In November 1998, forty-six states, including California, signed on to an agreement with the major tobacco companies to settle the state’s lawsuits against the tobacco industry in order to recover the costs of smoking-related illnesses and other claims including unfair advertising practices and marketing illegally to youth.
Through the combined effort of community tobacco control advocates and Health Care Agency staff, a comprehensive plan to significantly reduce tobacco use and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke countywide was developed. The Tobacco-Free Communities (TFC) project is the “center piece” of that plan. The Tobacco-Free Communities project is made possible by the County of Orange Health Care Agency through funds received from the National Tobacco Settlement.
Orange County On Track
Tobacco-Free Communities ~ Orange
July 1, 2005 – June 30, 2008TFC is an innovative, comprehensive, community-school linked program that has been implemented in four Orange County communities over a four-year period (September 1, 2001 - June 30, 2005). Currently, TFC is being implemented in three new Orange County communities, for a total of seven communities. Orange County On Track had great success in the City of Santa Ana and is implementing TFC in the City of Orange for the next three years, with the following objectives:
Objective #1: By June 30, 2008, reduce the exposure of community residents to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) 10% from baseline.
Objective #2: By June 30, 2008, decrease tobacco advertising by 10% from baseline.
Objective #3: By June 30, 2008, decrease illegal sales of tobacco to minors by fifteen percent (15%) from baseline.
Objective #4: By June 30, 2008, increase “quit attempts” by tobacco users 15% from baseline.
Objective #5: By June 30, 2008, reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among 15 – 16 year olds by five percent (5%) from baseline.
Objective #6: By June 30, 2008 reduce the prevalence of tobacco use among young adults (18-24 years old) by 5% from baseline.
Orange County On Track is collaborating with health care professionals, city officials, law enforcement, schools, faith communities, media, businesses, parents, and youth to help achieve the TFC objectives
in the City of Orange. Specifically, the following agencies have entered into paid subcontract
agreements with Orange County On Track to support the Tobacco-Free Communities:
Orange Unified School District
Orange Chamber of Commerce
Chapman University
University of California, Fullerton
Kiwanis Club of Orange
Evaluation, Management, & Training
