Learning Objectives: Explain how to use tobacco-related funding sources to leverage tobacco control protocols adoption by organizations and institutions.
Abstract: While the funded tobacco control movement in California is now over 12 years old, many agencies remain slow to adopt and implement comprehensive tobacco control policies.
In 2000, a strategy was implemented to use tobacco tax and tobacco settlement funding to require that recipient organizations adopt and implement three tobacco control policies: 1) a refusal of tobacco industry contributions; 2) divestment; and 3) a comprehensive smoke-free policy that includes educating staff. In Alameda County, the two governing bodies (a commission and the Board of Supervisors) both passed the tobacco protocols requirement impacting over 80 agencies/institutions applying for funds. All were required to sign certificates of divestment and refusal of contributions as part of the application process. Once funded they must meet the other policy requirements.
By convincing governing bodies of tobacco-related funding sources to require that recipients adopt tobacco control protocols as a condition of funding, tobacco control advocates can institutionalize such protocols, en masse, in agencies which had heretofore not been motivated to do so.
Those who are most active in tobacco control policy advocacy should be able to use this information to advocate for similar policies in their communities.
By being introduced to the concept of using tobacco-related funding sources to leverage the adoption of comprehensive tobacco control policies by agencies, the audience will be encouraged to apply this concept to their jurisdictions. If a tobacco tax is being considered, advocates should consider inserting the protocols requirement into the language of the legislation.
Policy Handout.doc (379.0 kb)
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