Thomas Ylioja, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of NAQC, will open our inaugural virtual annual meeting with remarks welcoming attendees outlining the meeting’s key activities, strategies for maximizing attendee engagement, and a brief orientation to the event platform.

The opening plenary session will focus on the current status of U.S. quitlines and will be delivered by Katie Mason, MPP, NAQC’s Research and Evaluation Manager. This session will present findings from the FY2025 Annual Survey of State Quitlines, including current services, budgets, utilization, and outcomes, and will highlight longitudinal trends in key benchmarking metrics. In advance of the plenary, attendees received a preview of the FY25 overall quitline impact, along with a detailed snapshot drawn from the 2025 survey data.

This plenary focusing on the commercial tobacco product landscape will feature perspectives from both research and implementation leaders in tobacco control. Megan Diaz, PhD, Managing Director of Research at the Truth Initiative Schroeder Institute, and Michael Tynan, MPH, Senior Advisor for State & Local Tobacco Control Initiatives at the CDC Foundation, will review the emerging tobacco product landscape and highlight how state and local programs can respond, including discussion of practical strategies for how commercial tobacco cessation programs can adapt to new products while maintaining a strong evidence base.

This session focuses on health equity, culturally responsive design, and expanding access to cessation and screening through quitlines, community partnerships, and tailored engagement strategies.

Presentation 1

Leveraging State Quitlines as Messengers to Improve Access to Lung Cancer Screening: Lessons From the Illinois Lung Cancer Screening Initiative

Presenter: 
Mikayla Pittman, MA, Manager, Nationwide Lung Cancer Screening, American Lung Association

Co-Presenters: 
Laura Huaracha, Senior Manager, Lung Health Navigator, American Lung Association

Alexandria Kelsey, Manager, Health Promotions, American Lung Association 
Nicolle Mannion, Director, Nationwide Lung Cancer Education, American Lung Association

Tobacco use is the leading risk factor for lung cancer, yet many individuals engaged in tobacco cessation programs, especially those facing social and systemic barriers, are not referred for recommended lung cancer screening. This session highlights the Illinois Lung Cancer Screening Initiative and the collaboration between the State Tobacco Quitline and Lung Health Navigators to integrate education, risk assessments, and bidirectional referrals. The model provides person-centered support across the care continuum, from risk assessment and shared decision-making to low-dose CT screening, follow-up, and survivorship, while addressing barriers to care. Early results show increased screening engagement and enhanced coordination with cessation services. Learn how this scalable, evidence-informed approach can expand early detection, support tobacco cessation, and reduce disparities, offering a practical framework for integrating lung cancer screening into public health programs.

Learning Objectives:

1. Summarize the evidence supporting lung cancer screening with low-dose CT (LDCT) scans and identify populations at highest risk.

2. Describe how state quitlines can serve as public health access points to improve lung cancer screening uptake.

3. Identify lessons from the Illinois model to integrate lung cancer screening into existing quitline protocols, providing person-centered approaches for other states.

Presentation 2
Talking Circles Alaska: Assessing the Alaska Tobacco Quitline for Effectiveness and Engagement in a Culturally Responsive Qualitative Evaluation Process in Alaska Native Communities

Presenter: 
Kellie Jorgensen, MS, Tribal Health Liaison, State of Alaska Department of Health, Division of Public Health, Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

Co-Presenter: 
Ja’Kyra Austin, Epidemiology Specialist I, State of Alaska Department of Health
Christy Knight, Program Manager, Tobacco Prevention and Control, State of Alaska Department of Health

This presentation shares findings from a culturally responsive qualitative evaluation of Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line (ATQL) and tobacco cessation services focused on Alaska Native communities across the state. Using talking circles conducted in all seven public health regions of Alaska, a 2-year qualitative evaluation study of the ATQL, this evaluation explored participant satisfaction with quit line services, barriers to enrollment and engagement, and opportunities to strengthen culturally relevant tobacco cessation support. The session highlights Alaska Native perspectives on improving access, communication, and service delivery, as well as satisfaction and quit outcomes from routine quit line program evaluations. Attendees will gain practical insights into combining both community-informed and data driven approaches to tailor Quitline services, enhance outreach, and reduce tobacco-related disparities in tribal and rural settings.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss the role of the Alaska Tobacco Quitline and its importance as an evidence-based tobacco cessation service.

