Tobacco Free Task Force
Washington County Health Partners, Inc.’s (WCHP’s) Tobacco Free Program is consolidating the current Tobacco Free Task Force, Tobacco Free Program Subcontractors, Tobacco Free Grassroots Advocates, and Tobacco Free Champions into a revitalized Tobacco Free Task Force.
Under the new Tobacco Control Contract for May 2005-June 2007, WCHP is to “develop, expand, and maintain a county-wide coalition throughout the contract period to guide and support primary contractor and associated service provider tobacco prevention and cessation activities including, but not limited to, community needs and services assessments and primary contractor deliverables under each of the nine program components.”
The new Tobacco Free Task Force will serve as Washington County’s coalition, pulling together Washington County professionals and community members interested in tobacco use prevention and cessation to expand the Tobacco Free Program’s impact throughout the county.
Tobacco Free Task Force members are expected to:
- Attend and participate in at least half of the regularly scheduled Tobacco Free Task Force meetings
- Assist in developing partnerships with various community based organizations
- Participation in at least one Tobacco Free Program initiative
- Provide expertise in the implementation of the Tobacco Free Program
- Recommend and recruit additional members whose expertise is needed to fulfill these responsibilities
Opportunities for Tobacco Free Task Force members to become involved in the Tobacco Free Program initiatives include:
Ask and Advise collaborates with health care professionals to identify and overcome barriers to expand the Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence
- talk with their physicians, dentists, and pharmacists about implementing the Clinical Practice Guideline for Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence,
Clear the Air increases the number of smoke-free environments in Washington County
- recruit people to sign up for Smoke-free Home and Vehicle Pledge Kits in their spheres of influence (communities, workplaces, churches),
- advocate for smoke-free environments in their spheres of influences (including restaurants and businesses they patronize),
Do Your Part supports local law enforcement and the business community in prohibiting the sale of tobacco products to minors, and implementing Pennsylvania's Clean Indoor Act of 1988
- serve as adult volunteers on enforcement checks,
Help to Quit promotes the Get Free Program, a tobacco cessation financial aid program, and other local cessation programs
- educate others about the Get Free program and other local cessation programs
- recruit people to sign up for Quit Kits in their spheres of influence (communities, workplaces, churches),
Knowledge in Action facilitates the exchange of information between experts and advocates
- educate others about the Tobacco Free Program services available in the county,
- educate legislative officials about tobacco use prevention and cessation issues,
- organize their own or integrate into existing community events to increase awareness about the Tobacco Free Program, its messages, and its services in the county.
Peer Factor creates an active youth movement to oppose the tobacco industry by exposing the manipulative and deceptive marketing practices used to target teens
- support Operation Storefront, a teen-conducted project to reduce tobacco retailer advertising aimed at children, in their communities by adding their voice to the youth’s at businesses they patronize,
Set Them Free works with school-related audiences (administrators, teachers, parents, youth, district judges) to implement tobacco-free programs
- advocate for and support the Break Free Program and other tobacco use prevention and cessation programs in their school districts
To join the Tobacco Free Task Force or to support any of these initiatives, please contact Hugh Wallace, Administrative Assistant, at 724-222-6511, ext. 10, or via e-mail at hlw@wchpinc.org.
Events
All Meetings are held on Fridays, from 9a.m. to 11a.m. at
Presbyterian SeniorCare, Hillsview Meditation Area, Washington, PA, unless
otherwise noted:
Do Your Part
July 28, 2006
Set Them Free
August 25, 2006
Ask and Advise
September 22, 2006
Help to Quit
October 27, 2006
Annual Public Meeting
Tuesday, November 21, 2006 from 8 -10a.m. at Western Area Career &
Technology Center, Canonsburg, PA.
Knowledge in Action
December 15, 2006 from 9-11a.m. at Western Area Career & Technology
Center, Canonsburg, PA.
Mid-Year Review
January 26, 2007
Clear the Air
February 23, 2007
Peer Factor
March 23, 2007
Review Assessment Data/Strategic Planning
April 27, 2007
Review Assessment Data/Strategic Planning
May 18, 2007
Review Assessment Data/Strategic Planning
June 22, 2007
Links
Tobacco Free Task Force History
Downloads
Membership Response Form.
Word
Document (68 KB)
Meeting Calendar 2006-2007.
Word
Document (55 KB)
Links
Tobacco Free Task Force History