Key Points: The Arkansas Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program (TPCP) has made a long-term commitment to sustain and provide resources for tobacco prevention throughout the state of Arkansas. TPCP provided leadership for sustaining state funding and key partnerships were developed and maintained. Through this process, TPCP and key partners such as the Statewide Coalition for Tobacco Free Arkansas (CTFA); Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission (ATSC); The Arkansas Cancer Coalition; The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Minority Initiative Sub recipient Grant Office, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI), and the Family Service Agency-Youth Leadership Initiative recognized the challenge of reducing tobacco use in Arkansas. This team also assisted with developing and implementing a plan that included strategies on how to effectively educate legislators on the importance of sustaining the program; and mobilize local coalitions to build capacity within their community- moving towards community action and community change.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this presentation, attendees will be able to: 1)Demonstrate a sustainable process with effective tools and measurable outcomes 2)Develop and maintain key partnerships throughout the sustainability process. 3) To understand the effectiveness of sustaining a comprehensive tobacco control program.

Benefits: This presentation will provide an in-depth analysis of the strategies and tactics of Arkansas' tobacco control program sustainability efforts and the success of program implementation and evaluation.