2. Describe disparities in tobacco use and Quitline utilization among Alaska Native people and the role of ATQL in addressing these inequities.

3. Explain how culturally responsive qualitative methods, including talking circles, were used to evaluate effectiveness, satisfaction, and barriers to Quitline services in Alaska communities.

4. Analyze the impact of incorporating local community partners—particularly from Alaska Native populations and rural communities—on evaluation design, participant engagement, and study outcomes.

5. Evaluate strategies and key findings related to Quitline satisfaction and cessation services.

6. Apply insights from this evaluation to inform culturally relevant Quitline practices, outreach strategies, and service enhancements in Alaskan communities.
   
   

Presentation 3

A Qualitative Exploration of Quitline Perceptions Among African American and Hispanic or Latino Adults Who Smoke

Presenter: 
Sophia Allen, PhD, MBA, Assistant Professor, Penn State College of Medicine

Tobacco cessation remains one of the most cost-effective healthcare interventions, with Quitlines (QL) being an accessible and proven method for supporting adults who smoke (AWS). However, the quit ratio remains lower for African American/Black (AA/B) and Hispanic/Latino/a (H/L) AWS compared to their non-Hispanic White counterparts. This study investigates the effectiveness and equity of current QL services in serving AA/B and H/L AWS. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with AWS across five states, we explored their experiences and perceptions of smoking cessation QL services. Participants included both QL users and non-users, with data collected on their awareness, perceptions of QL services, and barriers to engagement. Findings revealed that tailored advertising and culturally matched coaching could enhance the effectiveness of QL services for AA/B and H/L smokers. Recommendations for improving QL engagement and cessation outcomes among these populations will be discussed.

Learning Objectives:

1. Evaluate the effectiveness of Quitline services for diverse populations.

2. Understand the process of conducting qualitative interviews and analyzing data for tobacco cessation studies.

3. Identify strategies to improve Quitline services for African American/Black and Hispanic Latino/Latina adults who smoke.

This session focuses on systems-level change, provider engagement, and incentive-based strategies that strengthen quitline utilization and sustain participation across diverse populations and settings.

Presentation 1

Reversing the Trend: How Health Systems Change Drove Provider Referrals in a Rural State

Presenter: 
Nicole Aune, MPH, Section Supervisor, Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program

Co-Presenter: 
Hannah Wolinsky, Health Systems Change Specialist, National Jewish Health

Discover how the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program partnered with National Jewish Health to revitalize provider engagement through health systems change. We will share key resources and strategies that led to a 43% rise in provider referrals for Quit Now Montana.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe core components of the Health Systems Change Program and how they were tailored for rural and Tribal communities.

2. Identify strategies that successfully re-engaged health care providers and increased referrals.

3. Review the impact of the partnership on referrals and program participation.

Presentation 2

Quit Now Indiana Champions: Engaging Health Systems, Healthcare Professionals, and Employers in Evidence-Based Tobacco Cessation Efforts

Presenter: 
Natalie Rivich, BA, MALS, Director of Health Systems Change and Cessation Services, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

Co-Presenter: 
Holly Simpson, Quitline Director, Indiana Department of Health

The Quit Now Indiana Champions program was created to encourage and track evidence-based tobacco cessation protocols and to serve as a tool community partners and health system change advocates can use to strengthen relationships with medical providers and employers, promote Quit Now Indiana services, increase referrals, and expand outreach efforts. The program features four award levels based on metrics and milestones tied to health systems change strategies.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discuss evidence-based tobacco cessation strategies.

2. Recognize the value of evidence-based health systems change elements.

3. Conceptualize methods to encourage systems change and recognize tobacco treatment champions.

Presentation 3

Cash to Quit? Evaluating the Impact of Incentives on Participation in the Colorado Quitline

Presenter: 
Keith Cooper, Cessation Intervention Coordinator, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Co-Presenters: 
Tiffany Schommer, Cessation Supervisor, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Dr. Daniel Simon, Tobacco and Pulmonary Disease Epidemiologist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

This presentation will examine the incentives offered to Quitline participants in Colorado, the impact these incentives had on Quitline enrollments, and the quit success rates among the first wave of participants, which was limited to users of menthol products.

