RUMFORD – Over the past nine months, the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition has worked on a specific project entailing women and smoking. A grant made possible from the Partnership for a Tobacco-Free Maine, secured in September of 2006, worked with women to decrease the numbers of those who smoke. The program concentrated on pregnant women and the RVHCC collaborated with Rumford Hospital and its affiliates to help better reach that population.

Posters, pamphlets and brochures were distributed to the Family Birthing Center to get moms thinking about quitting. For those ready, a Free For Life six-week cessation program was conducted twice in the nine-month period. The program consisted of a half-hour of information regarding quitting and some helpful tips from Facilitator Stephanie Thompson, followed by an hour and a half of fun activity with a variety of experts in different areas including knitting, yoga, healthy eating and laughter. These sessions gave women easy alternatives to smoking that they can do in their home. The program was so well received from the participants, that RVHCC has decided to implement two Free For Life programs each year.

Those interested in stopping tobacco use can call Stephanie at 364-7408 or the Maine Tobacco HelpLine at 1-800-207-1230.