Development of a community-based smoking coalition

Includes bibliographical references (pages 60-69)In November 1985, a prominent Ventura attorney challenged the health community of Ventura County to work toward attainment of clean indoor air legislation for the cities of the county. The leadership of the county's three major voluntary health organizations joined numerous health professionals in accepting this challenge. The American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and concerned citizens have concluded that, in accepting this challenge, the development and implementation of public policies designed to facilitate the transition from a smoking to a non-smoking society will require the formation of a coalition. As an action project, the formation of the coalition encompasses: 1) the coordination of three non-profit health organizations; 2) fund-raising and grantsmanship; 3) a development framework; 4) implementation and coordination strategies; 5) timelines; and 6) formative evaluation. The coalition studied the relevant issues pertaining to introducing clean indoor air legislation to the cities of Ventura County, developed a model ordinance, produced an introductory brochure for information, fundraising and ordinance overview, as well as an educational packet for the media and public at large. At the same time, nearly $15,000.00 was raised to offset the various activities of the coalition, and one hundred seventy-eight volunteers were recruited and trained to carry forward its tasks. At the heart of the coalition was its media strategy, which gained maximum exposure via a press conference utilizing a well-known anti-tobacco lobbyist, television and radio panel discussions, and press interviews and releases. The project's relevance to the field of Health Education is an important one. The process of developing the coalition was a model of each course of study prescribed by the Master of Public Health program. The project itself provided the field with guidelines for the development of a community-based coalition. As an action project, it 1) identified the requirements necessary to carry forth the goals of a coalition; and 2) identified personnel, funds and timelines appropriate for coalition development. This project, in the process of development and implementation, has received the personal enthusiastic endorsement of C. Everett Koop, Surgeon General of the United States