title: Implementation of a tobacco-free workplace program at a local mental health authority.
abstract: Tobacco-free workplace policies that incorporate evidence-based practices can increase the reach and effectiveness of tobacco dependence treatment among underserved populations but may be underutilized due to limited knowledge about implementation processes. This paper describes the implementation of a comprehensive tobacco-free workplace program at a behavioral healthcare community center in Texas. The center participated in a tobacco-free workplace program implementation project that provided guidance and resources and allowed center autonomy in implementation. Six employee-based subcommittees guided implementation of program components including consumer and staff surveys, policy development, signage, tobacco use assessments, communication, and nicotine replacement distribution. Timeline development, successes, challenges, lessons learned, and sustainability initiatives are delineated. Concerns about the tobacco-free workplace policy from the center's staff and consumers were gradually replaced by strong support for the initiative. Program success was enabled by consistent support from the center's leadership, publicity of program efforts, and educational campaigns. The center surpassed the program expectations when it adopted a tobacco-free hiring policy, which was not an initial program goal. This center's path to a tobacco-free workplace provides an implementation and sustainability model for other behavioral health community centers and other organizations to become tobacco free.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-5029, USA. vcorreaf@central.uh.edu.
authors.forename: Virmarie
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2548-1085
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Correa-Fernández
authors.affiliation: Austin Travis County Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX, 78704, USA.
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.affiliation: Spindletop Center, 655 S. 8th Street, Beaumont, TX, 77701, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shedrick
authors.affiliation: Austin Travis County Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX, 78704, USA.
authors.forename: Bryce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kyburz
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-5029, USA.
authors.forename: Hannah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: L Samaha
authors.affiliation: Austin Travis County Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX, 78704, USA.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stacey
authors.affiliation: Austin Travis County Integral Care, 1430 Collier Street, Austin, TX, 78704, USA.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Huntsman Cancer Institute and the University of Utah Health Science Center, Room 359, 383 Colorow Drive, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Cho Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychological, Health, and Learning Sciences, University of Houston, 491 Farish Hall, Houston, TX, 77204-5029, USA.
authors.forename: Lorraine R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Reitzel
mesh_terms: D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061845:Smoke-Free Policy; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control; D014029:Tobacco Use Disorder / Q000517:prevention & control; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
keywords: Behavioral health community center; Community-academic partnership; Tobacco-free hiring; Tobacco-free workplace