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LCTFC Coalition Meeting Minutes | January 2025

  • Lake County Tobacco Free Coalition
  • Jan 15
  • 6 min read

Reading of Our Mission & Vision Statements

Led by Adrienne Jackson

 

Mental Moment

Kirsten Robinson led us in a minute of deep breathing and quiet contemplation

 

Tobacco Free Indiana (TFI) Advocacy Day

Irene Boone Phillips shared the TFI partners, asks at the statehouse, new revenues, the TFI information sheet on what our asks are, the impact, and to restore state investments in tobacco cessation programs. Advocacy Day is Feb 12th. We asked that coalition members work on their elevator pitch, and to let us know if they can or cannot make Advocacy Day. Additionally, if members cannot attend, we encourage them to advocate in other ways, like with letters, email, phone calls, social media, etc.

 

Hobart Smoke-Free Air Supporter Cards

Nicole and Irene both shared what smoke-free air supporter cards typically look like and what we want our cards to look like. Nicole explained the importance of the cards and of what content we include in the cards.

Jessica, Lake County Health Department, suggested that we have it available as both an online format and in print so that people have the options for documenting their support.

Michelle Arnold, Lake County Health Department, expressed liking the engaging and simplicity of the postcard-sized card versus the longer ones that make it hard to keep engaged. The larger card reminded her of the junk mail you toss when you pull it out the mailbox. She also liked the image of a person on the card rather than the lungs. Kelly agreed with Michelle. Everyone agreed it's important to keep the perforation style of the card. The information on the card should be a larger print and bulleted for easy reading.

Photo Ideas: 

  • Family in a restaurant

  • “Why do they get exposed, and this group not” 

  • Did You know this Person is Exposed – Adrienne Jackson

Our Ask: 

  • I support

  • Smoke Free Air: Gaming Facilities, Parks

  • “I support every worker has the right to be in a smoke-free environment”

In an effort to establish our ask, we reviewed the State of California Smoking State Laws, which was found to be extremely full coverage.

Shirley suggested we include the wording “strong” policy instead of comprehensive.

 

2023-2025 Grant Update-

TF Schools - 

1 school left to wrap up the Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey. The Hammond Academy of Science & Technology, St. Thomas Aquinas, Whiting, and St. Casmir have reached out for programming/presentations regarding vaping. The Music Notes program…in collaboration with McKinley Elementary School in East Chicago, will do music workshops with the students and then get the best songs to be shared with the entire community. Lake Central TV will work on a video for the older students. In partnership with the SAFE Coalition, we are still working towards vape collection containers.

 

VOICE - 

Bri shared what VOICE is to the coalition. She explained the kids had a training on Jan 8 to make sure they were prepared for the statehouse visit on February 12th. They are researching the legislators in the area. Jan 26th, they will put emails together, their pitches, and how they can speak with the legislators. In Dec, we had a student, Lily, visit the 8th grade class at Lowell Middle School to speak on Tobacco. We are returning the 2nd semester to speak to another group of students.

 

Point of Sale - 

Nicole shared our participation in the STARS Biennial survey. We did participate and surveyed all 284 assigned retailers in Lake County. Quarterly we are responsible for conducting youth and adult-focused educational activities on how tobacco products are priced and marketed to target teens and marginalized populations. We have hit this deliverable each quarter through presentations and table day events at schools and community events. Annually we are responsible for conducting a community education event to discuss the results of the STARS survey. We met this deliverable in November at Gino's Steakhouse and used this event as an opportunity to discuss how we can use these results to improve our tobacco retail landscape in Lake County as well as try to improve the look and availability of healthy options at our retailers.

 

Smoke-Free Communities - 

Nicole shared that we are asked to complete a community assessment within the first quarter of the grant. We did meet this deliverable. Within the 2nd quarter of the grant cycle, we are asked to complete a strategy chart to guide our activities for the chosen community. Again, we met this deliverable. Monthly we are asked to complete activities from the drafted strategy chart. We have been meeting this deliverable each month by executing a tactic from the strategy chart, attending community events, or doing smoke-free air presentations within the selected community.