Learning Objectives:

1. Gain an understanding of the Colorado Quitline and trends in nicotine and menthol use.

2. Explain how financial and extended nicotine replacement therapy incentives impact enrollment and quit outcomes.

Presentation 4

How to Increase Quitline Call Volume Through Effective Messaging and Media Placements

Presenter: 
Krysten Isaac, Vice President, Group Management Director, Tobacco Control, Rescue Agency

With national media campaigns evolving, state quitlines must find new ways to drive quitline call-ins. This session explores a proven roadmap for driving call volume through direct response media and audience-specific outreach. Data will be shared demonstrating how identity-based messaging and call-centric creative helped one program achieve a 68% increase in enrollments.

Learning Objectives:

1. Differentiate between awareness and direct response messaging and their impact on call volume.

2. Apply psychographic segmentation to reach priority populations.

3. Optimize media creative to drive immediate action through direct-call strategies.

This session centers on health equity, menthol use, and youth and young adult vaping, highlighting culturally responsive interventions, tailored messaging, and innovative engagement strategies to reduce disparities.

Presentation 1

Multi-Factor Initiatives to Address Menthol Use and Disparities in Rhode Island

Presenter: 
Ashnita Raut, Senior Public Health Epidemiologist and Program Evaluator, Rhode Island Department of Health

With the proposed FDA rules banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars and proposed legislation banning sales of all menthol and flavored tobacco products, many states are looking to further prioritize community capacity building and tailored cessation resources. In this session, the RI Tobacco Control Program will discuss strategies for addressing menthol-related health disparities including a review of key interventions, related outcomes, and lessons learned.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the impact of the state legislative and community landscape on menthol use and cessation.

2. Identify culturally and linguistically appropriate interventions to address the treatment of menthol use in Rhode Island.

3. Identify evaluation measures for understanding the success of these interventions.

Presentation 2

Inspiring Quit Attempts: Core Values, Unique Needs, and Proven Strategies to Promote Cessation

Presenter: 
Harmeet Bath-Deol, MPH, Senior Account Manager, Rescue Agency

Co-Presenters: 
Alma Anderson, MA, CTTS, NCTTP, Director, Nationwide Helpline, American Lung Association
Leslie Yap, MPH, Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline Coordinator, Hawai‘i State Department of Health

Health disparities among Black menthol users and young adults who vape are undermining progress in tobacco control. While 85% of Black adults who smoke use menthol and nearly 19% of young adults vape, quitline utilization remains below 15% for these groups. This session explores the intersection of equity and effective messaging strategies to reverse these trends. Presenters from the Hawai‘i Department of Health, Illinois Department of Public Health, and Rescue Agency will share insights from three unique research initiatives. Join us to gain data-driven insights and practical tools for designing inclusive, high-impact campaigns that successfully boost quitline enrollment among priority populations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify five core values that can motivate someone to quit tobacco and describe how these values can be leveraged in cessation media campaigns.

2. Describe three unique messaging needs of young adults (18–34 years old) who vape nicotine and how these needs influence cessation strategies.

3. Explain at least three effective motivational strategies to encourage people who use menthol tobacco products to quit, based on evidence from recent research.

Presentation 3
More Than a DM: Building a Young Adult Pipeline to Quitlines Through Social Accountability

Presenter:  
Allyson Cavaliere, Account Supervisor, Rescue Agency

Young adults are one of the least likely age groups to proactively engage quitline services, despite high nicotine use during the prevescalation stage—the transitional period between experimentation and entrenched dependence. This session explores how Quit the Hit, a five-week Instagram-based cessation intervention, builds quit readiness and post-group utilization of state-operated clinical cessation services. We will share engagement and behavioral outcomes, discuss how developmental alignment reduces early engagement barriers, and examine how digital peer-group models can expand the cessation funnel and strengthen quitline reach and sustainability.

Learning Objectives:

1. Define the concept of prevescalation and explain why young adulthood (ages 18–24) represents a critical window for early cessation intervention.

2. Identify developmental and modality barriers that contribute to underutilization of quitline services among young adults.

3. Describe how a social media–based group intervention can function as a readiness-building front door to state quitlines.

4. Explain how digital peer accountability models can expand the cessation funnel and strengthen quitline reach and long-term sustainability.

This session focuses on program performance reporting and improvements, plus newer service modalities (text and AI) and what they mean for reach and outcomes.

