Philosophical Foundation for Tobacco Services

The Health Education Program has been a voice for considering and applying new approaches for tobacco use interventions. We believe that our philosophy is one of our greatest strengths. As we have worked with people and communities, we developed philosophies that honor and empower individual and collective efficacies in tobacco intervention. Fundamental to this philosophy, are the following tenets that we espouse:

1. Tobacco is a psychosociocultural tool used by people to satisfy specific needs. The implications of this are frequently overlooked, unaddressed or misunderstood by practitioners, the general public, and people who use tobacco.
2. We take great care in not collapsing a person with his/her behavior, i.e. referencing individuals as "people who smoke" instead of "smokers"
3. We tailor our work to honor and compliment individual and collective interests, values and needs. Co-creation blends the expertise of public health and a community's interests, aims and assets.
4. We believe our role is to be a source for stimulating action, and providing resources and technical assistance so communities can self-determine their pathway to healthful environments and, wherever possible.
5. Projects, services and activities are designed to accomplish something desirable in addition to preventing the negative health consequences of tobacco use.

For more information, please contact Donna Viverette at
303-275-7555 or dviveret@jeffco.us.

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Last Modified: Mar 28, 2009 10:19 PM