Presentation Report

“Lighting the Spark to put out the Flame”


Presented March 22, 2010 to:

Neighborhood of Dreams Staff


MHSA Program Managers:

“Lighting the Spark to put out the Flame” is a presentation targeted for staff of wellness and recovery facilities to spark interest in their roles in assisting consumers to quit smoking. This was spun from the collaboration between the public health tobacco cessation program director and mental health program managers. A health education intern contributing in mental health realized this would be a great way to bridge the two county divisions as well as address the evident need of cessation services targeted specifically to mental health consumers. This also coincides with the growing nation-wide movement to embark upon tobacco cessation for this population.

A briefing was developed to share current research on tobacco use among consumers as well as introduce staff to the shortened version of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines for clinicians—ASK, ADVISE, REFER. Lastly the briefing provided information on resources, handouts, posters, and pens.

The staff were very engaged and excited to implement the information given. The greatest impact of the presentation was that they agreed to host a smoking cessation class for their consumers in the near future which they are coordinating through Public Health. MHSA can assume that other county wellness and recovery sites may be interested in the same.