Promoting Responsive Health Policy Initiative -- Smoke-free

The aim of the Foundation for a Health Kentucky’s (the Foundation) Promoting Responsive Health Policy (PRHP) initiative is to make public policy more responsive to the health and health care needs of the people of Kentucky. Grant-making under this initiative is intended to support effective policy and advocacy organizations working to improve the health of Kentuckians through positive and lasting systems changes, and specifically, to address one or more of the policy areas of importance to the Foundation. This grant request represents the sixth year of funding in what is anticipated to be a continued effort to increase the proportion of Kentuckians living in smoke-free jurisdictions and living, working, and learning on tobacco-free campuses. Grantees are expected to work collaboratively with the Foundation, maintain positive and open communication with the Foundation, and to engage in a collaborative manner with others working on the areas of focus. Grantees are also expected to participate in any training and technical assistance provided by the Foundation or its designated technical assistance providers, to advance the work of this initiative. Training expenses and grantee travel expenses will be underwritten by the Foundation. Future years of funding will be contingent on the continued strength and viability of the applicant organization and its ongoing commitment to work for health policy change consistent with the Foundation’s identified focus areas. For this sixth year of funding under PRHP, Kentucky Center for Smoke-free Policy (KCSP) will continue to address Focus Area #3, promoting policies to increase the proportion of Kentuckians living in smokefree jurisdictions by supporting an eventual comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law, as appropriate, local smoke-free laws, and institutional tobacco-free policies. KCSP promotes responsive health policy change by: 1) providing an information clearinghouse on tobacco exposure including electronic smoking devices, policy advocacy, grassroots organizing, coalition development, legal/regulatory issues, and translational research; 2) partnering with community stakeholders to build capacity and demand for smoke- and tobacco-free air; 3) and disseminating data for policymakers, the media, and community stakeholders. Community advocates, policymakers, and the media rely on KCSP for user-friendly, readily available resources to advance health policy and evaluate its impacts.