Community of Practice Wrap-Up

At more than 40%, tobacco use rates are much higher in the mental and behavioral health population than for people not living with mental and behavioral health challenges. This results in significant health disparities. To address this challenge, CDC funded the National Behavioral Health Network for Tobacco and Cancer Control to engage organizations and agencies across the nation to increase their knowledge, understanding, and delivery of evidence-based tobacco and cancer control practices.

They began establishing communities of practice to enhance tobacco and cancer control efforts. Kentucky was invited to be part of the 2023 Community of Practice (CoP). The Kentucky CoP was made up of designees from the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program, Green River District Health Department, NorthKey Community Care, and the University of Kentucky’s Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living & Learning (BH WELL).

Dr. Zim Okoli and Heather Robertson represented Kentucky at the Community of Practice Wrap-Up Conference held June 27-28, 2023 in Washington D.C. They presented during a poster session and also moderated four breakout table sessions spotlighting Kentucky’s work.

An unexpected outcome of the CoP were the new relationships formed with other states involved in the 2023 CoP cohort. Kentucky and BH WELL have plans to continue working with NBHN, its faculty, and CoP cohort states as we help create healthy environments and support individuals living with mental and behavioral health challenges who want to stop tobacco use.