Presentation 1

802Quits: Tobacco and Nicotine Treatment Report on Enrollment, Usage, and Outcomes for Vermont’s Quitline

Presenter: 
Dana Bourne, MPH, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Vermont Department of Health

Co-Presenter: 
Melissa Chapman Haynes, Director of Evaluation, Professional Data Analysts

This presentation will provide a detailed summary of 802Quits nicotine and tobacco treatment services in Vermont, including enrollment, usage, and outcomes. The results may be used to identify successes, opportunities for growth, and opportunities for program improvement both in Vermont and across states.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the landscape of the tobacco quitline services in Vermont, including utilization demographics.

2. Learn novel approaches to increasing utilization of quitline services, such as contingency management protocols.

3. Explore ways to expand Vermont's experience to other state quitline programs.

Presentation 2

Utilization and Outcomes of 2QuitSD, a Personalized Text Coaching Service of the South Dakota QuitLine

Presenter: 
Debbie Lancto, BA, Tobacco Program Director, Avera

Co-Presenter:
Jennifer Kerkvliet, Director of Population Health Evaluation Center, South Dakota State University

This presentation will highlight the new text coaching service of the SD QuitLine, 2QuitSD. The structure and timing of 2QuitSD program services will be reviewed. Evaluation efforts examined how the introduction of this text coaching service in 2024 impacted SD QuitLine enrollments, examining demographics, service utilization, quit rates, and satisfaction. Recommendations and further areas of enhancement will be highlighted to improve the utilization and impact of text coaching as an alternative to phone coaching.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how the hybrid text coaching service of the SD QuitLine is structured.

2. Examine the impact of introducing personalized text coaching on QuitLine enrollments, participant satisfaction, and quit rates compared to prior-year benchmarks.

3. Explore barriers to service utilization and strategies to enhance text coaching's role in tobacco cessation.

Presentation 3

Building the Future of Personalized Messaging: Development of and Early Engagement in an AI-Enhanced Text Program Within a State Tobacco Quitline

Presenter: 
Kristina Mullis, PhD, Associate Director, Program Design and Evaluation, RVO Health

This presentation evaluates “Hope,” the first generative AI-enhanced text messaging program integrated within a state tobacco quitline. Developed in early 2025 with AI and clinical experts, the program offers personalized, real-time support while ensuring rigorous privacy and safety safeguards. Since its pilot launch in September 2025, Hope enrolled nearly 3,500 participants, sending over 180,000 messages with 52% user engagement. Participants averaged 12 interactions across 4 days, with some escalating to live coach support. Ongoing evaluation includes 2-month surveys assessing feasibility, engagement, satisfaction, and quit outcomes. Early findings indicate the feasibility and promising engagement of AI-driven cessation support within quitline services.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the development and implementation process of an AI-enhanced text message program for tobacco cessation within a quitline.

2. Evaluate early AI program pilot outcomes related to user engagement, feasibility, and participant interaction.

3. Identify potential benefits and challenges of integrating generative AI technology into a state tobacco quitline text program.

This rapid session features a series of short, high-impact presentations showcasing innovative approaches to improving quitline service promotion and reach, increasing utilization, and strengthening community and health system partnerships.  

1. Closing the Gap: How Grassroots Funding Complements Statewide Tobacco Programs in Delaware — Sarah Cattie, Delaware Division of Public Health

2. Using Limited-Time Offers to Increase Tobacco Helpline Utilization — Katherine Qualls Fay, Christin Kirchenbauer, Laura Beebe, Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline

3. Integrating Tobacco Referrals Into Care Management for Priority Patients — David Spaulding, MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence

4. Centering Cultural Competency in Quitline Design: Michigan Quitlink’s Community-Informed Approach — Denise Vital and Jihan Aiyash, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services

5. Expanding Quitline Reach Through Coordinated Promotion: Enrollment Trends from New Jersey’s 2023 Campaign — Isabella Osorio Cuellar and Anna Johnson, New Jersey Department of Health

6. Partnering With Community-Based Organizations to Promote Quit Partner™: Minnesota’s Experience — Paula Keller, Minnesota Department of Health

7. Easier Said Than Done: Launching a Commercial Tobacco Treatment Campaign in Minnesota — Michael Sheldon, Minnesota Department of Health

This rapid session features a series of short, high-impact presentations showcasing innovative approaches to improving quitline service promotion and reach, increasing utilization, and strengthening community and health system partnerships.

