The Columbus and Franklin County Smoke-Free Housing Program

AMBER C. JONESHealth Educator, Creating Healthy Communities

Tobacco Free Initiatives at Columbus Public HealthPhone: 614-645-6055

Email: Acjones@columbus.gov

Data and Impact of Smoke on MUH

• Damages to Residential Property – Costs an estimated $770-$2,170 more to turn-

over a smoker’s apartment than a non-smoker’s• High-risk of apartment fires

– Estimated that 620 people age 35 and older die each year from smoking-related residential fires

• Increased tenant disputes• Second hand smoke spreads throughout multi-unit

dwellings through plumbing, wiring and air spaces below and above walls

Data and Impact of Smoke on Health

• Smoking and second hand smoke is related to increase risk for cancers, heart disease, asthma, allergies, emphysema, respiratory tract infection

• Smoking during pregnancy is one of the most common preventable causes of infant mortality and morbidity – Increases risk for:

• Pregnancy complications • Preterm delivery• Restricted fetal growth• Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Choice of Smoke-Free Home

A smoke-free policy provides options for a healthy home environment

In 2011, 80% of Central Ohio adults are currently non-smokers

What is CHC doing?

• Creating Healthy Communities Funding• Technical assistance (consultations, education, resources, trainings, sample

lease agreements and policies, toolkits, support and follow up)• Tobacco Contract Funding

• Expand upon CHC work to include more community engagement and education as well as policy adoption with technical assistance to support work

• City-wide survey• Tobacco Free Collaborative • Community Education

• Events, Health Fairs, Worksites and Community Based Organizations• Consultation and assistance to Franklin County and Cincinnati Health Department• Collaboration with Infant Safe Sleep, Infant Mortality Task Force, Healthy Homes, and

Help Me Grow

Central Ohio Current Smoke Free Options

• Homeport by the end of 2016• The Julian• Danbury Senior Living• Fieldstone• Crawford Communities and T&R

Properties recently adopted SFH policies

What do we plan on doing next?

• Connection with the Judicial System• Develop and utilize a referral system with Healthy Homes

and Help Me Grow programs• Develop relationship with CMHA to expand work• Continue using smoke free surveys to engage interested

partners• Continue CHC tobacco free initiatives city wide via the

Tobacco Contract funding• Research and utilize other state/city/ and/or county

programs• Baltimore’s ABCD initiative (alone, back, crib, don’t smoke)

• Explore smoke-free vs. tobacco free• Collaboration between other Health Department programs

and divisions• Alcohol and Drug, Environmental Health, and Clinical

Let’s Collaborate!