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Baby & Me Tobacco Free

The BABY & ME™ Tobacco Free Program is a smoking cessation program created to reduce the use of tobacco products among women during the prenatal and postpartum period. Women who quit smoking during pregnancy are less likely to have premature and or low-birth weight babies. Maintaining smoking cessation after the baby is born extends the positive health outcomes for women and their families by reducing the damaging effects of second and third hand smoke. This results in healthier mothers and babies.

 

How the Program Works

Pregnant women that meet the criteria for the program are referred by their physician, obstetric/prenatal clinic, or other entity to the local BABY & ME™ Tobacco Free Program site. Self-referrals are also welcome. The local site arranges for the woman’s first appointment with a specialized counselor, known as a facilitator, who is trained by the BABY & ME™ Tobacco Free Program. At the first appointment, the woman receives information about the program and an initial intake session is held. Each participant receives at least four prenatal cessation-counseling sessions, support, and carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring. Participants who are successful in becoming tobacco free during the prenatal phase of the program will receive two $25 Walmart vouchers for diapers and or wipes.  The participant may use her voucher for any brand or size of diapers at Walmart.

After the birth of the baby, the mother returns monthly to continue CO monitoring and, if proven to be smoke-free, receives a $25 monthly voucher for diapers for up  to 12 months postpartum.


Eligibility:

  • Any pregnant smoking woman (36 weeks or less) who is a daily smoker, or quit within 3 months of becoming pregnant.
  • No age or income requirements
  • Must be a Hamilton County resident


Support Partner: If there is a household member who is also a smoker, the participant will quality to have a support partner join the program with them. In this case the participant will receive double the amount vouchers (2) a month, in most cases. The support Partner requirements are below:

  • Must reside in the same household as participant.
  • Must sign up by Prenatal Session 3.
  • Agree to quit and take carbon monoxide test.
  • Attends Prenatal Sessions.
  • Attend 12 Postpartum Visits.
  • Only one support partner residing with the pregnant woman is eligible for the program.
  • Support Partners should attend as many of the prenatal sessions as possible.
  • Support Partners are eligible for diaper vouchers ONLY in the postpartum months (up to 12 vouchers, one per month, just like the woman enrolled)


Locations:

Chattanooga Hamilton County Health Department

921 E 3rd St, Chattanooga, TN 37403

(423) 209-8320

Ooltewah Health Center

5520 High St, Ooltewah, TN 37363

(423) 238-4269

Sequoyah Health Center

9527 W Ridge Trail Rd, Soddy-Daisy, TN 37379

(423) 842-3031


For more information contact:

Charlean Roberson, MPH

CharleanR@Hamilton@HamiltonTN.gov

423-209-8320