The Effects of Community Partnerships on Passing Comprehensive Smoke-free Ordinances

Audience:

Community-based organizations interested in working with local municipalities to pass comprehensive smoke-free ordinances.

Key Points:

 The MSDH Office of Tobacco Control provides funding to thirty-three (33) Mississippi Tobacco-Free Coalitions (MTFC) to work in all eighty-two (82) counties to implement tobacco control programs at the grassroots level. The MTFCs are community-based coalitions that work in their perspective counties to change the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors related to tobacco use. Upon the establishment of the OTC, there were 21 cities in the state that were covered by comprehensive smoke-free ordinances which provided protection to only 9% of Mississippi’s population.  With the support of the MTFCs and other key community partners, the state now has 47 municipalities with comprehensive smoke-free air ordinances which provide protection to 21% of Mississippi population. The Office of Tobacco Control launched the “Developing Municipal Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinances in Mississippi” program in 2009. The objective of the program is to increase the number of individuals in the state who are protected by comprehensive smoke-free ordinances that prohibit tobacco use in public places. The MTFCs provide assistance to the municipalities by organizing educational sessions, participating in local events and providing other technical assistance as needed. 

Educational Experience: The presenter will share experiences and lessons learned from implementing the ordinances program, and how to address challenges in coordinating policy efforts with community and national partners.  

Benefits: The audiences will have the ability to build community capacity to engage and educate local officials on the benefits of smoke-free air.