Communities of Color Network
Why be smoke-free?
Smokers are more likely than nonsmokers to develop heart disease, stroke and lung cancer. estimates show smoking increases the risk for:
• Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
• Stroke by 2 to 4 times
• Men developing lung cancer by 25 times
• Women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times
Communities of Color Network is dedicated to reducing tobacco use and its associated health risks through evidence-based education and community engagement
About CoC
The Communities of Color Network (CoC) does its part of innovative planning and action by:
- Working inside communities of color by educating and empowering people to create healthier communities.
- Working strategically within regional tobacco subcommittees.
The Communities of Color Network aims to:
- Reduce tobacco-related morbidity and mortality among Louisiana's communities of color, including African-American and Hispanic communities.
- Enhance the awareness of the dangers of tobacco.
- Reduce tobacco use, consumption, and secondhand smoke exposures among Louisiana's communities of color.
- Eliminate health disparities caused by or related to tobacco use in Louisiana's communities of color.
CoC Objectives
Communities of Color Network staff work collaboratively with members of the communities, organizations and partners to increase the awareness of and utilization of cessation services among Louisiana's communities of color. In addition, the Communities of Color team also:
- Increase knowledge of and community response to significant negative health impact of tobacco on Louisiana's communities of color and tobacco industry's targeting of Louisiana's communities of color.
- Develop culturally competent messaging, programs, and strategies for Louisiana tobacco prevention and control.
- Initiate or strengthen tobacco-free policies affecting Louisiana's communities of color.
Regions Served:
Regions 1 & 3 Parishes:
Assumption
St. Charles
St. James
St. John
St. Mary
Regions 2 & 9 Parishes:
East Baton Rouge
East Feliciana
Iberville
Point Coupee
St. Helena
Tangipahoa
Washington
West Baton Rouge
West Feliciana
Regions 4 & 5 Parishes:
Calcasieu
Evangeline
Iberia
Lafayette
St. Landry
St. Martin
Regions 6 Parishes:
Avoyelles
Catahoula
Concordia
Rapides
Winn
Regions 7 Parishes:
Bienville
Bossier
Caddo
Claiborne
DeSoto
Natchitoches
Red River
Webster
Regions 8 Parishes:
East Carroll
Franklin
Jackson
Lincoln
Madison
Morehouse
Quachita
Richland
Tensas
Union
