Breaking Barriers to Smoking Cessation: Applying the Baby & Me - Tobacco Free Program to Improve Maternal and Child Health in Omaha, Nebraska

Smoking during pregnancy remains a pressing public health concern, contributing to adverse outcomes such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and developmental complications. In Nebraska, about 10% of pregnant women continue to smoke throughout pregnancy—above the national average, highlighting a critical gap in maternal health interventions. The Baby & Me – Tobacco Free (BMTF) program provides an evidence-based solution through structured counseling, carbon monoxide (CO) monitoring, and incentive-based rewards to support smoking cessation among pregnant women. This capstone project utilized the Getting to Outcomes framework to develop a detailed implementation plan to support Tobacco Free Nebraska (TFN) in launching the BMTF program in Omaha, Nebraska. A comprehensive needs assessment evaluated existing cessation resources, identified service gaps, and developed a logic model to guide program planning and align implementation efforts with desired outcomes. Key components of BMTF include monthly counseling sessions addressing socioeconomic and psychosocial barriers to quitting, CO monitoring to verify abstinence, and incentives—such as diaper vouchers—for participants who remain smoke-free. Guided by the Getting to Outcomes framework, this project outlines an implementation plan, while the CDC’s Program Evaluation Framework proposes an evaluation strategy. The program is expected to reduce smoking rates among pregnant women, improving maternal and child health outcomes and birth outcomes by reducing risks like low birth weight and preterm delivery. By addressing gaps in Nebraska's public health resources, BMTF offers a scalable, replicable model for community-based smoking cessation interventions.