Welfare policy and legislation

Welfare Policy and Legislation

University of Toledo Smoke-Free and Tobacco-Free Policy; MC

Policy Impact Analysis

Jennifer Mooney
12/8/2012

Welfare Policy and Legislation 1

The Policy Analyzed

The policy I had selected to write about is the University of Toledo Smoke Free- and

Tobacco- Free Policy. As of August 1, 2011 , The University of Toledo Campuses: Main

Campus, Scott Park Campus, Center for the Visual Arts, Lake Erie Center and Stranahan

Arboretum became tobacco-free, established "Designated Tobacco-Use Areas." The policy itself

states,

“Smoking and the use of tobacco products is prohibited in all of the university's academic

and administrative buildings, university vehicles, athletic and recreational facilities, the

student union, Greek chapter houses and all residence halls. Tobacco products include

and are not limited to cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, snus (chewing tobacco in a

porous pouch) and pipes. Use of tobacco products is permitted in personal vehicles.”

(ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety and Health, page1)

The policy is to be applied completely towards faculty, staff, students, visitors, and contractors

ofthe university. Also, the function of this policy isfor students, staff/faculty, patients and

visitors while on every campus, The University of Toledo is committed to endorsing a safe and

healthy environment.Tobacco-free policies are to benefit,with smokers and nonsmokers,by

protecting all workers and students from unhealthy contact to secondhand smoke. It is said, it

will help provide a supportive environment that helps tobacco users cut back, cease, or quit

tobaccoproducts. (ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety and Health,

page1) This policy that is enforced right now has created areas in which students, faculty,

patients and visitors can have labeled tobacco use areas.


Brief History of the Policy

At The University of Toledo, Smoke Free- and Tobacco- Free Policy had not always

been into effect. For example, in the state of Ohio as of July 23, 2012, there had only been a few

campuses which ban smoking. In addition, before the Ohio Board of Regents voted unanimously

to approve a resolution presented by Regents’ Chairman James Tuschman recommending that

each board of trustees of the University System of Ohio consider implementing its own policy to

establish its campus as tobacco-free there wasn’t very many campuses in which to desire in

having their campus smoke-free. With that a statement noted on Ohio higher-ed website said,

"It's the right thing to do," Tuschman said. “Statistics prove that a tobacco-free campus

significantly curbs the smoking habits of students, faculty and staff to make campuses healthier

environments.” (Ohio Board of Regents University System of Ohio) At this board meeting all

university’s or college’s board of trustees will choose whether to ban tobacco on their campus.

Also, a few other facts about smoking and its history on campuses areAt least seven Ohio

campuses have passed policies prohibition the sale of cigarettes and smoking anyplace on

campus including Miami University, Hocking College, and the Health Sciences Campus at the

University of Toledo. This was a step for all of Ohio, especially for The University of Toledo’s

campusesleading toward having a policy banning smoking. To conclude, Ohio at this time has a

statewide smoking ban that will not permit smoking in any public place or workplace. This was

2.2 million voters supporting banby, Ohio citizens approved the ballot issue in November of

2006. (Ohio Board of Regents University System of Ohio)

Makes a Policy Issue Now


As I study this policy, I have become aware that socially everyone is effected some way

or another by smoking and the social justice that comes to society in regard to smoking. This

policy has a target group to the norms of society, which are those inand working around the

college community. A basic human need is physical health and preventing others from

secondhand smoke falls under having that met. When overlooking the policy, I would say these

advocates for a wide population and standing on a purpose of reaching/ promoting a healthy and

cleaner environment. In chapter 1 of Foundations of Social Policy, David Miller states that we

turn to consider determining the effect on a vulnerable population in regards to the social justice

impact of a proposal.(Barusch, page 66) Also, it describes and meets various components. For

case in point, human needs are being met and not ignored, and the policy impacts

equality.Overall, this is adopting and advising a way of action in relations to physical health by

effects of smoking.

Policy Goals

The major policy goal is stated in the purpose of the policy,

“The University of Toledo is committed to promoting a safe and healthy environment

forstudents, staff/faculty, patients and visitors while on The University of Toledo

campuses and satellite grounds. Tobacco-free policies benefit our campus, including

smokers and nonsmokers, by protecting all workers and students from unhealthy

exposure to secondhand smoke and providing a supportive environment that helps

tobacco users cut back, cease, or quit tobacco products.”(ATOD Prevention Specialist

and Associate Vice President, Safety and Health, page1)


With this statement you can clearly comprehend and grasp the goals. For instance, the purpose in

the policy states one goal being, promoting a safe and healthy environment. Second, caring for

the wellbeing for students, staff/faculty, patients and visitors while on The University of Toledo

campuses. Third goal would be benefitting smokers and nonsmokers by providing a supportive

environment for those who are smokers. A manifest goal that would come from this policy

would be pushing the smoking population to keep off or away from campus as a whole because

only a few (seven) designated smoking areas are around campus which may not be convenient

for every smoker in relation to where they are at.

