Breathe Free North Web Site and Community Health Worker Program
Information and Outreach for a Community-Based Program
This Web site serves the local African American community in North Minneapolis, an area with high rates of smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke, and smoking-related illnesses such as asthma and heart disease. The Breathe Free North project uses grassroots outreach through faith organizations, schools and businesses in the community to persuade people to keep their cars and homes smoke-free to protect children’s health.
Using Social Marketing to Protect Children
from Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
The primary audience targeted for the Breathe Free North marketing campaign is African American women and girls. Social marketing research was conducted with youth, pregnant women, new moms, community elders and faith community leaders to develop the messages, images and strategies used in this campaign.
Smokers and non-smokers alike said they intensely disliked the smell and mess of smoking, and wanted to enjoy a smoke-free car and home. Disagreements about smoking were described as a source of family conflict. Smokers asked for help quitting; non-smokers, especially youth, asked for help negotiating with others about rules for the home and car that would keep them from being exposed to smoke.
Nearly all participants found it appealing to meet with a Community Health Worker to help them achieve (or maintain) a smoke-free car and home.
The resources were developed in response to priorities in public health identified by national, state and community organizations. 
