As part of Vermont’s Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program, Vermont’s Department of Health funds community coalitions.
Strengths of Community Tobacco Control Coalitions Include:
Embodying Community Diversity Coalitions bring diverse representation to tobacco control efforts, not just racial/ethnic diversity, but political, professional (e.g., providers, patients), and skill diversity.
Developing Synergy Diverse organizations that partner to achieve a common goal often go beyond their organizations’ individual contributions. This allows them to become involved in new issues without having sole responsibility.
Helping Sustain Tobacco Control Programs A major role of coalitions is to help sustain tobacco control programs by expanding public support.
Enhancing Community Mobilization Coalitions provide organizations and individuals the opportunity to have a voice in community and statewide issues, and participate in the strategic planning of the tobacco control program.
Advocating for Policy Change Coalitions can lead policy change efforts and campaigns when other partners may be limited. Coalitions also can enlist political and constituent support.
Promoting Community Buy-in Coalitions help change community values around tobacco through systems change by eliminating pro-tobacco influences and heightening pro-health influences. Coalitions also help in eliminating tobacco-related health disparities.
Establishing Greater Credibility Coalitions are able to establish greater credibility because they represent several organizations and individuals focused on community betterment.
Leveraging Resources Coalitions amplify state resources by involving broad community representation, mobilizing members’ talents, and engaging the community to develop public support. Through collaboration, resources can also be conserved by minimizing duplication of efforts and services.
Combating the Tobacco Industry Coalitions combat the tobacco industry by exposing their deceptive, predatory, and deadly practices and developing effective methods to counter their strategies.
For more information see the CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs