Assessing the Sustainability of your Tobacco Control Program

Audience:

The primary audience is those working in tobacco control evaluation, research, or program implementation. Individuals who fund or plan tobacco control programs and policies will also benefit.

Key Points:

• The Center for Tobacco Policy Research developed a tool to assess public health program capacity for sustainability across a wide range of factors.
• The tool was developed based on an extensive literature review, concept mapping, and expert input. The tool has been tested for reliability.
• Over 500 individuals have used the tool, including state and territory level tobacco control programs funded by the CDC Office on Smoking and Health. Common areas of weakness identified by the tool are political support, community partnerships, and communications.
• Tobacco control staff have used assessment results to create sustainability action plans.

Educational Experience:

The audience will learn about the components of sustainability capacity, how to use the assessment tool, and how assessment results can be used to build the sustainability capacity of their tobacco control programs. Discussion, application, and time for questions will be incorporated throughout presentation.

Benefits:

Public health programs across the country have been hit hard by funding cuts. It is more important than ever to plan for the sustainability of tobacco control. This presentation will provide the audience with a framework for understanding sustainability, a tool for measuring their program’s sustainability capacity, and steps to take for improving their capacity for sustainability.