Native American Smoke-Free Housing Initiative

Supporting a community-driven effort to implement smoke-free Tribal housing across Wisconsin

Full Project Name:Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network Smoke-Free Housing InitiativePrimary Community Organization:Great Lakes Inter-Tribal CouncilPrimary Academic Partner:Laura Cassidy, PhD, Institute for Health and EquityAward Amount:$395,837

Award Date

July2018

Project Duration:36 months

Project Description Narrative:

In many tribal communities throughout Wisconsin, policies around commercial tobacco use are either lax or nonexistent in both workforce and housing settings. To address health disparities and lower rates of chronic disease among American Indians in Wisconsin, project partners will build a community-driven process to implement smoke-free policies in tribal housing and support tribal communities in their work to end the acceptability of commercial tobacco use while respecting the tradition of ceremonial tobacco use.

Community partners: Ho-Chunk Nation Health Department, Menominee Tribal Health Clinic, Stockbridge-Munsee Health and Wellness Center, Mashkisibi Bad River Boys & Girls Club, Lac Courte Oreilles Health Center, St. Croix Tribal Health Clinic, Red Cliff Community Health Services, Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe, Peter Christensen Health Center, Wisconsin Department of Health Services-Tobacco Prevention and Control Program, Lac du Flambeau Chippewa Housing Authority, Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Minobimaadiziwin Coalition, Waaswaaganing Indian Bowl Living Arts & Culture Center, Sault Tribe Community Health

Outcomes & Lessons Learned:

Initiated planning of a grassroots educational campaign, partnering with Tribal Programs targeting youth, elders, and AODA programs
Conducted outreach within the Community Health Department tribal clinic
Began vigorous efforts in planning, engagement, and relationship-building, establishing regular attendance at the monthly coalition meetings of the Tribal Advisory Board (TAB) and began actively reaching out to partners in the tribal communities to explore formation of additional TAB
Hired and onboarded new program director for the Wisconsin Native American Tobacco Network
Paused in-person meetings and work during COVID-19 pandemic while continuing to make progress toward goals with Lac du Flambeau Housing Board and staff