When I take another look at the policy directly toward the part declaring,

“Tobacco-free policies benefit our campus, including smokers and nonsmokers, by

protecting all workers and students from unhealthy exposure to secondhand smoke and

providing a supportive environment that helps tobacco users cut back, cease, or quit

tobacco products.”(ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety

and Health, page2)

I can say that the policy directly has stated that is implementing it wants tobacco users to cut

back, cease, or quit tobacco products. Which this is implying that maybe by banning smoking on

campus, the health of everyone would increase because there would be no secondhand smoke

and smokers are likely to cut back in the future maybe quit.

Benefits and Services

After going through the policy I can identify some benefits and services it carries. For example,

the policy directly states many tobacco-freeprograms and services available. There is cessation


smoking implement available to all Toledo students and employees. The policy is providing cost

free, accessible in person and gives an informational website and contactor. But it does say,

“Individuals should see their personal physician for a prescription for cessation aids. Prescription

products may be covered by your health insurance plan, please see your plan formulary for more

information.” (ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety and Health,

page3) Also, the policy offers many services because different people need different resources as

they try to stop smoking and quit. Too, there is information and professional assistance available

to help support bothdirect and long-term needs as you become,and remain, a nonsmoker. The last

service the policy has is a The Ohio Tobacco Quit Line.

“The Quit Line is designed for people who are ready to quit using tobacco, and

peoplewho want to make sure they have the support and the motivation to staytobacco-

free. When you call and enroll, you're paired with an experienced quit specialist who will

work with you to set a quit date and design a quit plan customized to your pattern of

tobacco use.” (ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety and

Health, Page, 3)

Furthermore, the question to answer is if the policy is a strength perspective or if it is not. I

would say that the policies benefits and services are designed to correct the behavior of those

who are smoking to get them to stop. But it could go the other way in saying it helps meet the

needs of those who are quitting or have stopped smoking. Also, I wouldn’t say there is much of a

client’s choice permitted. They either don’t smoke on campus at all, smoke in the designed

smoking areas or smoke wherever and get fined by the police for it. With the service I stated

available for free and locally in Toledo, it has used strengths of resources in the community.


These services to stop smoking will benefit the services by improving with a positive outcome

and could be effective.

The Eligibility Rules

The one who are to be given and receive the services are those students and faculty who

currently are smokers or have been in the past. The one who benefits from the policy are those

who are nonsmoker because they will have a healthier environment and less of a chance from

getting secondhand smoke. With eligibility if having the seven designed smoking areas, smokers

have equal right to smoke there and for nonsmokers they have a right to have a clean

environment to not walk into secondhand smoke in every area on campus. On a strengths

perspective, the guidelines and rules I would say encourage people to develop the capacity to

meet their own needs. For instance, it offers those who are smokers to take steps in quitting and

free service options for when they want to do so. But the positive steps create a loss of benefit to

those who were able to smoke wherever on campus without issues.

Services Delivery System

Based on strength perspective and answering if the service delivery system is built on the

community I would say no. But I would agree and say, the service delivery system has set up

different structures for those who are in the target population of smokers. For example, there are

free services offered for smokers and also more informational websites. Along with that there is

an option help groups for those who are smokers wanting to quit or those who did quit and want

to start back up. Another optional route would be to see someone medically to help stop smoking

for better health. This does show that it offers clients choices. The services and programs are for


any diverse population and are accessible to people of all ethnic backgrounds. I describe the

policy to meet the structure of a public program, such as having centralization, staff

characteristics, citizen participation and having appeal processes.

How the Policy Is Financed

The source of funding comes from the government. The university will get money from the

government for having a smoke free campus. And because it’s public funding that is generally

more stable and adequate for the policy. Some funding comes from different department

committees on campus. The services available are public so there is no charge and clients

wouldn’t have to pay out of pocket. In reality the outcome of what the policy can have on the

campus is effective to the cost it will have on the university.

In conclusion of the policy, when I focus on social justice in society of the University of

Toledo’s campus I believe the policy is overall is just. The widespread impact of the policy in

long term is large. It addressed a basic need which is physical health. Also, it has goals and

practical examples. Every person who steps on a campus is affected by the issue of smoking. The

history of the problem is known and has valid reason to be implemented. Other universities in

the United States and even in Ohio are dealing with this issue, by going smoke free as well. The

proposal does address the problem of long term effects of smoking, nonsmoking and provides

services for those who do smoke. In addition, in chapter 1 of Foundations of Social

Policy,Barusch states when balancing the components of social justice, desert, need, rights and

equality. I would that this policy is equilibrium of each. (Barusch, page8)


Work Cited

Barusch, A. S. (2012). Foundations of social policy, social justice in human perspective.

(4 Ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole Pub Co.

Ohio Board of Regents University System of Ohio. (July, 23 2012). Board of regents

recommends tobacco ban. Retrieved from https://www.ohiohighered.org/press/board-

regents-recommends-tobacco-ban

ATOD Prevention Specialist and Associate Vice President, Safety and Health. (August, 1

2012). : University of Toledo smoke-free and tobacco-free policy_; mc. Retrieved from

http://www.utoledo.edu/policies/administration/safety_health/pdfs/3364-60-09.pdf

Welfare policy and legislation

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (9)

Welfare policy and legislation