Tobacco Health Disparities

Eliminating Tobacco Health Disparities
Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative

Certain culturally diverse communities experience higher tobacco addiction rates and are exposed to more secondhand smoke than other groups. To address these health disparities in Colorado, a pilot project was launched in January 2006. The Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is a unique and collaborative effort between statewide and grassroots organizations, aimed to reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure by taking a neighborhood approach.

This project, which aims to reach the Latino community with messages about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, is currently being tested in the Hanson neighborhood, a predominantly Spanish-speaking area of Commerce City. The project’s unique approach involves promotoras, or community-based health workers who go from door to door to speak with families about the dangers of secondhand smoke. Training and resources is also provided at schools, childcare facilities, faith groups, and workplaces.

Healthy Neighborhoods takes a comprehensive approach to addressing tobacco use through simultaneous education, training, and outreach at five levels:

Home: community-based, trained lay health workers providing one-on-one education to families in their homes
Schools & Childcare Facilities: teachers & childcare providers are trained to educate parents using positive messages
Workplaces: employer education about cessation services & the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act
Faith Groups: presentations and events
Community: engaging families, businesses, and the media to enforce and strengthen tobacco policy efforts in Colorado.

Based on its success in the Hanson neighborhood, the program may be replicated in other communities elsewhere in Colorado and throughout the United States.

The Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is a collaborative effort involving CREA Results, the American Lung Association of Colorado, Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance, Breathe Better Foundation, and Center for Research Strategies. The Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative is funded by the State Tobacco Education & Prevention Partnership.

For more information, contact Johanna Matsuda, Smoke-Free Communities Manager: jmatsuda@lungcolorado.org or 303-847-0279.

Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative - Final Evaluation Report (PDF).

Download our display board - exhibited at the World Conference on Tobacco in Washington D.C. on July 12-14, 2006.

Other tobacco pages:

   Quit Smoking
You can do it! Local resources to help people of all ages say "no" and mean it.

   Resources for Schools
Our breathing lung exhibit leaves a lasting impression on elementary students, and our N-O-T (Not On Tobacco) program has helped thousands of teens quit smoking.

   Secondhand Smoke Info
Find out what efforts are being made in your community to reduce exposure to secondhand smoke.

Eliminating Tobacco Disparities
Certain culturally diverse communities experience higher tobacco addiction rates than other groups. See what's being done.

Tobacco Industry Exposed
The "Tobacco Industry Involvement in Colorado" report is one of our most popular downloads.

Resources & Links