National Working Group for ACTTION

Jul 20, 2009
Letter from Diane Canova

Summer can be a busy time for all of us, but in Congress, health reform is happening now – so we need to consider how we can implement our Call for ACTTION into the happenings of today. Each of us has different communications vehicles, channels and initiatives through which we communicate important messages about how tobacco cessation can be part of our nation’s reform, and we can start contributing to the conversations by talking about what the Call for ACTTION can do to help.

Jul 20, 2009
IOM Provides Report to Help DoD, VA and the Armed Services Go Tobacco-Free

This past month, the Institute of Medicine (IOM)’s Committee on Smoking Cessation in Military and Veteran Populations provided a new report to the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) entitled Combating Tobacco Use in Military and Veteran Populations. This new report provides a framework DoD and VA can use to: develop and implement comprehensive programs to prevent tobacco use; increase the effectiveness of their tobacco cessation efforts; recommend ways to discourage military personnel and veterans from starting tobacco use; and encourage those who already use tobacco to stop.

Jul 20, 2009
Multi-State Health Systems Change Collaborative Looks to Expand Local Efforts

The Multi-State Health Systems Change Collaborative (HSC Collaborative) was formed in 2007 by state tobacco control programs to identify, document and share promising state-level practices to reduce tobacco use through sustainable improvements in health care systems both at a state and national level. The HSC Collaborative now includes 13 states (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, New York, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Ohio, Oklahoma, Minnesota, and Washington) and several national organizations. Below we have provided a Q&A with Ann Wendling, MD, MPH, Director of Cessation Programs for ClearWay Minnesota, an organization leading the HSC Collaborative efforts.

Aug 01, 2009
ACTTION Employer/Insurer Webcast Series Kick-off

States and Tobacco Cessation: Saving Dollars and Lives Among State Employees

The National Working Group will be kicking off its Call for ACTTION Webcast series in August. The four-part series will highlight the critical role employers, insurers and benefits managers play in fostering access to comprehensive tobacco treatments. This first Webcast in the series, “States and Tobacco Cessation: Saving Dollars and Lives Among State Employees,” will highlight effective programs and strategies that State governments and tobacco control advocates use to provide tobacco cessation treatment to their employees.  After a date is selected, information will be posted on the Call for ACTTION Web site.