In May 2002, the Beaver County Drug and Alcohol Program received funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Health to serve as the county’s primary contractor for the Comprehensive Tobacco Control Initiative. As a result, The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Beaver County was formed. In addition to provider agencies, the Coalition is comprised of representative of agencies such as Beaver County Office on Aging, Beaver County Behavioral Health, as well as youth.

The coalition meets on a quarterly basis at the administrative offices of the Beaver County Behavioral Health. Meeting format includes presentations from coalition members, baseline information, progress in meeting deliverables, as well as to discuss challenges, resources and collaborative efforts. Attendance at the meetings averaged 14 members.

                                              The Coalition for a Tobacco Free Beaver County
                                                                   MISSION STATEMENT

To reduce tobacco use and tobacco smoke pollution to improve the health of Beaver County residents through:  

• Prevention
  Advocacy
  Cessation
  Education
  Referral
  

                                                                   A I M S
• To prevent the increase of new users of tobacco products among youth and adults
• To increase the awareness of the health risks related to tobacco usage and tobacco smoke pollution
• To increase the availability of state approved cessation providers
• To educate individuals of all ages about the health and legal risks related to tobacco sales, usage and tobacco smoke pollution
• To improve access to tobacco resources and services through information and referral

This county-wide effort was structured in accordance to the nine Best Practice Areas formulated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC): 

 - Administration and Management
- Cessation
- Chronic Disease
- Community
- Counter-Marketing
- Enforcement
- School
- State
- Surveillance and Evaluation 

 Agencies that comprise the provider network are: 

 - Community Health Challenge
- Drug and Alcohol Services of Beaver Valley
- Family Life Center (FLC)
- Heritage Valley Health System (HVHS)
- Life and Liberty, Inc
- Penn State (Beaver)
- Prevention Network
- T.R.A.I.L.S. Ministry
- Women’s Center of Beaver County.

Tobacco Links:

American Lung Association - http://www.lungusa.org 

ASH - http://ash.org

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids - http://tobaccofreekids.org

Kickbutt.Org - http://www.kickbuttsday.org

Tobacco Information and Preventions Source (TIPS) - www.cdc.gov/tobacco

www.determinedtoquit.com

www.tobaccofreeswpa.org

PA Department of Health - www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/cwp/browse.asp?a=174&bc=0&c=38777  

Links for Kids

http://www.health.org/features/kidsarea/coolsite/links.asp

http://www.thecoolspot.gov - (alcohol info)

http://www.pabusted.com - (tobacco teens)