The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: The Tobacco Use Control Project (TUCP) wanted to develop a Statewide Policy Database to monitor local mini-grants for accountability, document policy change, and link local and state efforts in Virginia.

Methods: All TUCP Mini-Grants focus on policy change that eliminates secondhand smoke or implements cessation strategies. TUCP created a web-based Statewide Policy Database to compile policy related information on all grantees; link local policy changes to statewide efforts; monitor progress of mini-grant projects; track mini-grant expenditures; and share local successes and “best practice” cases statewide to all tobacco control advocates. The database tracks the following information: basic contact information, policy initiatives for current grant year, policy action steps, budgets, media usage, barriers and successes, and site visits.

A web-based database allows Field Coordinators to access the database from each region of the state and input information about each grantee. A future upgrade to the system includes creating a web-based reporting system for grantees that allows grantees to enter bi-monthly activity and expenditure reports online.

Results: This database allows TUCP staff to immediately track policy changes as they occur at the local level. The database generates several reports including a Regional Policy Report, a Statewide Policy Report, a Policy Action Steps Report, a Regional Expenditure Report, and a Media Usage Report. Policy development and action steps can be shared with all grantees to expand and benefit all statewide programs. The information that is generated from this database can also be used to complete the CDC Chronicle Annual Progress Report and Mid-Year Progress Report.