Table 1 The Taking Texas Tobacco Free (TTTF) Program Components and Major Implementation Milestones at the Center (a Substance Use Treatment Center in Houston, Texas)
From: Implementing a tobacco-free workplace program at a substance use treatment center: a case study
Program Component | Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Signing the Memorandum of Understanding | August 2021 | Required to demonstrate CEO commitment to participate in the program (includes expectations regarding staff and leadership participating in the program, time commitment, etc.). |
Program champion attended a 5-day course to become a Tobacco Treatment Specialist | September 2021 | Program champion is one of the Center’s staff members designated by the leadership to serve as the main point of contact for all aspects of the tobacco-free workplace program implementation process. This person was employed at the Center as a Community Outreach Specialist and was not financially compensated for accepting this role to oversee the program implementation at the center. |
A 1.5-hour long training on the harms of tobacco use and treating tobacco dependence provided to all staff | October 2021 | Provided as a part of the Center’s annual retreat; training was provided in person by one of the TTTF staff members and the Center’s program champion. |
The Center developed several documents in close cooperation with TTTF staff | September– October 2021 | Documents included: updated tobacco-free workplace policy, tobacco use assessment forms, and nicotine replacement therapy storage policy. |
Center received a shipment of nicotine replacement therapy products, including gum, patches, and lozenges; intended to be a starter kit that the Center would supplement over time from their own budget or grants/donations | October 2021 | These products were provided to the Center free of charge, with costs covered by the TTTF program (total cost $3,369.72 for 156 boxes of nicotine replacement therapy products). The amount of products needed was estimated by TTTF staff in cooperation with the Center’s leadership based on the number of clients they served and their tobacco use rates. The second shipment of nicotine replacement therapy products was requested by the Center and provided free of charge, with costs covered by the TTTF program in July 2022 (total cost $2,968.88 for 132 boxes). |
Center received new signage to place indoors and outdoors to inform staff, clients, and visitors about their tobacco-free policy | October 2021 | Signage included 2 outdoor metal signs, 1 window cling, and 4 indoor paper signs, and was provided to the center free of charge. |
Center received dissemination materials, including posters to display on the walls and information cards to give out to clients | October 2021 | Posters and information cards were also provided free of charge and covered various areas of smoking cessation, ranging from general information on the harms of smoking to more specialized information on tobacco and substance use, and tobacco use and mental health, etc. They were selected by the Center’s leadership from a variety of options provided by the TTTF program to best reflect their clients’ needs and demographic characteristics. |
Center-wide quit “refresh” date | January 3, 2022 | The quit date is defined as the date the policy becomes effective; this policy “refresh” date was selected by the Center. |