Community of Practice for Behavioral Health Organizations

About the Community of Practice

The Florida Tobacco Control Community of Practice for Behavioral Health (CoP) is a statewide learning collaborative dedicated to improving tobacco policy and service integration within behavioral health organizations.

Led by the Florida State University College of Medicine (FSU COM) Area Health Education Center (AHEC) Cessation Program, part of Tobacco Free Florida, the CoP brings together organizations to:

  • Share knowledge through peer-based learning
  • Develop and implement action plans
  • Apply best practices and quality improvement strategies

This collaborative empowers participants to drive meaningful change in their organizations and communities through education, innovation, and shared commitment.

 

Flexible Participation, Meaningful Impact 

Each year, a small cohort of 5–8 behavioral health organizations is invited to join the Community of Practice (CoP). Organizations interested in improving tobacco-related services are encouraged to connect.

What to Expect

  • Launch Meeting: A dynamic 1½-day in-person orientation and action planning session in St. Augustine Beach (November 5-6, 2025) featuring experts and emerging trends in behavioral health and tobacco.

  • Travel Costs Covered: Transportation, lodging, breakfast, and lunch are provided for two individuals per organization to support participation.  

  • Action Plan Development: Participants create their own action plans tailored to their organization’s goals, no deliverables are required.
  • Ongoing Support & Engagement: Follow-up calls provide technical assistance, peer learning, encouragement, and opportunities to share successes and troubleshoot challenges.

  • Flexible Commitment: Participation is designed to support busy professionals without adding extra workload. 

This is a hands-on, impactful experience where organizations can learn, grow, and make progress on their own terms.

 

The Value of Joining

Becoming part of this collaborative means joining a supportive network of peers united by shared goals. Together, we:

  • Design impactful processes that enhance client satisfaction, compliance, and clinical outcomes.
  • Deepen understanding of nicotine addiction and effective treatment strategies.
  • Advance tobacco-free initiatives across organizations.
  • Collaborate across agencies to share ideas, resources, and encouragement.
  • Access ongoing training and support for nicotine replacement tools.

More than a learning opportunity, it’s a lasting professional community driving meaningful change.

 

What’s Possible Through Participation

By joining the community of practice, organizations have successfully transformed their approach to tobacco treatment and client care. Here’s what past participants have accomplished:

Integrated Clinical Practices

  • Embedded nicotine use diagnoses and cessation strategies into treatment plans.
  • Introduced tobacco education into residential programs and substance use groups.
  • Equipped clients with tools and resources to support quitting tobacco.

Empowered Staff & Expanded Capacity

  • Trained staff as certified tobacco treatment specialists.
  • Offered cessation classes for both staff and clients.
  • Increased access to evidence-based training and best practices statewide.

Policy & Environmental Impact

  • Launched tobacco-free committees and transitioned campuses to smoke-free environments.
  • Developed tools to assess and support nicotine-free workplace policies.
  • Enhanced visibility with signage and strategic placement of smoking areas.
  • Explored insurance incentives for non-tobacco users.

Client-Centered Engagement

  • Fostered meaningful conversations about tobacco use and recovery.
  • Created healthy alternatives to smoking, like extended access to music and art spaces.

Stronger Partnerships

  • Built lasting collaborations with local organizations and AHEC partners to sustain progress.

 

Interested in Joining?

If your organization is passionate about reducing tobacco use and enhancing behavioral health outcomes, we’d love to connect. We welcome inquiries from organizations eager to get involved.

📩 To learn more or express interest, please contact:

Karen Geletko, MPH, CTTS

Karen.Geletko@med.fsu.edu

https://med.fsu.edu/ahec/resources-behavioral-health-professionals

 

Let’s work together to create healthier, tobacco-free environments for the communities we serve!

Past and Present Organizational Members

  1. Aspire Health Partners (Orlando)
  2. Apalachee Center, Inc. (Tallahassee)
  3. Banyan Health Systems (Miami)
  4. Bridgeway Center (Fort Walton Beach)
  5. Broward Addiction and Recovery (Ft. Lauderdale)
  6. Centerstone (Bradenton)
  7. Community Assisted and Supported Living, Inc. (Sarasota)
  8. Costal Behavioral Healthcare (Sarasota)
  9. Drug Abuse Comprehensive Coordination Offices, Inc. (Tampa)
  10. EPIC Behavioral Healthcare (St. Augustine)
  11. Faith Farm Ministries (Ft. Lauderdale)
  12. First Steps of Sarasota (Sarasota)
  13. Flagler County Drug Court Foundation (Palm Coast)
  14. Gateway Community Services (Jacksonville)
  15. Gracepoint Mental Health Care Inc. (Tampa)
  16. Henry and Rilla White Youth Foundation (Tallahassee)
  17. IMPOWER (Longwood)
  18. Lakeview Center (Pensacola)
  19. Lakeview Health (Jacksonville)
  20. Lakewood Center (Fern Park)
  21. Jeff Industries (Hypoluxo)
  22. Operation PAR (Pinellas Park)
  23. Phoenix House (Citra)
  24. Positive Behavioral Solutions (Orlando)
  25. Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare (Yulee)
  26. Wayside House (Delray Beach)
  27. Westcare Guidance Center (Keys)
  28. Westcare Gulf Coast (St. Petersburg)