Call Center Tobacco Cessation Referral Projects Grant

The Call Center Tobacco Cessation Referral Projects aim to enhance access to tobacco cessation services for low-income individuals by funding 2-1-1 Community Information and Referral Services (211 Call Centers). This initiative will train call center staff to screen for tobacco use, refer interested callers to Kick It California's services, and report on referrals to improve community health outcomes. The goal is to reduce tobacco use and promote healthier behaviors in underserved populations.

The purpose of this Request for Application (RFA) is to fund 2-1-1 Community Information and Referral Services (211 Call Centers) to proactively identify and refer eligible callers to Kick It California (KIC), California’s statewide tobacco cessation service. This project is designed to increase awareness and use of existing free tobacco cessation services among low-income individuals, who disproportionately experience high rates of tobacco use. The long-term goals of this RFA are to accelerate quitting behaviors and significantly reduce tobacco use among populations served by 211 Call Centers.
KIC will provide onboarding, training, technical support and ongoing technical assistance throughout the duration of the grant period. Projects will be required to refer callers to KIC’s telephone and online cessation services, and to inform community partners and community members about the project through participation in community events and through social media.
Each 211 Tobacco Cessation Referral Project is to incorporate the following features:

• Implement a prescribed Scope of Work (SOW).
• Identify appropriate staff to be the Project Coordinator and lead the project for the 211 Call Center.

Create or use previously established business practices to proactively screen callers for tobacco use and exposure, with training and technical assistance from KIC.
Implement any programming modifications to existing data management systems needed to ascertain caller interest in tobacco cessation counseling.
Screen all non-crisis calls for tobacco use/exposure and securely deliver contact information for interested clients directly to KIC for follow up.
Report on the number of referrals and demographics monthly via KIC.
Complete and submit a progress report twice per year to the California Department of Public Health, California Tobacco Prevention Program (CDPH/CTPP).