Expanding Reach in Tobacco Prevention to Enhance Coalition Efforts

Background: CADCA has been implementing tobacco free living strategies as a CTG National Dissemination grantee. The purpose of this presentation is to present the successes CADCA has seen in implementing these strategies to our coalition members and affiliates. CADCA’s strategy emphasizes the importance of consistent messaging at multiple levels.

Methods: Through our multi-level networks, CADCA employs a number of communication strategies, such as mass media alerts, online group discussions, weekly newsletters, in person trainings and technical assistance to coalitions and multiple national partners to promote tobacco prevention.

Results: The CTG funding has transformed CADCA’s portfolio to include tobacco related training and message dissemination. CADCA created a tobacco e-newsletter, which grew from an average of 254 members in year 1 to over 1,900 members in year 3. CADCA’s signature communication, Coalitions Online, which is distributed to over 23,000 members now includes tobacco topics, representing a 90% growth rate in tobacco related articles from year 1 to year 3. Additionally, CADCA provided tobacco specific training and technical assistance at our two signature events. Online training is also now available through our Tobacco Prevention Toolkit, and a soon to be released tobacco prevention e-learning course. CADCA’s Annual Survey of Coalitions provided baseline data for ongoing training needs. 

Conclusions: Our coalition networks have positively responded to training and communication outreach, allowing rural and frontier coalitions to successfully implement evidence based prevention strategies. We eliminate information gaps to address health equity among local coalitions to increase knowledge and position coalitions to create successful community change.