Dearborn County PACT or Prevention and Cessation of Tobacco was formed in 2002 with CASA as the lead agency. They operate under the direction of Indiana Tobacco Prevention and Cessation (ITPC) the state agency that was formed with the tobacco settlement money. They work primarily with tobacco related issues including education the public about the dangers of tobacco use as well as policy change stopping tobacco use.

Two years ago they began offering Cooper/Clayton Smoking Cessation Classes on a regular basis through Dearborn County Hospital. They have worked with the 360 Group and the Indiana High School Athletic Association to sponsor high school athlete role model posters in all three area high schools for three years in a row. Through a partnership this year with CASA, they can have two students from each high school –one male and one female.

PACT is pleased to announce that two of our public school systems have developed policies to make their buildings and campuses tobacco free. Both Lawrenceburg Community School District and Sunman-Dearborn Community Schools have made this very pro-active move for the health and safety of students as well as the general public. January of 2007, Dearborn County Hospital became a tobacco free campus as well adding to the health of all citizens. Pine Knoll Assisted Living is now also a tobacco free campus as well as the new Lawrenceburg Distillery (was Pernod Ricard).

Dearborn County also has a growing list of smoke free restaurants and you can check them out at http://www.smokefreeindiana.org.

PACT helps provide funding to Family Connections for their work with pregnant smokers. For information on mini-grants please contact either CASA or PACT.