Strengthening Systems, Workforce, and Innovation in Quitline Programs

• Enhancing the Coach Development Model for the Maine QuitLink — Amy Giles and Robyn Duffy, MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence
• Lessons from a Quitline Video Visit Pilot in Maine — Amy Giles, MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence
• Sustaining Quitline Referrals Through County Partnerships: An Arizona Health Systems Change Model — Priscilla Bennett, Arizona Department of Health Services
  
  

Reaching Priority Populations Through Tailored Approaches

• Effective Partnerships to Build Cessation Capacity Among Justice-Involved Populations — Carolyn James and Beth Bennett, CODAC
• Skills for Tobacco Quit Preparation: Feasibility and Acceptability of a Two-Week Emotion Regulation Skills Training to Manage Urges to Smoke — Mona Baishya and Bradley Collins, Temple University
• Massachusetts Quitline Special Population Programs — Janet Gomez and Hannah McGinnes, Massachusetts Department of Public Health

This session highlights how evaluation, surveillance, and research can inform quitline design, messaging, and outreach—particularly for young adults and emerging tobacco products.

Presentation 1

Quitline Opportunities to Reach Young Adults Who Use E-Cigarettes: Learnings From Hawai‘i

Presenter: 

Heather Zook, Senior Evaluator, Professional Data Analysts

Co-Presenters: 
Emily Subialka Nowariak, MA, Associate Director of Evaluation, Professional Data Analysts
Charity Chen, Senior Statistician II, Professional Data Analysts
Ronan Murray, Associate Evaluator I, Professional Data Analysts
Amelia Arechy, Public Health Educator, Hawai‘i State Department of Health

This session presents the results from a 2025 statewide survey of adults in Hawai‘i ages 18–34 who use e-cigarettes. The survey assessed knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to e-cigarette use, cessation, and messaging. Respondents were interested in quitting e-cigarettes, with over half making a recent quit attempt and even more intending to quit within the next year. While a majority were aware of the Hawai‘i Tobacco Quitline, very few used any cessation resources in their quit attempt. Respondents also had relatively low interest in using cessation support in the future. This session will share additional findings from the study, such as perceptions of vaping and reasons people wanted to quit. We will share opportunities to reach young adults who use e-cigarettes, including media channels to conduct outreach, messages that may resonate with this group, and potential Quitline services to highlight in promotional materials.

Learning Objectives:

1. Increase understanding of young adult attitudes and behaviors around quitting e-cigarettes.

2. Learn about media channels that quitlines can use to reach young adults who use e-cigarettes.

3. Identify opportunities to promote the quitline to young adults, including resonant messaging and services to highlight.

Presentation 2
Developing and Promoting New York State’s DropTheVape Text Program

Presenter: 
Tony Astran, MPA, APR, TTS, PR and Communications Manager, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (for the New York State Quitline)

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center overcame a variety of hurdles to develop and promote a New York State Department of Health texting program to address youth vaping and resources for overcoming nicotine addiction, called “DropTheVape” and part of services for the New York State Quitline. Through carefully crafted contact lists and expanded digital materials, Roswell Park reached more than 25,000 contacts throughout schools, community centers, health clinics, and more locations—timed strategically during back-to-school season. Roswell Park achieved its goals for program enrollment and promotional material engagement just two and a half months into a four-month campaign, with enrollment continuing to rise following paid media and social media efforts.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand how tailored text program messaging can engage young people to overcome addiction to vapes and other commercial tobacco products.

2. Learn how to creatively use diverse digital marketing materials on a limited budget.

3. Identify strategies for collaborating with statewide and regional partners to expand reach.

Presentation 3
Cost-Effective Communication Strategies: Owned Media in Tobacco Control

Presenter: 
Allyson Quinn, BA, Program Manager, MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence

This session examines the use of owned media as a cost-effective communication strategy to support tobacco control efforts. It highlights evidence-based recommendations from the Community Preventive Services Task Force and presents an example from the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence, which utilizes social media platforms to engage public and professional audiences. Discussion topics include strategic planning, content development, and performance outcomes that demonstrate how organic social media campaigns can enhance awareness and connection with target audiences.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how communication strategies influence knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to commercial tobacco use.

2. Define and differentiate owned, paid, and earned digital marketing strategies.

3. Describe the process for developing a strategic social media calendar for organic media.

4. Analyze owned media impact using key performance metrics.

This session focuses on integrating quitlines with chronic disease screening/education and strengthening service pathways beyond cessation.

