Tobacco Prevention Programs - Public Health Department (DEP)

Santa Clara County's Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Tobacco Prevention & Control Project

The Santa Clara County Public Health Department’s Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Tobacco Prevention and Control project is a two-year grant (March 2010 – 2012) funded by the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to address tobacco prevention in Santa Clara County. A CPPW Leadership Team comprised of members from Santa Clara County’s public and private sector in partnership with community coalitions will initiate and support community-based activities targeting policies, systems, and environmental changes to prevent chronic disease and promote the health of Santa Clara County residents.

CPPW Goal

The goal of Santa Clara County's Communities Putting Prevention to Work Tobacco Prevention and Control Program initiative is to increase community awareness of the detrimental impact of tobacco utilization by engaging residents, key community partners, and elected leaders in public health efforts to reduce disease, disability, and death related to tobacco use by:

Preventing tobacco use by youth and young adults;
Eliminating exposure to secondhand smoke;
Eliminating disparities related to tobacco use and its effects among specific populations; and
Promoting quitting among young people and adults

Santa Clara County CPPW Tobacco Initiative Information

Announcements/Updates

Press Release (March 19, 2010)
CDC-CPPW Award Recipients

Current Events

Coming soon

Resources

Coming soon

For more information about Santa Clara County's CPPW Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, call the main number at (408) 793-2700.

To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit http://www.hhs.gov/recovery and http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery

Made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services.

TPEP logo Tobacco Prevention & Education Programs

The Tobacco Prevention and Education Program (TPEP) is part of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department. The program is funded through Proposition 99 (The California Tobacco Tax). The Mission of the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program is to improve the health of all residents in Santa Clara County by reducing illness and premature death attributable to the use of tobacco products. TPEP coordinates tobacco control activities with local, state, and national organizations. TPEP collaborates with community based organizations and local health agencies to promote a healthy lifestyle and creating a tobacco-free community.

In The News

Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)

Over the past few months tobacco advocates from the Tobacco Free Coalition of Santa Clara County and the Community Advocate Teens of Today have been working remove E-cigarette kiosks in local malls in Santa Clara County (Valley Fair, Oakridge, and the Great Mall of the Bay Area). Coalition members wrote letters to mall management regarding the health risks of e-cigarettes, concerns on youth access and their immediate removal from these establishments. Letters of concerns were also sent to the State of California Attorney General Jerry Brown’s office. The Attorney General’s office expresses their concerns and is currently conducting an investigation of some electronic companies because of their marketing tactics to minors. On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, State Attorney General Jerry Brown filed a suit in Alameda County Superior Court against Florida-based Smoking Everywhere Inc., a leading manufacturer of e-cigarettes.

Santa Clara County Health Officer, Dr. Fenstersheib, released a Public Health Advisory to inform and advise local resident about the potential risks associated with E-cigarettes.

FDA Regulation Update

On January 5, the Federal District Court in Kentucky issued a ruling on the new law that provides the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with the authority to regulate tobacco products (Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, or “FDA law”). U.S. District Court Judge Joseph H. McKinley upheld most of the key provisions of the FDA law. However, the judge struck down two provisions of the new law.

Some of the provisions that were upheld by the court are those that:
· Require graphic warning labels on cigarette packs that cover up to 50 percent of a pack
· Prohibit tobacco companies from making health claims about tobacco products without FDA review
· Ban certain forms of tobacco marketing that appeal to children such as free samples of tobacco products, brand name sponsorships and tobacco-branded merchandise (Click here for more information on the FDA Flavor Ban)
· Allow federal, state and local governments to impose additional regulations on tobacco products and marketing beyond those specified in the law

The two provisions that were struck down are those that would:

· Ban the use of color and imagery in tobacco advertising locations viewed by large numbers of youth
· Prohibit claims implying that a tobacco product is safer because of FDA approval

The full decision is available at: Tobacco Free Kids. Should either party appeal, the next step in the legal process is an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Ultimately, this case is likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

In terms of the impact on California, the two provisions that were struck down relate to the content of advertising and product claims by tobacco companies which are both areas under the authority of the FDA and not something that California or local jurisdictions could adopt laws on. This decision does not impact the ability of state and local jurisdictions to pass laws in any of the new policy areas provided by the FDA law.

The Center for Tobacco Organizing and Policy has a Federal Policies and Issues section that contains all of the Center’s updates on the FDA law.

Local Tobacco Community Assessment Findings

The Public Health Department Tobacco Prevention & Education Program (TPEP) and key community partners completed a community assessment and prioritized key issues for TPEP and Coalition advocates to address in the next three years (2010-2013). The top priorities that TPEP will be focusing on are:

· Tobacco Retail Licensing
· Smoke-Free Multi-Unit/Family Housing
· Strengthening FDA regulation of flavored cigarettes (to include menthol flavor and non-cigarette tobacco products)
· Coalition Building and Technical Assistance

San Jose Job Corps – Smoke Free beginning January 1, 2010

Beginning January 1, 2010 the San Jose Job Corps officially became a Smoke-Free Campus. There was growing concern regarding tobacco use among youth adults on campus that prompted campus officials to establish the new smoke-free policy. Health workers stated that most young adults entered the campus program as nonsmokers, however, during their time at Job Corps they picked up the habit and became smokers.

During the last couple of years the San Jose Job Corps has been working with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program to increase cessation classes on campus and educate students and staff of the consequences of tobacco use and the harmful events of secondhand smoke. For more information, please call the Tobacco Prevention and Education Program at 408.793.2740.

These young adults that attend the San Jose Job Corps will be able to improve the quality of their lives through career technical and academic training. The San Jose Job Corps program's mission of teaching young people the skills they need to become employable, independent and placing them in meaningful jobs or further education. For more information please visit San Jose Job Corps.

Smoke-Free Valley Medical Center (VMC)

In order to support the good health and well-being of the community, the County of Santa Clara has expanded its No-Smoking Policy and created smoke-free environments at all County-owned and leased buildings.

On April 7, 2009, The Board of Supervisors (BOS) adopted a resolution to amend the Board Policy Manual to the county's No Smoking Policy, Section 3.47. The updated policy further restricts smoking at all County facilities, as well as increases smoke-free zones surrounding all County-owned and leased facilities.

The updated policy creates a smoke-free campus at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and at current and future Valley Health Centers. The policy also impacts all other SCVHHS departments by further restricting smoking zones surrounding all County-owned, non-health facility buildings to a 30 foot zone. The policy applies to all patients, clients, visitors, contractors, and employees
On November 19, 2009 the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center celebrated its Smoke-Free Campus Kickoff in conjunction with the Great American Smoke-Free Day. All county employees, patients and families were invited to the celebration as Santa Clara Valley Medical Center became a Smoke-Free Campus.