TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager, or designee, to process a refund totaling $482,666 to California Department of Public Health (CDPH), California Tobacco Control Program (CTCP), for unspent funds and interest earned during Fiscal Years 2017 through 2021 from the Health and Human Services Department Tobacco Education Prevention Program (TEPP). (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Long Beach Tobacco Education and Prevention Program (TEPP) was created in 1988 after the passage of the first tobacco tax, Proposition 99. The goals of the program were to mitigate public health harms associated with the consumption of tobacco and exposure to secondhand smoke. Over the years, TEPP has educated retailers, worked on expanding secondhand smoke protections, supported tobacco control policies, assisted with implementation of tobacco policies, supported Long Beach residents in quitting smoking, and provided prevention and engagement activities for youth. During the grant period of 2017 through 2021, the program had seven project objectives focused on:
1. Working with behavioral health providers to refer clients to quit smoking services
2. Increasing the availability of smoke-free outdoor dining options
3. Decreasing availability of flavored tobacco products
4. Increasing compliance with the City of Long Beach’s (City) smoke-free bus stop policy
5. Maintaining a youth coalition to promote youth engagement in tobacco control
6. Increasing the availability of smoke-free multi-unit housing options
7. Engaging Long Beach community members in creating a comprehensive tobacco control strategy for 2022-2025
Over the past five years, this funding has allowed TEPP to host annual summer youth leadership programs. These programs bring youth from across the City to the Health and Human Services Department for eight weeks to learn about community engagement and tobacco control; convene a working group with Long Beach Police Department and Long Beach Transit to identify strategies...
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