Tobacco-Free Alaska > Grantee Resources > Community of Practice (CoP)
Community of Practice (CoP)
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Community of Practice (CoP)
Descriptions and Schedule - Fiscal Year 2021
Download pdf of CoP descriptions and full FY21 schedule
Send an email to the contacts listed under the following topics to sign up for future trainings:
Alaska Native LEAD
Register in advance for this meeting:
TPC’s strategies to address tobacco health disparities are integrated through our Leadership for Eliminating Alaskan Disparities (LEAD) CoP that focus on priority populations in Alaska. This group will establish and maintain relationships with organizations serving Alaska Native people to increase the number of leaders who support, role model, and promote tobacco-free lifestyles. For information contact shayla.compton@alaska.gov
Nicotine Addiction and Behavioral (NABH) LEAD
Register in advance for this meeting:
Our efforts strive toward implementing and enforcing comprehensive tobacco-free campus policies, tobacco dependence/nicotine addiction treatment integration within mental health and substance use disorder treatment sites to decrease tobacco-related health disparities among adults who experience mental health and/or substance use disorders. This spectrum of work for behavioral health populations also expands to justice-involved adults, youth and Veterans. For information contact shayla.compton@alaska.gov
Youth Engagement
No advance registration needed, join meetings using this link: Join Zoom Meeting, Passcode: YE COP
Tobacco use is typically started and established during adolescence when the smoker’s
brain is still developing. Nearly nine in ten adult smokers started smoking
before the age of 18. Despite a national trend of declining cigarette
initiation, 10.9% of Alaska high school students have smoked within the last
thirty days, a rate twice as high as the national average. Further youth
initiation through alternative mechanisms is on the rise with 39.9% of the
student body having used an electronic vapor product. This Community of
Practice will strive to incorporate youth voice in decision making; equip our
peers with best practices and educational materials to engage youth; identify
new partners and community agencies to expand our efforts; learn from the
successes of others; and work towards tobacco free generation! For information contact cess@ruralcap.com
Youth Prevention Policy
Register in advance for this meeting (if password is needed use: yppcopAK):
Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death. With 90% of adult smokers having begun smoking before the age of 18, preventing smoking initiation in Alaska’s youth is of utmost importance. This Community of Practice will explore the options available, both local and state-wide, to create and/or strengthen policies for preventing youth initiation of tobacco use. For more information contact: Alyssa.keill@lung.org
Smokefree MUH
Register in advance for this meeting:
Secondhand smoke exposure poses serious threats to the health of children and adults. For millions of people living in multi-unit housing (apartment buildings and condominiums), secondhand smoke can be a major concern. This Community of Practice will focus on known and emerging issues surrounding the exposure to secondhand smoke in multi-unit buildings such as apartments and condominiums, based on scientific evidence and best practice. We will share resources and experiences to educate the public, encourage property owners and managers to adopt and implement smokefree policies, and advocate for those exposed to secondhand smoke in their home. For more information contact: Jennifer.brandt@lung.org
Smokefree Events
Register in advance for this meeting:
The Smokefree Events Community of Practice will use best practices to create
smokefree public events throughout the state of Alaska so that attendees,
volunteers, and employees can breathe clean air while enjoying the activities
within their community. Using smokefree events such as the Alaska State Fair
and Alaska PrideFest as models, this group will evaluate and strengthen current
policies while strategizing to educate event organizers and community members
about the benefits of smokefree events, creating new partnerships that lead to
an increased number of smokefree event policies across Alaska. For more information contact: Shanice.Roache@lung.org
Emerging Trends
Register in advance for this meeting:
Smoke free housing, workplaces, public facilities and events support those who want to quit smoking, protect those who do not smoke from the effects of secondhand smoke, and help to prevent young people from ever starting. The slow shift of public perception about smoking toward a healthier perspective tends to invite complacency when we know intellectually that the business of big tobacco never rests. The emerging issues community of practice exists to be that ‘watcher on the wall’ to identify practices and products that threaten public health; onsite consumption of cannabis at retail stores or events, and products like e-cigs and smokeless tobacco. This COP will invite participation from likeminded organizations to collaborate for a deeper and broader community impact. For more information contact: Katie.Steffens@alaska.gov
Cessation Treatment
Register in advance for this meeting:
BRFSS data indicates that 89% of tobacco users would like to quit, yet we know that tobacco users that attempt to quit on their own are often unsuccessful. This group will work together to identify common challenges and barriers to evidence-based cessation treatment services that can be implemented in health systems throughout Alaska. Evidence based cessation strategies include Ask, Advise, Refer or Ask, Advise, Connect to an evaluated tobacco treatment service. The group will use quality improvement approaches to discuss and improve services in their community and develop standard evaluation tools to monitor effectiveness. For more information contact: cdmeade@anthc.org
Technical Assistance Schedule
Download a summary schedule of training and technical assistance opportunities provided by TPC Program Staff and contractors. This schedule is subject to change, please confirm meeting time with the appropriate point of contact prior to the scheduled meeting. Click on yellow buttons/links for meeting links to the CoPs you wish to participate in.