Tobacco Policy Change: Using policy and advocacy to promote tobacco control and address other public health problems

Tobacco Policy Change was a national initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) created to ensure continued momentum on effective tobacco control policies and to extend that momentum to communities where people are most vulnerable to tobacco's devastating impact. Launched in 2004, the $12 million program reflects RWJF's long standing commitments to reduce tobacco use and help Americans live healthier lives.

Tobacco Policy Change (TPC) strengthened new and diverse partnerships to support policies aimed at decreasing tobacco use and exposure and addressing other public health problems. Original funding support policy advocacy to reduce tobacco use and exposure in communities, regions and states. In 2007, RWJF expanded the scope of the initiative to promote tobacco control and other public health policies that help people lead healthier lives. This includes policies that provide access to healthy foods, increase physical activity, reduce the number of uninsured and address other pressing public health needs in communities. This session will discuss successes and challenges that TPC communities faced in developing coalitions and implementing policy changes. This session will also describe how these lessons can be applied to other public health policy and advocacy efforts.