Goal: Raise awareness of the impact of pricing strategies to reduce tobacco use. Objective 1: Communicate messages that will move internal and external audiences to support the pricing strategy Activity Timeline Communication Type Audience Method Develop 3-4 universal messages that can be incorporated in all communications regarding pricing strategies As soon as position is determined Adaptable to all communications pieces All potentially interested parties: Internal health department leadership, other related state level agencies and program grantees as well as external decision makers, opinion leaders and the public Apply these messages in all communications Develop a one-page summary of key messages As soon as position is determined One-page document All potentially interested parties: Internal health department leadership, other related state level agencies and program grantees as well as external decision makers, opinion leaders and the public Prominent downloadable posting on program website; use as needed Use these key messages whenever possible when communicating to internal and external audiences Frequently repeat these messages whenever possible Adaptable to audience All potentially interested parties: Internal health department leadership, other related state level agencies and program grantees as well as external decision opinion leaders and the public Adaptable to audience as either hand-out material, or web-based
Objective 2: Raise awareness among key health department decision-makers and stakeholders (chronic disease director, legislative liaison, commissioner of health, program grantees, etc) and other related state agencies by distributing monthly bulletins and annual policy agenda. Activity Timeline Communication Type Audience Method Send monthly bulletin from a prepared list of topics, including toll of tobacco, impact of price increase on youth smokers, impact of price increase on pregnant smokers, popularity of excise tax increases with the voting public, CDC recommended funding for tobacco control program linked to increased revenue; reliability of excise tax as revenue source; excise tax increases in other states as they occur; current activity by tobacco industry that targets vulnerable populations; research reports; polling other related public opinion studies. Same time every month One page with clear message(s) Internal health department leadership (the chain of command to the commissioner), other related state level agencies and program grantees E-mail; internal bulletins; website Present the tobacco control program’s tobacco pricing policy agenda to appropriate agency representative (Commissioner, legislative liaison) for incorporation in health department policy agenda or statement) While Commissioner is preparing policy agenda for submission to the Governor’s office One page policy agenda with appended fact sheets and references Internal health department leadership at highest level possible Briefing in person
Objective 5: Build and maintain communications with state and local coalition partners (organizations and individuals) Activity Timeline Communication Type Audience Method Communicate with state partners on pricing related issues (MMWR and other CDC Reports, state government activity) Whenever there is an opportunity E-mail, telephone and Voluntary health agencies, community organizations, local coalitions, other external stakeholders Whatever is most direct and fosters good relationships Attend coalition meetings to contribute the public health perspective to discussions related to pricing strategies, without participating in any lobbying (or the perception of lobbying) activities (e.g., not voting on policy decisions, etc.). Whenever coalition meetings or conference calls take place In-person or by telephone, depending on how coalition meetings are conducted Coalition members Personal interaction
Part III: Checklist for Action Another tool for success is a Checklist to track the progress of all the recommended activities on a timeline. The recommended activities on the checklist have been suggested by tobacco control program managers around the country who have played a role in efforts to raise tobacco excise taxes in their states. These recommended activities can be adapted to any state’s policy environment to optimize a tobacco control program’s contribution to statewide efforts to reduce tobacco use by raising the price of tobacco products. There are also blank spaces throughout the timeline for additional activities to be added and described.
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