How We Help

In a city where close to 1 million residents still smoke or use e-cigarettes, underserved communities are hit hardest by tobacco use and its negative health effects. We support the prevention and reduction of tobacco use through youth action and community engagement, working with health systems to integrate and expand effective tobacco cessation support and services, while advancing community education, government policymaker education, and advocacy with organizational decision makers.

Whether you’re looking to engage your community, start a Reality Check Chapter, address smoke-free policies, or strengthen tobacco cessation support in your health care setting, we’re here to help. Contact us, and we’ll get back to you within one week.

If you are a high school student or an educator and want to start a Reality Check Chapter with our Youth Engagement team, complete this form: Reality Check Interest Form

To discuss smoking policies in your residential or commercial building or your outdoor private space, please reach out to our Community Engagement team using this form: Smoke-Free Housing Inquiry Form

If you’re a health care provider interested in upgrading your systems and providing more support to your patients who want to quit tobacco use, contact Kirklyn Escondo, Senior Manager, Health Systems, at kescondo@healthsolutions.org

We serve all New Yorkers to support smoke-free environments. We help cultivate the next generation of public health advocates by focusing on and engaging high school-aged youth through their schools, youth-based organizations, and structured summer professional development opportunities that strengthen their leadership and advocacy skills. We also work closely with community leaders, health advocates, artists, business owners, and real estate groups to build strong partnerships that will collectively advance efforts towards a healthier, smoke-free city. Through our Health Systems work, we partner with health care organizations, hospitals, community health centers, FQHC’s, and behavioral health centers to strengthen tobacco treatment practices and expand access to effective cessation support and services for patients who want to quit tobacco use.

PHS’ Tobacco Control Alliance has advocated for and helped implement important tobacco control measures in New York City, including the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2002.

Funded by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control, the Tobacco Control Alliance includes NYC Smoke-Free and NYC Treat to Quit, working together to reduce tobacco use and its harmful health effects across New York City. Through youth action, community engagement, health systems partnerships, and policy and advocacy efforts, we use evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches to decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adults who use tobacco to quit, expand access to effective tobacco cessation support and services, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.