The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49141

Merle J. Weitz, MSW and Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD. Mom's Quit Connection, Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, 2500 McClellan Avenue, Suite 110, Pennsauken, NJ 08109-4613, 856 665-6000 ext 222, mweitz@snjpc.org

MOM’S QUIT CONNECTION: A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNITY OUTREACH APPROACH TO REDUCE SMOKING AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN AND NEW MOMS Merle J. Weitz, M.S.W., Judy Donlen, RN, DNSc, JD

The Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative (SNJPC) is the licensed Maternal Child Health Consortium for the seven southern counties of New Jersey. With funding from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, SNJPC has developed Mom’s Quit Connection (MQC), a program aimed at reducing smoking among pregnant women and new moms. MQC utilizes the Cooperative’s extensive community network system to engage obstetricians, pediatricians, Healthy Mothers/Healthy Babies outreach workers, WIC workers, day care providers and hospital and clinic staff in identifying and referring maternal smokers to smoking cessation services. MQC seeks to connect with women on a personal level, focusing cessation efforts specifically around their lives as new mothers. Services include individual counseling with a certified cessation counselor using case management to develop a personal quit plan. Moms’ Support Groups address barriers to quitting and provides life skills to overcome obstacles (such as stress management, communication and assertiveness skills). Educational programs use teachable moments in OB clinic waiting rooms, alternative high schools and community forums to communicate the dangers of maternal smoking. A rewards program for participating in MQC encourages mom to earn personal gifts for herself and her new baby. MQC staff work collaboratively to bring MQC into hospitals and physician’s offices in the mom’s own community. Personally reaching out to smoking moms facilitates her potential for using and staying connected to MQC, therefore maximizing her chance of successfully becoming and remaining smoke free.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• List five barriers that hinder pregnant women and new mom's efforts to stop smoking.
• Describe five intervention strategies to engage pregnant and parenting women into the smoking cessation process.
• Design a smoking cessation assessment tool to incorporate into the patient obstetrical care plan.
• Identify community maternal child health and related providers who could assist in identifying and referring maternal smokers to local smoking cessation programs.
• Develop a plan to increase referral to smoking cessation treatment services among maternal child health providers.
• Identify three strategies to educate expectent and new mothers about the dangers of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke.

Keywords: Smoking Cessation, Maternal and Child Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Presenter employed by Southern New Jersey Perinatal Cooperative, through program funding from the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and NJ Department of Health and Senior Services