Expanding Smokefree Communities to Underserved Populations Nationwide

Background/Purpose: CDC’s Community Transformation Grant program funded the American Lung Association’s Expanding Smokefree Communities project, a three-year effort to implement policy, systems and environmental changes to help reduce the burden of tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke in communities across the nation.

Methods: ALA funded two cohorts with a total of 11 sub-recipients to implement evidence-based tobacco control strategies in communities across the country. Each project paired a local Lung Association office with an organization serving a community disproportionately affected by tobacco exposure and/or tobacco-related illness. The ALA National Office provided guidance and technical support throughout the project period to help ensure successful implementation of the project. Strategies addressed included smokefree multi-unit housing, tobacco-free school campuses and integrating tobacco screening and referral into health systems. A complete list of funded sub-recipients is available in the Expanded Summary.

Results/Outcomes: Almost all sub-recipients were able to implement the planned tobacco control strategies and those strategies are being (or seem very likely to be) sustained. The partnership model ensured that interventions were culturally appropriate and helped achieve community buy-in. Specific outcomes and metrics will be included in the presentation.

Conclusions: Through Expanding Smokefree Communities, the American Lung Association was able to make a significant difference in the lives of many Americans disproportionately affected by tobacco use. Community health efforts with support from expert national organizations are an effective way to provide targeted assistance to hard-to-reach populations and can have a significant impact on reducing the burden of tobacco use on our society.