309239
Community-Based Participatory Approach to Successful Smoke-free Multi-Unit Housing Policy Implementation in South Florida
To reduce secondhand smoke exposure (SHS) among low-income multi-unit housing residents in Broward County, Florida, TOUCH (a CDC CTG awardee) used a community-based participatory approach to create a broad coalition that successfully implemented a SFMUH policy across Catholic Housing Management (CHM), comprised of 15 HUD subsidized properties serving nearly 2,500 low-income seniors.
Description
Partners organized a “Smoke-free Housing Seminar,” to educate property managers/owners about the costs/benefits of implementing SFMUH policies in a preemption state. At the seminar, partners were surveyed for interest in pursuing SFMUH. Those indicating interest were contacted by a coalition of ALA, HUD, AHEC, departments of health, the TOUCH team and Nova Southeastern University. CHM was the first large senior housing provider to undertake efforts towards developing and implementing a policy. MPH students conducted surveys of property managers and residents to assess acceptability of SFMUH policies. The ALA provided policy development support. AHEC provided ongoing cessation support.
Lessons Learned
CHM implemented an indoor and common area policy in October, 2013. Resident complaints of SHS exposure have declined. Numerous cessation programs are underway across the properties, and a number of residents and staff have reduced or stopped smoking. The implementation of smoke-free policies was highly successful due to a committed collaboration of partners supporting SFMUH.
Recommendations
Seek out local interested parties, agencies, and advocates of smoke-free living to help establish smoke-free policies. Demonstrate support through resident input, and establish a coalition of support within the Housing Provider and between community partners, from policy conceptualization through post-implementation.
Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programsPublic health or related public policy
Learning Objectives:
Identify the costs and benefits of implementing SFMUH policies.
Describe the value of support through resident input and establishing a coalition of partners from policy conceptualization to post-implementation of SFMUH policies.
Keyword(s): Community-Based Partnership & Collaboration, Policy/Policy Development
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the TOUCH Evaluation Coordinator for the NSU evaluation team. I have been on the project nearly from the beginning and have been at every step of policy initiation and implementation with the Housing Provider. We were also responsible for establishing support among the residents through surveying and health fair events and crafting analysis reports to show support to our partners.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.