About TFMC

About TFMC

Tobacco Free Marion County is a committee of Marion County HomeTown Health. Formed in 2002, TFMC is funded in part by the Arkansas Department of Health as a community grantee of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Branch. These monies are the result of voter mandated Act 1 of 2000, designating how to spend Master Settlement Agreement funds the tobacco cartel agreed to pay the states' Attorneys General for harm caused. Arkansas has distinguished itself by being the only state to use all MSA funds for health related interests.

Our MISSION “seeks to offer our neighbors the opportunity to avoid tobacco products in all aspects of their lives, and to understand why and how that benefits our community’s quality of life and economic health." Proud to be smokefree

TFMC has led presentations at 2005 and 2006 Coalition for Tobacco Free Arkansas state conferences on optimizing local media efforts and on the potential for smoke free multi-unit housing. TFMC’s efforts at obtaining tobacco cessation support for local city employees led to a briefing of the Arkansas Municipal Leagues’ Health Benefit Board on the benefits of a smoke free workforce. Their advocacy influenced the Municipal League’s decision to promote the Arkansas Division of Health Quit Line for all municipal employees. TFMC was the first community coalition in the state to address the issue of secondhand smoke in apartment complexes. TFMC was featured in the 2006 Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program Progress Report as a coalition success story acting “as a catalyst for public health improvement.” Our County Quorum Court has enacted an enhancement of the state’s Clean Indoor Air Act to extend a smoke free buffer of 50 feet around all county-owned building entrances. Marion County’s adult tobacco use has gone from being tied for the highest in 2001 to 70th of 75 Arkansas counties in 2005. Comparing the 4 years before and after our program started, heart attack mortality fell by 21%, with an average of 12 lives saved a year in Marion County from cardiovascular deaths alone. Local Health care providers have partnered in efforts at supporting cessation through 5A’s counseling and referrals to the SOS Works Quitline. TFMC is an active and effective coalition with over 300 grass root members, making a difference in preventing future tobacco-related illness and reducing health care costs in North Central Arkansas.