Tobacco-Free Environments in Oregon State Agencies: Infrastructure, Politics, and Communications

Robbins, Dawn

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Exhibit Hall (Kansas City Convention Center)

Ms. Dawn Robbins, BA , Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Public Health Division, Portland, OR

Ms. Cathryn Cushing, B.A. , Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention Section, Oregon Public Health Division, Oregon Health Authority, Portland, OR

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this presentation attendees will be able to:

Describe the process Oregon used for adopting a tobacco-free campus policy for state agencies.
Recognize how infrastructure, timing and leadership can impact the creation of a state policy for tobacco-free campuses.
Learn how Oregon uses a modified version of the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) to assess the need for a tobacco-free campus policy for state agencies in Oregon and to predict the impact on employee health and state spending.

Cross Cutting Program Area(s): Cessation and Evaluation and Surveillance

Audience: This presentation targets a public health audience, primarily from state and local public health departments, or anyone else who is trying to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy in a complex organization.

Participants will understand the role infrastructure, politics, and communications played in Oregon’s effort to adopt and implement a tobacco-free campus policy for all state agencies. They will learn how Oregon assesses state employee tobacco use, how the health benefit structure supports state employees to quit, and how a statewide health improvement plan supports tobacco-free campuses in state agencies. Presenters will share lessons learned about timing, politics, and communications.

Key Points:

Planning is critical for adopting a tobacco-free policy in a complex organization.
Understand how political leadership influences the adoption of a tobacco-free policy and frame the issue accordingly.
Assess the health and financial impact of a tobacco-free policy and use those numbers to make your case.

Educational Experience: Participants wil learn how long-term planning, interagency partnerships, and ongoing surveillance helped prepare for the adoption of a tobacco-free policy for state agencies in Oregon.

Benefits: Participants will understand the role of infrastructure, politics, and communications played in Oregon’s effort to adopt and implement a tobacco-free campus policy for all state agencies. They will learn how Oregon assesses state employee tobacco use, how the health benefit structure supports state employees to quit, and how a statewide health improvement plan supports tobacco-free campuses in state agencies. Presenters will share lessons learned about timing, politics, and communications.

262 Tobacco-Free Environments in Oregon State Agencies: Infrastructure, Politics, and Communications