuts were anticipated in each of the CDC goal areas. Interviewees cited recent promotion drawing attention to now-cancelled school-based prevention programming, cuts to programs targeting disparately affected populations, changes in capacity to promote tobacco smoke pollution campaigns and fears that news of the cuts would discourage smokers from participating in cessation programs. Conversations focused on a loss of momentum in tobacco control and issues of trust for schools, businesses and individuals who had been promised services.

Conclusions: Interviews with tobacco control professionals provided a range of perspectives on the unmet needs of community members and the impact of state budget cuts on local programming. Anticipated needs for service were noted in every area of tobacco prevention and control. One year after the reductions in service, program data and ongoing discussions with interviewees will provide a more complete picture of the impact of the cut in MSA funding on service recipients.