ADVOCATES

Minnesota Technical Assistance

The Association for Nonsmokers MN, Live Smoke Free’s parent organization, received a Tobacco Free Communities Technical Assistance grant from the Minnesota Department of Health to support grantees in Minnesota working on smoke-free housing initiatives.

Through this project, Live Smoke Free can provide assistance with:

•   Consultations
•   Program development materials
•   Educational and training resources
•   Sample smoke-free housing policy adoption and implementation tools

For further information about ANSR’s technical assistance team, visit the ANSR website.

To view available technical assistance materials available to smoke-free housing advocates in Minnesota, click here.

National Technical Assistance

In 2011, Live Smoke Free received a Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Mentoring grant from the Minnesota Department of Health to provide training and technical assistance to health professionals working on smoke-free housing around the country.
Through this project, Live Smoke Free:

• Presented a nine-part webinar series called “Stages of Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Program Development.”
• Created a training manual entitled “Developing a Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing Program: A Guide for Tobacco Control Professionals.” 
• Developed a booklet for property managers called “An Apartment Manager’s Guide to Adopting a Smoke-Free Building Policy in the United States.” 

View and order these resources here. These materials are free* to smoke-free housing advocates throughout the United States while supplies last.

In 2018, Live Smoke Free received a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to support public housing agencies nationwide with the implementation of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s “Instituting Smoke-Free Public Housing” rule. Live Smoke Free collaborated with national partners to create Clean Air for All: The Smoke-Free Public Housing Project (CAFA). CAFA smoke-free public housing resources and tools can be found here.

Live Smoke Free is available to provide additional national technical smoke-free housing support for contract. For further information contact Live Smoke Free at 651-646-3005 or info@mnsmokefreehousing.org.

*Shipping charges may apply.

Global Directory of Smoke-Free Multi-Housing Programs

There are many smoke-free housing programs like Live Smoke Free around the United States and in several other countries. Live Smoke Free maintains a directory of these programs which you can access below. The Global Directory is updated annually. If you do not find a program in your area, call your county or state health department to ask if a local program exists.

Tools for Creating a Smoke-Free Housing Program

In 2011-2012, Live Smoke Free received a Communities Putting Prevention to Work Mentoring Supplement from the Minnesota Department of Health to mentor communities throughout the US on developing a smoke-free housing program.

The training materials below are results of that work. If you have questions about these resources, please feel free to contact Live Smoke Free at info@mnsmokefreehousing.org or 651-646-3005.

Resources for Property Managers and Owners

National booklet for apartment managers: “An Apartment Manager’s Guide to Adopting a Smoke-Free Building Policy in the United States” Public health professionals can print this electronic copy of the booklet to give to apartment managers. There is space on the back cover to put the contact information for your organization. If you would like to receive hard copies of the booklet, please use this order form. *Live Smoke Free reserves the right to limit quantities and shipping costs may apply.

Between October 2011 and March 2012, Live Smoke Free hosted a 9-part webinar series discussing topics related to building and maintaining a smoke-free housing program. Webinars featured expert speakers and allowed listeners to learn what’s happening in the smoke-free housing movement around the country. Although the recordings of these webinars are no longer available, slides and handouts are still available below. 

Part 1: The Case for Smoke-Free Housing

Aired: Thursday, October 20, 2011 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

The importance of adopting smoke-free housing policies. Includes information on the dangers of secondhand smoke; how smoke moves through a building; the market demand for smoke-free housing; the dangers of cigarette-related fires; and the cost savings of smoke-free policies.

Part 2: Getting to Know the Multi-Housing Industry

Aired: Thursday, October 27, 2011 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Assessing housing stock and learning what’s important to the housing industry. Includes information on how to assess a community’s housing stock; finding existing smoke-free buildings; learning about local trade associations; speaking the lingo of the housing industry; and how subsidized, market-rate, and specialty housing differ.

Part 3: Building Your Smoke-Free Housing Program

Aired: Thursday, November 10, 2011 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Creating goals, materials, and procedures to sustain a program. Includes information on the differences between the voluntary policy approach and the public policy approach; how to build a database or tracking system; deciding what services and materials your program will offer; creating a listing of smoke-free buildings that can be shared with the public; and conducting survey research on market demand.

