Tracking and using funding reduction data in a tobacco control program

Background: In November 2009, the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved a 45% reduction in Master Settlement Agreement funds for the Pennsylvania Tobacco Prevention and Control Program (PA TPC), reducing the statewide programming budget from 32.2 million to 17.6 million. With guidance and support from PA TPC administrators at the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PA DOH), the eight regional programs comprising PA TPC revised programming activities in response to the funding reduction. PA TPC staff, regional programs and statewide contractors all participated in impact tracking efforts.

Discussion: This presentation will include a discussion and assessment of the impact of the funding reduction on statewide and regional programming, including changes in priorities and program structure. Information was collected by and from regional programs about reductions or eliminations in amount and types of services provided and geographic availability of services. Priority shifts and activity cuts were informed by discussion among PA TPC's stakeholders, cost benefit analyses, best practices knowledge and regional needs assessments. Programmatic reductions and eliminations were made across all regions in each of the CDC goal areas (prevention, cessation, clean air, tobacco-related health disparities), including: prevention education and activities for youth; technical assistance to schools to strengthen tobacco policies; youth access laws retailer education and compliance checks; cessation programming for some adults, youth, special populations, and worksites, including free/low-cost NRT distribution; and partnerships with chronic disease prevention/treatment services. Assessing impact of the reduction informs program planning, efforts to restore and defend state funding, and communication between stakeholders.