NCCC Tobacco-Free N ORTHWESTERN C ONNECTICUT C OMMUNITY C OLLEGE L ORI F EDEWA – CT O FFICE OF R URAL H EALTH
NORTHWESTERN CONNECTICUT COMMUNITY COLLEGE o Located in Winsted, CT o Current student population: 1299; 71% (920) part-time o Students from 90 towns o Approx. 80 full-time faculty and staff o 100% commuter student population o Time is limited o Many students work several jobs and attend college part-time o No health services on campus o ½ of all CT undergraduate students (public or private) attend a community college #powerofrural
Leadership Commitment o NCCC President Michael Rooke, PhD Tobacco-Free Survey – Dec 2017 o o Invite input/discussion from students and staff o Consider implications for NCCC ’ s smoking population o If program supported, implement gradually over 18 mos. o Highlight education and support over enforcement o Tobacco-Free Campus Committee o 9 members from NCCC leadership and 3 from outside organizations help to ensure broad support o Director of Student Activities o Tobacco-Free Ambassadors #powerofrural #
Process o Survey results o Overwhelming majority of respondents in support of NCCC going tobacco-free o Some concern that policy might create an unwelcome environment o Gradual change o Focus on education vs. enforcement o Grant Application o Southern CT State University (SCSU) / CT Dept. of Public Health o Technical Assistance o Staff o State Office of Rural Health o Director of Student Activities o Assistance from Tobacco-Free Campus committee, NCCC departments, including public relations, graphic design, and maintenance #powerofrural #
Incremental Approach Policy Jan- Mar- May- Jul- Sep- Nov- Dec Effective Feb ‘ 17 Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec July 2019 Upcoming events: Tobacco-free yoga Community forum with pulmonologist #powerofrural #
CT Office of Rural Health o Office of Rural Health in every State o 37 located at a State Dept. of Health o 10 located within a university or community college o 3 operate as non-profit entities o Charged with enhancing access to healthcare in rural CT through: o Disseminating health-related information o Coordinating rural activities in the state o Providing technical assistance o Office funded by a federal grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) #powerofrural #
CT Office of Rural Health #
Rural Challenges o Rural presents unique challenges o Distance creates a barrier to access to behavioral health & medical care o Rural Disparities o Higher prevalence of tobacco use in rural areas o Corresponding higher mortality rate from chronic lower respiratory disease o Tobacco use in rural areas decreasing at a much slower rate than in urban areas o Two-fold difference in tobacco use among adolescents when comparing rural vs. urban, 1999 to 2010/2011; leading to on- going health disparities* o Among adults, an increase in smoking rates in rural areas by some measures in 2010-11 *Data Source: Walsh Center for Rural Policy Analysis at NORC, Tobacco Use and Rural Populations, 2018 #powerofrural #
Cigarette Smoking Among Adolescents Data Source: Walsh Center for Rural Policy Analysis/NORC, Tobacco Use and Rural Populations, 2018 #powerofrural #
Cigarette Smoking Among Adults Data Source: Walsh Center for Rural Policy Analysis/NORC, Tobacco Use and Rural Populations, 2018 #powerofrural #
Messaging o Focus on messaging that resonates with target audience o Communication – emails, flyers, signage. Blanket campus with positive messages o Look at college & university campuses both in CT and nationwide o Tobacco vs. Vape o Based on NCCC and partners ’ experience, include “ vape ” o Use college colors o Include images of devices for clarification o Friendly and supportive messaging – “ A Healthy Living and Learning Community ” o Survey of current & projected sign locations o Temporary signage – laminated cardstock o Permanent signage – di-bond and aluminum with anti-graffiti coating #powerofrural
Messaging examples #powerofrural #
Final Signage #powerofrural #
Signage #powerofrural #
Signage #
Community Partners o NW CT Partnership for Tobacco-Free Communities o McCall Center for Behavioral Health o Torrington Area Health District o Charlotte Hungerford Hospital o Press, Smoking Cessation Classes o Beacon Pharmacy o Neighborhood pharmacy, NRT vouchers o Local Prevention Councils o Vaping a major concern among area high schools o Tobacco 21 Initiative o Southern CT State University o Grant o Technical Assistance, TFA Training, NRT Saturation of and cohesiveness of messaging contributes to effectiveness; common goal #powerofrural #
Key Grant Activities o Tobacco-Free Campus signage o Support from area hospital for smoking cessation classes & marketing/promotion o Tobacco-Free Ambassador (TFA) Training o Director of Student Activities – UMass online training o Student Leadership – TFAs part of Student Senate o TFA Stipends o Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) o Student Activities o Popcorn machine/highlight popcorn lung o Student Welcome Fair #powerofrural #
Student Activities #powerofrural
Student Activities #powerofrural
Lori Fedewa, MPH 860-738-6378 lfedewa@nwcc.edu Thank you! CT Office of Rural Health ruralhealthct.org #powerofrural #
Additional Resources for Rural RHIhub – ruralhealthinfo.org Rural Health Research Gateway - ruralhealthresearch.org Walsh Center for Rural Health Analysis/NORC at University of Chicago - ruralhealthresearch.org/centers/walsh New England Rural Health Association - newenglandrha.org #powerofrural #
Additional resources for rural: RHIhub #
Recommend
More recommend
