Smoke-Free Jacksonville Coalition, formerly the Duval County Coalition Against Tobacco, was formed in January 1988 to provide a united front in the war against tobacco. In 1998 after Florida reached a multi-billion dollar settlement with the tobacco industry, the Duval County Coalition, Inc. (DCCAT, Inc.) became the organization in Duval County through which community efforts were initiated for Florida's $200 million pilot program to reduce teen tobacco use. DCCAT became Smoke-Free Jacksonville Coalition, Inc. at the end of the year 2000.

Smoke-Free Jacksonville is the community partnership of adults and youth working together to prevent youth tobacco use and youth exposure to second-hand smoke whereby youth conceive and carry out tobacco prevention. The youth organization is called SWAT: Students Working Against Tobacco.

Mission: Smoke-Free Jacksonville is an organization advocating the prevention and cessation of tobacco products, using intervention and education techniques.

The coalition is dedicated to reducing the number of existing smokers, increasing public awareness on the dangers of tobacco use, and preventing the use of all forms oftobacco. Smoke-Free Jacksonville's goal is to unite the efforts of other organizations and coalitions interested in health and wellness in order to be more effective in achieving a smoke-free society.

Purpose Smoke-Free Jacksonville Coalition is a resource for public education on the health effects of tobacco and smoking prevention. Smoke-Free Jacksonville Coalition supports legislative actions against tobacco.

Membership: Smoke-Free Jacksonville is open to any Duval County citizen who will support the goals of this coalition. The Duval County Health Department hosts the monthly meetings. meetings are held monthly at 900 University Blvd. N., Jacksonville, FL 32211. Please contact Smoke_free@doh.state.fl.us for the next date and time.

For further information please contact Robert Woods or Nicole Coulliette (Duval County Health Department) at 630-3310.