 

Quit Now Indiana - 

Kirsten shared the progress we have made with physicians, employers, and organizations that serve marginalized communities. She shared that outreach is conducted monthly to ensure use of the referral portal as well as resources needed for their offices/organizations. Kirsten also shared that we monitor and track referral information to ensure there is no breakdown or disruption to the referral process. She also shared that she is available to help anyone set up as a referral source using the Quitline Portal.

 

Coalition - 

Kirsten shared that we meet this deliverable consistently by holding our monthly meetings. We also meet the expectations of coalition development and recruitment. The coalition has also been successful in engaging in work for communities in Lake County by partnering with each other. This is why we have the partner sharing segment at each meeting. We are here because of our partners, and we all are working together for a healthier Lake County. Kirsten informed the coalition that under this indicator we are also responsible for presenting to our lead agencies the progress of the coalition as well as educating and thanking our legislators about the work of the coalition as well as our progress in tobacco prevention and education. We also celebrate the successes of the coalition and our members with end of the year celebrations. Our next celebration will be in June 2025.

 

2025-2027 TPC Grant Application 

Nicole shared the grant application is now open. We will be applying for funding. We will be attending the RFA Training tomorrow in Plymouth. If anyone is interested in joining, they are welcome to join.  Additionally, she explained elective indicators, CANI’s is Multi-Unit Housing and Employers. Additionally, Franciscan works with VOICE and TF Families. We asked what areas people think we should focus on in the ‘25-’27. Nicole also asked for volunteers to help write the grant. The coalition was alerted that we will reach out for letters of support for the Grant Application and to be on the lookout for those requests. The coalition was also informed that those requests would be coming from both coordinators since we have different lead agencies, and it is ok to write letters for both organizations.

 

TPC Monthly Report

TPC Monthly Report will be reviewed later for time, but Nicole gave a brief explanation of the layout and what was captured in the monthly report.

 

Partner Sharing-

Michelle Arnold, Lake County Health Department

Suggested we do a Butt Clean Up Event

Mobile Health Clinic Delivery for LCHD – today!!!

School Liaisons have been hired and are ready to partner

Feb 5th - Board of Health Meeting

Scheduling Immunizations - Off Site Clinics

 

Lynell Carter, Marram Health Centers

Presentation Series at Gary Manor and would love for us to come with tobacco cessation information/resources/presentations

Tamika Geisser

 

Kelly Peck, Gary Harm Reduction Unit

Would love to do table days 

Reach out to Kelly about her Smoking, Quit Journey**

Jessica Baker, Lake County Health Department is also a former smoker and would share her story

Judith Lawrence, Lake County Health Department

Judith was happy to attend the meeting. She attends when she is not instructing a class.

 

Nichelle Corley, HealthLinc

Coming up: 

Mental health event Jan 30th

New Pharmacy, HealthLinc Pharmacy

Promote 34B program

February is Heart Health Month, Nutritionist to discuss How to build a Healthy Plate

March, Colorectal Event

 

Adrienne Jackson

Free HIV & Hepatitis Testing

Incentive Right Now for those that test and bring a partner to test

At Walgreens on 6905 Kennedy

 

Shelby Beasley, TPC LaPorte for Franciscan

Meeting with her supervisor who stated lots of events coming up. She will let us know what she needs support with.

 

Action Items-

Register for Advocacy Day

Recruit for the Coalition 

Let us know if you are interested in helping with grant application

Submit ideas for messaging, asks, and images for the Smoke-free Communities Supporter Card

 

Notes:  social media & website information

·         Social media for CANI…

·         Social Media for Tobacco Free Lake County Indiana…

 

Please remember to Like and Share our posts!

 

Thank you for joining us and we look forward to working with you!

 

Next meeting will be Wednesday, February 19th @ 10am CST

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