Problem/Objective: The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont has been instrumental in advocating for strong legislation for tobacco control. Facing new challenges as tobacco settlement dollars are threatened with diversion from the Tobacco Control Program (TCP), the need to advocate for increased funding has never been greater. The adult smoking rate has remained static for three years and in many populations smoking rates have increased. Notably, people with low socio-economic status have prevalence rates of 36%, and consumers of mental health services have the highest prevalence rate of any adult population at 40%.

Methods: In 2006 the Coalition partnered with the Department of Health in a disparities workgroup, which concluded that existing institutional policies do not adequately address tobacco prevalence in consumers of mental health and low-income populations. The need to increase funding for the TCP comes at a time when Vermont will receive additional tobacco settlement dollars, known as Strategic Contribution Funds (SCF).

Results: The Coalition knew that to successfully advocate for these funds we needed to mobilize our grassroots advocates and bring together new partners from both the mental health and low-income communities to develop advocacy strategies. The results of coordinated communications and grassroots approaches to the legislature will be known shortly, but the partnership and strategies provide lessons for others.

Conclusions: The coordinated advocacy strategies, legislative communications, outcomes, and challenges will be presented at the conference; as well as the need to develop program services that are specialized to address tobacco use among low-income and mental health communities.