The Cleveland Department of Public Health is launching a new tobacco cessation program to support residents who want to quit smoking. Approximately 35% of adults in Cleveland smoke, which is three times higher than the national average. Smoking is known to be a leading cause of cancer and heart disease, the top two causes of death in the United States.
To address this issue, Katrese Minor, the director of community initiatives at the health department, stated that their main objective is to provide support for individuals who are not affiliated with the city’s health systems. They found that people connected to hospitals and health systems are more likely to utilize their services to quit smoking, leaving a gap for those who are not connected and in need of programs for support.
To fill this gap, the health department collaborated with Cleveland hospital officials to train employees as certified facilitators through the American Lung Association’s Freedom from Smoking course. This training provides facilitators with evidence-based strategies to conduct group cessation classes. Case Western Reserve University covered the cost of training.
The program has already been piloted at different community sites in the city, such as University Hospitals Glenville Wellness Center, which initiated eight group counseling tobacco prevention sessions spread over seven weeks starting in January. The program aims to generate interest among residents and encourage them to share what they hope to gain from the classes. The classes are expected to commence in June with limited class sizes. Residents who are interested can complete an interest form to receive more information on how they can enroll in this unique program.
