1. Developing Effective Tobacco Policy Tracking Systems Diane Beeson, MBA, Director Alabama Tobacco Prevention and Control Division

2. Why develop a policy tracking system? To monitor progress toward policy goals To inform decision makers and tobacco control advocates To create healthy competition To encourage analysis of existing policies

3. Policy Tracking System Components State Tobacco Laws Model Policies City Ordinances Rating/Evaluation Tools School Policies Worksite Policy Summary Report Local Tobacco Excise Taxes Opinion Polls

4. Populating the Policy Tracking System Area Tobacco Control Coordinators Surveillance and Evaluation Coordinator Policy Coordinator Program Evaluator CDC/OSH Staff National Partners – Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, American Cancer Society, National Association of State Boards of Education

5. Resources Needed to Develop and Maintain a Policy Tracking System Data collection personnel Policy analysis skills and protocol Software engineer Policy Coordinator to serve as a point person Web Master to maintain web site

6. Users of Policy Tracking System Data Tobacco Control Advocates Decision Makers in Cities, Schools and Worksites Funders Concerned Citizens

7. Benefits of Policy Tracking Systems Ready source of information that allows comparison of policies to a standard model policy Communicates goal to all users Can help motivate the tobacco control community to see policies strengthen over time

8. Limitations of Policy Tracking Systems Dated information “Model” policies change over time Resource intensive Limited research to guide decisions Can be controversial

9. www.adph.org/tobacco

10. THANK YOU! Thanks to Jennifer Wammack, David Parrish, Sally Palmer, Javonda Kennedy, Barry Riddle, Sig Harden and the Area Tobacco Control Coordinators for their contributions to the Alabama Tobacco Policy Tracking System.

11. Contact Information Diane H. Beeson Tobacco Prevention & Control Division Alabama Department of Public Health RSA Tower, Suite 1270 201 Monroe Street Montgomery, AL 36104 (334)206-5560 phone (334)206-2064 FAX dbeeson@adph.state.al.us

12. Alabama Tobacco Law Page

13. Alabama Local Excise Tax Page

14. Model Tobacco Policies Page

15. Tobacco Work Site Policies Page

16. School Tobacco Policies Page

17. Tobacco Opinion Poll Page

18. City Ordinance Page