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Break Free Alliance 
Ending the cycle of tobacco and poverty
- a program of the Health Education Council

Announcement: Registration opens November 8th!

Promising Practices to Eliminate Tobacco Related Disparities: The Power of Communities
The Health Education Council & Break Free Alliance national tobacco control conference will be held April 17-18, 2012 in New Orleans, LA and will focus on reducing the burden of tobacco use in low socioeconomic status and ethnic/minority populations.

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Populations Served:

Low socioeconomic status (SES) populations

Description:

Break Free Alliance engages states and key organizations serving low SES populations in tobacco control efforts and assists them with resource development and assessments, technical assistance, capacity building and evaluation to prevent and reduce tobacco use in low-income communities.

Mission:

The mission of Break Free Alliance is to reduce the burden of tobacco use in low SES populations. 

Priority Initiatives:

  • Briefing Paper - Disseminate Recommendations for Addressing Tobacco Use in Correctional Facilities through Policy and Cessation Programming; a new policy brief developed in June 2009, together with a panel of experts, that can be used as a resource for those working in correctional facilities, state tobacco control programs, local health organizations working among the inmate population and anyone else who is interested in correctional health.  A webinar series is also being developed to further disseminate the recommendations.
  •  An Expert Panel to Address Tobacco  Use among the Homeless – was held October 21, 2009 in Washington, DC -  A national agenda for tobacco cessation among the homeless by gathering successful strategies and tools currently in use within the field of public health and promoting them to state tobacco control program directors, local tobacco control coalitions, policy makers and agencies serving the homeless. As a result of the expert panel event, a recommendations document was developed in April 2010 to assist those working with the homeless persons on how to best address tobacco use in this ocmmunity. A webinar series is currently being developed to further disseminate the recommendations.
  • Case Study and Training – Disseminate case study, Helping Young Adults Live Tobacco Free, The Job Corps Initiative. This case study outlines how a successful tobacco cessation program was developed and integrated into the Sacramento Job Corps, and gives instruction on works best for the at-risk 18-24 year old population. Training is also available upon request.
  • Quitline Services in Correctional Facilities  - Form a work group to develop recommendations and protocols for establishing tobacco cessation quitline services in prison/jail settings.
  • Stakeholder/Partner Recruitment -  Expand the reach of Break Free Alliance by engaging tobacco control advocates, policy experts, social service providers, fundraisers, researchers, and others to participate on our committees and subcommittees.
  • Develop online repository to be able to search for articles, studies, publications, and tools, We've also begun adding contact information in our new directory for those who have expertise in working on tobacco control issues affecting specific populations and/or expertise in topic areas pertaining to low SES populations.
  • The 2011 summer webinar series was completed to further disseminate Break Free Alliance's Briefing Paper recommendations for cessation programming and policy implementation in correctional facilities. Archives are now available on the Break Free Alliance webpage.
  • Coming Soon! 2011 winter webinar series to further disseminate recommendations developed from Break Free Alliance's Expert Panel on addressing tobacco use in homeless populations.
  • Assessment of Community Action Programs (CAPs) nationwide to determine cessation programming and policy efforts.
  • A report from Health Care for the Homeless Council's Clinicians Network tobacco use survey and recommendations for the NHCHC Clinicians Network for others interested in addressing tobacco use among the homeless.
  • National Conference: 3rd national Promising Practices Conference to be held April 17-18, 2012 in New Orleans, LA, highlighting promising practices to address tobacco use in low SES populations.

For More Information:

Break Free Alliance
Health Education Council
3950 Industrial Blvd., Ste. 600
West Sacramento, CA  95691

Ph: 916-556-3344
Email: jporter@healthedcouncil.org
Website: www.breakfreealliance.org

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