Part 4: Understanding Legal Issues & Resources

Aired: Thursday, December 1, 2011 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Learning local, state, and federal laws pertaining to multi-housing. Includes information on legal resources around the country; general landlord/tenant laws; legal case studies regarding smoke-free housing; researching state-specific laws around tobacco and multi-housing; federal laws protecting renters from secondhand smoke; avoiding discrimination claims when a building goes smoke free; and other policy options such as low-income housing tax credits.

Part 5: Strategies to Reach the Housing Industry

Aired: Thursday, December 15, 2011 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Getting your message to property owners/managers. Includes information on indentifying and meeting with local organizations that work with housing; attending multi-housing conferences; conducting mailings and training sessions to owners/managers; utilizing earned and paid media; and working with nontraditional industries such as green building initiatives, insurance providers, and rental search services.

Part 6: Working with Property Owners/Managers

Aired: Thursday, January 12, 2012 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

The policy adoption process. Includes information on how policy adoption differs for rental and owner-occupied multi-housing; discussing the benefits of policy adoption with owners/managers; helping owners/managers conduct a survey of building residents; assisting owners/managers with notifying residents of policy change and writing a smoke-free lease addendum; promoting smoke-free buildings; and training owners/managers on enforcing a policy.

Part 7: Providing Cessation in Smoke-Free Buildings

Aired: Thursday, January 26, 2012 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Helping current residents make the transition to a smoke-free environment. Includes information on getting connected to local cessation programs; how cessation can work in disparate populations; providing owners/managers with cessation materials and talking points for offering cessation to residents and employees.

Presentation by Dr. Kolawole Okuyemi: Cessation Facts and Myths about Smokers with Chemical Dependency, Mental Health Conditions, and Homelessness

Presentation by Loretta Worthington: Addressing Nicotine Dependence in Treatment

Part 8: Working with Renters Exposed to Secondhand Smoke

Aired: Thursday, February 9, 2012 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Empowering renters suffering from secondhand smoke drift. Includes information on renters’ rights; encouraging renters to talk with their building owner/manager; and connecting renters to local legal services.

please note: there is a glitch in the recording that makes the audio and visual go out for about a minute near the 53 minute mark. We are working to fix this issue.

Part 9: Program Sustainability

Aired: Thursday, February 23, 2012 12:00-1:30pm Central Time

Creating lasting partnerships and systems changes. Includes information on utilizing other smoke-free housing programs in the country; strategies for continuing a program on limited resources; and finding additional funding.

Partnering to Close the Gaps in Smoke-free Homes Protections
July 15, 2021

A healthy home is a smoke-free home, free of the serious health harms caused by secondhand smoke. Unfortunately, the home is increasingly the main source of secondhand smoke exposure for millions of people in the US. In fact, housing is the leading source of secondhand smoke exposure for children, and those living in 4 multi-unit housing are less likely to enjoy smoke-free protections. Learn about trends and emerging issues in smoke-free homes, how cross-sector partnerships are successfully extending protections to populations experiencing disparities in smoke-free homes, and free or low-cost resources to help you promote smoke-free homes.

Presenters
Nakki’ A. Price, PhD, MPhil, MPH, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health
Kara Skahen, MSW, MPP, Live Smoke Free, Association for Nonsmokers-Minnesota
Michelle Kegler, DrPH, Emory Prevention Research Center, Rollins School of Public Health

Overview and New Developments in Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Program
January 11, 2022

This 60 minute webinar is intended to provide OSHII grantees and partners a basic overview of the MDH Medical Cannabis Program, recent changes to the program, and discussion of new/emerging marijuana products. This is the first in a two-part series of webinars to promote better understanding of the intersection between Minnesota’s policies regarding medical cannabis and other policy areas, such as commercial tobacco control and smokefree air policies. 

Presenters
Chris Tholkes, Minnesota Department of Health, Director of Medical Cannabis Program
Christina Thill, Minnesota Department of Health, State Policy Planner (Facilitator)