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TSAC Significant Accomplishments
FY 2000-2001

Adult & Aging
During this last year the Adult and Aging Network (AAN) has worked with public and private agencies to collect, consolidate, and analyze information on the needs of older adults living in Santa Barbara County, and on program and services currently available to that population. This information has been published in the Network's Community Status Report, which has received a good response from the community.

Air Pollution Control District
In October 2000, the APCD hired a new inspector, thus filling a position that had been vacant in the north county Air Pollution Inspection Program. With the added assistance of the new inspector, APCD identified six illegal sources of air pollution, prevented more than 7,000 pounds of toxic emissions and discovered 147 violations of air pollution laws. In addition, inspectors were able to participate in public outreach activities at a Santa Maria school and to discuss the benefits of clean, healthy air with members of the public during Santa Maria's Earth Day celebration.

Dental Care
Dental care was provided to approximately 200 children whose needs were identified during well-child exams. Eligible children included those who were not eligible for Medi-Cal and whose families' incomes fell below 200% of the poverty level.

Hospital & Emergency Room Services
Approximately 500 hospital days were funded for patients who are uninsured, representing approximately 50 patient hospital stays. This is only a small percentage of the uncompensated care being provided each year by the hospitals in Santa Barbara County. This care is often directly or indirectly associated with tobacco-related medical conditions.

Multi-Agency Integrated System of Care
The Multi-Agency Integrated System of Care (MISC) provided services for children and their families at-risk for out-of-home placement, who had no other source of funds to pay for services. MISC emphasizes community-based services that have proven to reduce the need for out-of-county and institutional care. Tobacco cessation treatment referrals are part of every MISC intake evaluation.

Project Clean Water

  • The South Coast Watershed Resource Center at Arroyo Burro County Beach was opened to the public in August 2001, and educates the community about local watershed ecology and issues, and how to protect water quality. Other features include a reference library and a water quality lab. The WRC also provides a venue for school field trips, research projects, and community group gatherings.
  • Water sampling sites were sampled for the full suite of pollutants in four storms. The constituents sampled for include bacteria, heavy metals, pesticides, nutrients, and oil and grease.
  • A pilot street-weeping program was implemented by the County Roads Division. This pilot-scale street-sweeping program was conducted in several areas to remove sediment, debris, and other material from the roads with the goal of reducing the pollutant loading to creeks and the ocean. Approximately 158 tons of potential pollutants were removed from these areas as a result of the program.
  • Project Clean Water responded to over 70 complaints regarding water quality throughout the year. These complaints ranged from illegal dumping of trash, horse manure and green-waste in the creeks, which were referred to Solid Waste, to the dumping of liquid waste.

Substance Abuse Treatment Court
The Substance Abuse Treatment Court (SATC) continued to divert many adults, who would have received jail terms, into treatment programs. SATC is an innovative program that assists chronic substance abusers to break out of the cycle of drug use and repeated arrests and begin to lead more stable and constructive lives. Tobacco use cessation is part of an overall approach to harm reduction from drug use.

Specialty Care
Specialty physician care was provided for patients without insurance or a means to pay for their services. Specialty needs included oncology, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery and cardiology. Many of the patients receiving specialty physician care had their health impacted directly or indirectly by the use of tobacco.

The ability to provide compensation prevents the deterioration of access to care for indigent patients requiring specialty physician services.

Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program
The Tobacco Prevention Settlement Program (TPSP) accomplishments in three key areas are listed below:

  • Cessation Services:
    • Funded nine agencies that provided 22 cessation classes throughout the county.
    • Conducted classes that served 178 current smokers.
    • Paid for received nicotine replacement or Bupropion for more than 40% of program participants.
    • Achieved short-term quit rates of 50% for those participants' completing classes
    • Increased capacity to provide cessation services, by conducting a cessation training attended by 45 individuals from community agencies.
  • Media Campaign:
    • Contracted with a media firm to develop the "Money" campaign addressing tobacco use among 18-24 year olds, the fastest growing group of smokers.
    • Delivered this campaign in both English and Spanish, using television, printed media, radio, bus ads, and special events.
    • Demonstrated a 96% recognition rate among 250, 18-24 year olds who participated in a post-market survey.
    • Developed and aired additional media, in English and Spanish, to motivate smokers to quit and inform workers of smoke-free workplace law
  • Prevention and Law Enforcement Grant Awards:
    • Funded 27 youth and special population grants to provide tobacco prevention education in northern and southern Santa Barbara.
      • Activities included Lose the Chew poster contests, smoke-free dances and skate park events, celebrity post-card campaigns, school assemblies, prevention education in elementary and middle schools countywide and provided youth cessation in schools and community centers.
  • Conducted outreach in churches and trained youth to provide anti-tobacco education to younger students.
    • Funded 5 law enforcement agency contracts to provide monitoring and enforcement of the smoke-free workplace law.
    • Law enforcement agencies conducted 38 enforcement details of businesses in Santa Barbara County.
  • Established TPSP Office in Santa Maria
  • Conducted first comprehensive tobacco specific telephone survey to collect information on prevalence, attitudes, and behaviors related to tobacco.

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Page last updated November 26, 2001 .
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