Presentation 1

Tobacco Quitline Creates a Pipeline for Chronic Disease Management and Education that Reinforces Cessation

Presenter: 
Cindy Trubisky, MSEd, MCHES, AE-C, Senior Director, Nationwide Health Promotions, Asthma, American Lung Association
Co-Presenter: 
Nicole Goldsboro, BS, Director, Nationwide Health Promotions, American Lung Association

Tobacco contributes to chronic lung disease such as asthma and COPD through worsening symptoms. It is vital to encourage and support cessation for adults who smoke- roughly 18% with asthma and 38% with COPD compared to 13.6% without. The Lung Association established a way to screen Quitline callers for symptoms of COPD and to identify those with asthma or COPD for referral to guidelines-based self-management education. This motivates and activates individuals resulting in improved clinical outcomes, quality of life, knowledge, confidence, and satisfaction, while reinforcing cessation. The influence and successful outcomes of this telephonic program by Lung Health Navigators (LHN) has established new educational pathways for high-risk participants in the Quitline services. The integration of LHNs into Quitlines allows for trusted relationships in a sustainable bidirectional method for Quitline callers and those that seek out asthma or COPD educational service.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe and summarize this innovative and successful educational program modality for Quitline callers asthma and COPD screening.

2. Describe program outcomes that identify Quitline adult callers with COPD for referral and guidelines-based care for COPD and asthma.

3. Apply learnings by identifying ways to integrate these learnings into Quitline protocols – including Lung Health Navigation educational services into clinical and community practices.

Presentation 2

Modernizing Quitline Referral Outreach in Maine Through Multi-Modal Engagement

Presenter: 
Amy Giles, Senior Program Manager, MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence

This session explores Maine QuitLink evolution from manual phone-based outreach to referred patients to a multi-modal referral outreach strategy combining text, automated call, and selective live follow-up. Learn how this innovative model reduced barriers, improved patient engagement, and optimized staff resources, resulting in a 96% increase in enrollments from referrals compared to pre-pilot performance. Discussion will include lessons learned, data-driven refinements, and practical insights for integrating technology with human touch to strengthen tobacco treatment referral systems.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe why Maine QuitLink moved from phone-only outreach to a multi-modal approach.

2. Identify key design elements of a hybrid outreach model that combines automated communication with targeted human follow-up.

This session centers on program design, incentive-based engagement, behavioral health integration, and system-level strategies to improve quitline participation and outcomes—especially among priority populations.

Presentation 1

Building Relationships to Support Tobacco-Free Recovery Strategies in Behavioral Health
Presenter: 
Natalie Rivich, BA, MALS, Director of Health Systems Change and Cessation Services, Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation

This session will highlight the disproportionate tobacco-related burdens the most at-risk individuals face. We will discuss effective partnerships and evidence-based, low burden strategies for addressing this social justice issue using a tiered approach and tailored technical assistance and training.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the tiered health systems change strategies adopted by Indiana tobacco-free recovery grantees.

2. Understand how Indiana used relationship-building to support and sustain health systems change practices.

3. Apply lessons learned to implement health systems change strategies that support policy change and evidence-based tobacco treatment.

Presentation 2

Motivating Participation: Incentive-Based Coaching Engagement in a Pregnancy and Postpartum State Quitline Program
Presenter: 
Baihly Birdseye, MPH, Director, Client Operations, RVO Health

This presentation evaluates the impact of financial incentives on coaching call engagement within a pregnancy and postpartum (P&P) tobacco quitline program. Starting April 2025, a state tobacco quitline offered $30 e-gift cards for completed coaching calls, up to $300 annually. Compared to 17 non-incentivized states, this state saw significantly higher call completion rates (31% vs. 13%) and greater participant engagement (59% vs. 36% completing at least one call). Enrollees in this state averaged 2.6 calls versus 1.6 in other states. Incentives totaled approximately $7,920 during the study period. Findings suggest financial incentives effectively boost engagement in priority population quitline services, warranting further study on cost-effectiveness and long-term cessation outcomes.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the impact of financial incentives on coaching call engagement within pregnancy and postpartum quitline programs.

2. Analyze engagement data between incentivized and non-incentivized pregnancy and postpartum quitline programs.

3. Evaluate considerations for implementing financial incentives in quitline services, including cost-effectiveness, delivery methods, and potential effects on long-term cessation outcomes.

