Huron County Public Health, Firelands Regional Medical Center, and Sandusky County Health Department Awarded $452,078 for Community Tobacco Cessation Initiative

(November 21, 2017 - Sandusky, OH) Huron County Public Health (HCPH) recently received a notice of award for the Ohio Department of Health (ODH)’s Bureau of Health Promotion’s Community Cessation Initiative. This grant was awarded to HCPH, Firelands Regional Medical Center (Firelands) and Sandusky County Health Department (SDHD) as part of the agencies’ efforts to combat tobacco use and promote cessation in the area.

The tri-county group will soon begin work to fill the gaps in services being provided to Huron, Erie, and Sandusky county residents. Based on identified gaps, evidence-based services will be provided to residents wishing to quit using tobacco. HCPH, Firelands, and SCHD will also work to create a referral system to connect the three counties’ residents with newly implemented and existing cessation services in each county. Services will be billed through participants’ private health insurance and Medicaid. If the services are not covered or the participant is uninsured, the Community Cessation Initiative will cover the cost of counseling services.

As the lead agency, HCPH will also be conducting follow up contact with those participating in the program across all three counties. This will help patients stay tobacco free by managing relapses after treatment and encouraging additional quit attempts.

HCPH, Firelands, and SCHD are excited to bring this opportunity to their community members and look forward to beginning work on the Community Cessation Initiative.