Tobacco-Free Partnership of Sarasota County

The Tobacco-Free Partnership of Sarasota County embraces a vision of a healthy Sarasota!  The Partnership is made up of health care providers, health advocates, youth leaders, business leaders, civic groups, and residents aiming to increase awareness and reduce the harmful effects of tobacco in our community.  We seek to reduce tobacco-related death, disease, and disability in Sarasota County by changing systems, policies, and the marketing practices of the tobacco industry. 

Presently, 88 Floridians lose their lives each day to the diseases caused by tobacco use.  Moreover, health care costs for those feeling the effects of tobacco-related illnesses account for $92 billion per year in the United States. The tobacco industry solicits and recruits new users in deceitful and harmful ways and particularly targets our youth. 

Therefore, our mission is:  “to empower and mobilize communities to reduce tobacco-related death and disease throughout Sarasota County”.

The goals of the Partnership are to:

• Advocate for progressive tobacco control issues, policies, and actions within Sarasota County
• Mobilize the talents and resources of individuals, groups, and agencies to create a critical mass for promoting tobacco control efforts and strategies
• Demonstrate widespread public support for tobacco control issues and actions, and address unmet needs
• Collaborate with, advise and support the Sarasota County Health Department’s Tobacco Prevention Program and to assist on high priority issues/projects
• Act as a spokesgroup regarding tobacco control issues within the community

Partnership actions:

1. Decrease secondhand smoke
2. Reduce tobacco availability
3. Counter pro-tobacco influences
4. Provide tobacco cessation

We meet regularly and rotate our meeting locations to be convenient to our North, Mid, and South county contingencies.  We are growing and encourage you to be a part of a creative team!