Presentation 3

Menthol and Motivation: Boosting Retention and Quit Rates with Incentives

Presenter: 
Heidi Larson, Commercial Tobacco Cessation Programs Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Health
Co-Presenter: 
Diana Zaato, CTPC Community Evaluator, Youth, Minnesota Department of Health

Retaining quitline participants in phone coaching can be difficult. Offering incentives increases retention and quit success. In April 2021, Minnesota’s quitline, Quit Partner, implemented a menthol incentive program. Minnesota adults who smoke menthol cigarettes and enroll in phone coaching are eligible to receive monetary incentives after completing each of the first three coaching calls. Program utilization was analyzed before and after adding incentives. Quit outcomes were also evaluated. Prior to adding incentives, people who smoked menthols completed fewer calls than people who smoked non-menthols. After adding incentives, not only did the rates of call completion increase among adults who smoke menthols, but these rates were higher than those of adults who do not smoke menthols. People who smoke menthols also quit at higher rates than people who do not smoke menthols. States may wish to consider implementing targeted incentive programs to support health equity efforts.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify specific health risks associated with menthol cigarette use.

2. Describe the impact of a menthol incentive program on quitline retention and quit rates.

3. Discuss the role of incentives as a strategy to support health equity in tobacco cessation programs.

This session focuses on digital-first cessation tools for youth/young adults, including program outcomes and participatory design.

Presentation 1
Development of Innovative Digital Tools for Special Populations: Youth and Young Adults

Presenter: 
Maria Rudie, Director, Products and Services, National Jewish Health

Co-Presenters: 
Alex Hurst, MHA, Executive Director, National Jewish Health
Katie Carradine, Senior Account Manager, National Jewish Health

This session explores the development and impact of the My Life My Quit™ mobile HIPAA compliant application, a youth-driven digital cessation tool designed to engage adolescents and young adults. Presenters will share how youth and young adult feedback shaped app design, enhanced engagement, informed new digital assets, and supported state quitlines in expanding reach, relevance, and sustainability for younger populations.

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe how youth-centered and participatory design approaches can strengthen engagement with digital cessation tools.

2. Identify key features of the My Life My Quit™ mobile application that support youth and young adult quit attempts.

3. Discuss how youth and young adult feedback can inform scalable digital assets and programming across support services.

4. Apply lessons learned to enhance promotion, reach, and sustainability of digital tools for special populations within quitline systems.

Presentation 2
Evaluating a Young Adult mHealth Vaping Cessation Program Through State Quitlines: Outcomes, Satisfaction, and Multi-Product Use Behaviors

Presenter: 
Kristina Mullis, PhD, Associate Director, Program Design and Evaluation, RVO Health

The Live Vape Free (LVF) program is an mHealth vaping cessation intervention combining SMS/multimedia support with mailed nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), offered free to young adults aged 18-26 within tobacco quitlines. In 2024, an LVF evaluation survey engaged 805 participants across 13 states who reported high rates of daily vaping and multi-product tobacco use. At 3 months, 55% of respondents reported vaping abstinence for 7+ days, with an intent-to-treat quit rate of 21%. Most participants used NRT and rated the program highly, with 92% likely to recommend it. Findings highlight the prevalence of multi-product use and the importance of tailored cessation messaging to address emerging nicotine products among young adults.

Learning Objectives:

1. Analyze participant engagement, satisfaction, and vaping cessation outcomes in a young adult mHealth vaping cessation program in state tobacco quitlines.

2. Examine patterns of multi-pattern tobacco and nicotine use among young adults and their impact on vaping cessation success rates.

3. Identify considerations for tailoring vaping cessation programs to address multi-product use and emerging nicotine products to improve quit outcomes in young adults.

We are pleased to feature two distinguished speakers who will address one of the most prominent topics in public health today: the use and impact of artificial intelligence (AI). Following the presentations, we will have time for audience questions to shape how quitlines should begin thinking about AI.

Lorien Abroms, DSc, MA, Professor of Prevention and Community Health at the Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, will present on the use of generative AI chatbots as tools to support smoking cessation, drawing on her experience developing and testing a chatbot embedded in a text messaging program and sharing key lessons learned from this work.

April Carcone, PhD, MSW, Professor of Research in Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Wayne State University, will present on the ethical dimensions of integrating artificial intelligence tools—such as standardized patients and AI counselors—into health care settings, outlining key ethical dilemmas, reviewing current ethical frameworks, and highlighting practical considerations for health care professionals evaluating whether and how to use these technologies.