The Tobacco Control Network (TCN) serves state and territorial tobacco control programs, Funders Alliance organizations, and other tobacco control partners by providing customized resources and opportunities to collaborate. In 2024, TCN is celebrating its 30th anniversary of supporting state and territorial tobacco control leaders. View the brief welcome video below to learn more about what TCN does and how to get involved.



Join a TCN Workgroup by emailing tcn@astho.org!

Policy Workgroup – This workgroup, the only workgroup formally established by the TCN Bylaws, is tasked with the important duty of drafting and publishing the TCN Policy Recommendations Guide. This comprehensive document, finalized approximately every four years, provides in-depth information on evidence-based and promising practice tobacco control policies that states, territories, and municipalities should consider adopting to reduce the death and disease burden of tobacco use in their jurisdictions.

Health Equity Engagement Workgroup – Under the leadership of the Health Equity Engagement Officer, this workgroup will ensure the integration of health equity principles and diversity of perspective in the internal planning functions of the Executive Committee and the workgroups, including collaboration with the Membership Engagement Workgroup to recruit and retain diverse representation in both the Executive Committee and the TCN as a whole. This workgroup will convene one-hour informational web meetings on a quarterly (or as-needed) basis for TCN members and national partners to cover topics related to health equity and emerging issues. The Health Equity Workgroup will also play a formal convening role in working towards stronger collaboration between state tobacco control programs and national voluntary organizations.

Membership Engagement Workgroup – This workgroup is led by the Member Engagement Officer and is responsible for planning of in-person member events, drafting and disseminating TCN member surveys, coordinating and maintaining the Peer Mentor Program, and staying apprised of any challenges TCN members are bringing to the Executive Committee. Additionally, this workgroup will collaborate with the Health Equity Workgroup to ensure diversity of TCN membership recruitment and retention.

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Program Manager Feature – Nicole Aune (MT)

To celebrate state and territorial tobacco program managers as dynamic leaders in tobacco control, the TCN homepage is highlighting tobacco program managers in a series of rotating features. This gives the TCN membership and national tobacco partners an opportunity to learn more about the work of program managers. If you would like to nominate a program manager to be featured, please reach out to tcn@astho.org.

 

What led you to pursue a career in tobacco control?

After getting my Master in Public Health degree from the Colorado School of Public Health, I started my career facilitating collective impact, conducting community needs assessments and managing public health promotion at the local level. Through this work, I saw the value of policy, system, and environmental change. Tobacco prevention and control excited me early on because of all of the opportunities to make long-lasting, impactful changes at the population level.

How long have you been a program manager? How long have you worked at your state health department?

I have been working on tobacco prevention and control for four years. I have been a program manager for the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program and working for the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services for two years.

What are you most proud of your state accomplishing in tobacco control?

In 2005, the Montana State Legislature passed the Montana Clean Indoor Air Act (MCIAA), requiring all enclosed public places and workplaces, including work vehicles, restaurants, and bars, to be smokefree. The MCIAA also requires businesses to prominently place smokefree signs on all public entrances and does not include preemption language. According to a 2017 study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Montana had the highest percentage of indoor workers covered by smokefree workplace policies in the nation.

How have you leveraged the tools and the resources of the Tobacco Control Network in your state or territory?

I always read TCN News to keep up with policy activities occurring in other states, tracking what is happening at the FDA, and staying up to date on the latest research. I also love the opportunity to hear feedback from other states through the listserv.

What do you find most challenging when working within tobacco control?

The tobacco industry and e-cigarette community have a strong presence in Montana. In my short time as a program manager in tobacco control, I have watched money pour into our state from the tobacco industry to fight tobacco tax increases and convenience store owners band together to maintain their tobacco profits in the face of a flavor ban. It is one thing to hear arguments from the tobacco industry or tobacco-funded groups and it is quite another to hear decisionmakers put money and profits over children’s lives.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I love to do anything that involves spending time with my husband and two-year-old daughter. We are Montanans, so we do Montanan things like hike, fish, camp, and play at the lake. I also enjoy reading, going to plays, and baking cookies.

Preventing and reducing harms related to tobacco use through idea sharing across U.S. state and territorial health agencies.

The mission of the Tobacco Control Network (TCN) is to improve the public’s health by providing education and state-based expertise to tobacco prevention and control at the state and national levels. Through the network’s wide representation and information exchange resources, our members have access to a wealth of expertise and experience from across the country. Browse our website to learn how the network serves as a catalyst for building relationships and collaboration, and to access resources to support effective tobacco control strategies in your area.

This website is a space for TCN members and partners to connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. State and territory tobacco control program staff and others who support state and territory tobacco control efforts are invited to take advantage of the many services the TCN offers.