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LHS Tobacco Mission
From June 2008 through July 2009 Love Health Service partnered with Maryland’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH) to develop and coordinate a faith based tobacco use prevention and cessation program for Washington County, Maryland residents. A 1998 U.S. Census Bureau report notes that 2 out of every 3 Americans say they are affiliated with a religious, spiritual, or faith-based organization and 25% of Americans are active members of their faith group.
LHS found we were well prepared for a faith based mission and we want to duplicate these efforts in other segments of Washington County. Ways LHS acieved our faith based goals included:
· Developing tobacco cessation tools for medical providers, clergy, parish nurses, and lay members
· Enacting smoke-free policies that support habit change
· Building connections between local health department and faith communities
· Training tobacco use prevention facilitators and educators
· Conducting workshops for the faith and community based leadership groups
The faith based tobacco use prevention and cessation program is not without history. Over the past several years the state of Maryland issued large grants to accomplish building networks within the faith community. Sadly the state grants have been cut in recent budget cuts, but useful programs like Tobacco Free Holy Grounds (Developed by LHS) and Smoke-Free Sundays offer useful tools for faith based groups.
We like these tools and know these tools are useful for other segments in Washington County, MD. Love Health Service wants to help Washington County, MD groups organization and develop tools that are useful to the organization and our communities health.
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