A Platform to Improve Policy Performance

Audience:

Creating a policy platform is a single activity that a tobacco program can initiate to establish guidance in all its policy activities. The Tobacco Control Network’s (TCN) policy platform can be replicated and localized by state and local health departments, or other interested organizations, to guide their policy initiatives.

Key Points:

The TCN will discuss its Policy Platform, a model policy tool that can be applied in tobacco programs throughout the country. 

The TCN serves the needs of tobacco control programs in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and eight US territories. In 2010, the Network created a policy platform that provides the rationale for CDC-recommended, evidence-based policy change, in particular: smoke-free air policies, strategies to raise the price of tobacco products, and sustainable funding for comprehensive tobacco control programs. The platform also addresses new, emerging issues for jurisdictions that have already achieved policy successes in the primary policy areas.

Educational Experience:

Speakers will demonstrate the merits of the policy platform and its purposes, whether in jurisdictions with limited engagement in tobacco control policies or where there is a dynamic, collaborative advocacy team. Attendees will apply what is learned in small group discussions.

Benefits:

The audience will be broken into small groups, each assigned to different scenarios where “real life” challenges will be addressed using the policy platform as a tool. Members of the TCN will serve as presenters, facilitate the small group discussions, and engage everyone in reporting out lessons learned.