The Green River District Health Department (GRDHD) and RiverValley Behavioral Health (RVBH) were recently recognized for their tobacco-free initiatives, aimed at making a lasting impact on community health and well-being.
The agencies’ efforts were recognized during the University of Kentucky College of Nursing’s BH WELL program’s 2024 Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment awards.
GRDHD received the Tobacco Treatment Integration Award for its role in helping RVBH implement a campus-wide tobacco-free policy and integrate tobacco treatment services into its programs. This collaboration is part of the Behavioral Health Wellness Environments for Living and Learning (BH WELL) initiative, which promotes evidence-based practices to support tobacco cessation.
“When the University of Kentucky Behavioral Health Wellness staff shared studies showing that providing cessation support for nicotine dependence simultaneously with treatment for substance use disorders, long-term outcomes for success actually increased. We realized this would have multiple benefits for the clients RVBH serves,” said GRDHD Health Educator Gary Hall. “People seeking substance use treatment not only can transition into long-term recovery, but also improve their physical health by no longer smoking.”
The tobacco-free policy has led to noticeable benefits at RVBH, including cleaner grounds, a decline in discarded tobacco products, and an increase in employees pursuing smoking cessation, according to a release from River Valley.
For example, the initiative inspired individuals including Mary McLevain, a medical records supervisor at RVBH, who was honored with the 2024 Behavioral Health Tobacco Treatment Impact Award for her impact, exceptional commitment, innovation, and success in reducing tobacco burden for herself and others. McLevain currently leads the Kicking Butts Smoking Cessation Support Group, which takes place monthly at the RiverValley Center, and she has been part of a state-wide campaign to inspire others to quit tobacco by sharing her own testimony.
“I am incredibly honored. Being smoke-free has been one of the best and easiest decisions I’ve ever made,” she said. “After smoking for 35 years, I knew after attending my first smoke-free meeting with the BH WELL team, that it would mark the turning point in my life. My smoke-free journey has been incredibly rewarding. I feel healthier, more active, and able to enjoy life in ways I never imagined before. As I approach my second smoke-free anniversary, I remain motivated by my family, especially my grandchildren.”
RVBH has also introduced resources such as peer-support groups, access to nicotine replacement therapies, tobacco treatment specialists, and a new employee fitness center.
“In an effort to continue to be an organization that values not just mental health wellness but also physical health wellness, we knew that implementing a tobacco-free policy was necessary,” said RVBH Regional Prevention Center Director Brooke Arnold. “This initiative is about more than just enforcing a policy — it’s about empowering our team members to lead healthier lives and building a supportive community that prioritizes well-being.”
GRDHD continues to work with other behavioral health organizations as part of its Kentucky Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program behavioral health grant. The department provides education and support for evidence-based tobacco-free policies and treatment integration, addressing a critical need for individuals with mental and behavioral health conditions who face a higher risk of tobacco-related illnesses.
