Our Partners

We fund tobacco prevention community grantees that work with various partners, such as schools, healthcare organizations, state and local government, nonprofits, businesses and media, to prevent and reduce tobacco use and exposure in their communities. Through their efforts, strong tobacco-free social norms have been shaped and protective measures passed. The coalitions serve Vermonters all around the state.

Some examples of grantee initiatives include:

• Working with towns to make public places, multi-unit housing, parks and beaches smoke-free
• Collaborating with youth groups to educate communities about the impact the tobacco and vape industries have on youth and young adults
• Promoting the benefits of passing ordinances and updating town plans and zoning districts to reduce the impact of tobacco in local communities
• Helping businesses and behavioral health facilities incorporate tobacco-free policies
• Collaborating with underserved populations, such as BIPOC and LGBTQ people, to make sure their voices are heard and represented

Over the past two decades, the Tobacco Program has partnered with the Agency of Education to support the local chapters of Our Voices Xposed, or OVX, for middle and high school-aged youth leaders.

Some OVX accomplishments and activities:

• Grassroots events designed to bring attention to the high prevalence of flavored tobacco and nicotine use among youth, deceptive industry marketing practices and toxic product disposal.
• Annual Youth Statehouse Rally with presentations to legislators on protections to reduce youth tobacco and nicotine initiation.
• Youth-focused My Life My Quit treatment kits to assist peers in quitting vaping and other forms of tobacco or nicotine product use.
• Inform Vermont school administrators and board members on tobacco and nicotine restorative justice policies to increase perception of harm among students who use tobacco or nicotine products, improve relations among staff and students, and reduce substance use prevalence in schools.  

See OVX chapter project highlights.

Learn more about OVX.

Members of the OVX Youth Collaborative works alongside the Vermont Department of Health Tobacco Control team to create positive change in schools and communities. The 12-member council is selected through an application process every spring. Youth, grades 7 - 11, bring their voices to the forefront of tobacco prevention efforts in Vermont. 

Students receive expense reimbursement and stipends, not to exceed $1,400, for their time and participation. 

Applications will be available each spring. For more information, email TobaccoVT@vermont.gov.

We collaborate with local chapters of national organizations that support tobacco control and prevention through research, resources, practice improvement and advocacy.

• Vermont Public Health Association
• American Lung Association
• American Heart Association
• American Cancer Society
• American Association of Pediatrics
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

This group works closely with our grantees and other partners, community leaders and legislators to promote and implement programs and policies that reduce tobacco use in Vermont. Specifically, they’re pivotal in passing smoke-free and other tobacco prevention laws, tobacco taxes and other policies.

Learn more about the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Vermont

We also partner with the Agency of Human Services and others to address tobacco-related disparities.

Additionally, we meet regularly with our state and local government partners to share information, research and data, provide trainings and materials, explore health care policy and tailor outreach.

We regularly partner with:

• Local health offices, including the WIC program
• Agency of Education
• Department of Vermont Health Access
• Department of Mental Health
• Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
• Department of Liquor and Lottery
• Department of Taxes
• Office of the Attorney General
• Vermont Care Partners
• Vermont Child Health Improvement Program 

We collaborate with several community-based organizations to reach populations that are especially vulnerable to the health impacts of tobacco or have above average rates of tobacco use. Working with organizations that have an established relationship and direct access to certain populations allow us to better serve all Vermonters. 

Our partners have included:

• Vermont Afterschool is a statewide nonprofit dedicated to ensuring all young Vermonters are active, engaged, connected, and heard.
• The Pride Center, which works to support the health of the LGBTQ community. Learn more about the Pride Center and its work, plus the important efforts strengthening the network and health of LGBTQ youth at Outright Vermont.
• The AHS Abenaki Equity Workgroup, which provides important input and recommendations to the Tobacco Program’s work, including campaign messaging on commercial tobacco.
• NAACP Windham County, which helps reach the BIPOC community and reduces community health disparities related to tobacco exposure.
• The USCRI VT Field Office (formerly known as the Vermont Refugee Resettlement Program), which works with New Americans and refugees coming into the state and links to wellness resources, including 802Quits. Discover more about USCRI’s work in Vermont.
• Regional planning and zoning committees across the state, that can help influence community and town planning and design to keep areas free of smoke and tobacco.
• Green Mountain Advocates, which provide technical assistance and training to improve the accessibility of the Tobacco Program’s materials and meetings.