• Cease Meeting Schedule
• Cease Membership
• Cease Member Agencies

Mission Statement

Santa Barbara County CEASE is a diverse coalition of individuals, families, and organizations. Our purpose is to protect the lives and health of Santa Barbara County residents from the harmful effects of all tobacco products and secondhand smoke, and to expose the tobacco industry’s efforts to promote their products and corporate agenda. In order to accomplish this, CEASE will provide leadership and facilitate community mobilization to educate, advocate, and develop policy.

CEASE envisions a time when a tobacco-free lifestyle is the norm for all the communities in Santa Barbara County.

Goals

1. To increase public awareness and knowledge of tobacco-related issues, including: the health hazards of tobacco and related products, as well as exposure to secondhand smoke.
2. To eliminate youth access to tobacco products.
3. To prevent and/or significantly reduce the use of, and addiction to, any and all tobacco products, among youth and adults.
4. To promote passage and enforcement of local and state policy/legislation that is supportive of the mission and goals of CEASE.
5. To support candidates, agencies, and entities that promote
   tobacco-free communities.
6. To expose tobacco industry tactics and deglamorize all tobacco products and tobacco-related behaviors.
7. To recruit and maintain diverse partners (e.g., various ethnic groups, faith-based organizations, local business owners, etc).
8. To advocate for the provision of culturally and linguistically sensitive information regarding tobacco-related issues.

Although CEASE operates without formal by-laws and without funding, it has long-term members, a clear vision, and the ability to accomplish its objectives. CEASE meets monthly in Santa Barbara and every other month in Santa Maria, with Task Force meetings being scheduled as needed (averaging an additional 4-12 meetings per year). During these monthly meetings, decision-making occurs by consensus rather than parliamentary procedures. Tobacco Prevention Settlement staff, who usually facilitate the meetings, coordinate CEASE functions. Agendas are set in consultation with CEASE members and the Coalition Chairperson. The agendas are sent one week in advance of the meeting, and minutes are mailed as soon as possible. The 2005 membership satisfaction survey indicates continued support for this type of organizational structure.

CEASE meetings serve as a coordinating body to prioritize local tobacco control issues. Task forces, rather than formal subcommittees, are the operational backbones of the coalition. The Coalition identifies priority projects and creates task forces to address them. As of July 2003, the following two task forces exist:

• First Five Task Force: Working with the First Five staff and the county commissioners to ensure that tobacco education, cessation, and policy priorities are integrated into First Five guiding principles and practices.
• No Butts Left Behind Task Force: Working to eliminate cigarette butt litter from walkways, beaches, and other areas. The goal is partner with other community agencies and individuals to reduce the environmental impact of butts in ocean water, reduce costs of public maintenance, and reduce the hazard to children picking up butts. The goal is to increase membership and diversity of CEASE.

• Attend scheduled CEASE general and/or task force meetings;
• Act as community advocates, educators, and leaders on tobacco-related issues;
• Review and give input of LLA plans and grant applications;
• Participate in tobacco-oriented projects, activities, and/or events.

Attendance at CEASE meetings ranges from 7-15 members per meeting. CEASE would like to increase ethnic and geographic diversity among the membership, as well as representation from schools, law enforcement, business, the media, and other non-traditional partners . CEASE members are encouraged to recruit 1-2 new members per year, but this is not a membership requirement.

Members usually become familiar with local tobacco issues through their participation in meetings and activities. This orientation notebook was designed to help members understand the many issues surrounding tobacco prevention and control in our county.

Members are welcome to request a one-on-one orientation by a Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program staff or the coalition chairperson.

Cease Role and Community Involement                   page top

CEASE members are task oriented and involved in or committed to community issues related to tobacco. Meetings are used to update members on the varied topics related to tobacco control and to plan local responses. A notebook is circulated at each meeting that contains legislative, media, and research updates. Members review materials and request desired copies. This notebook serves to keep members up-to-date on local, state, and national tobacco control issues. Coalition members are encouraged to participate in an annual retreat that includes priority setting for the coalition, as well as planning sessions to develop Comprehensive Plans for the Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program.