Smokechange™

History

Smokechange™ is a health behaviour change programme with a specific focus on increasing smokefree pregnancies. It has two arms, services to families and education for midwives. Smoking is currently the number one modifiable risk factor for sudden infant death and for undermining the health of children generally. Our programme's development dates back to the times of high incidence of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) in New Zealand. The services to families and the education for professionals began as non-funded initiatives in 1992 and both are now funded by the Ministry of Health (2009).

Services to families

The services to families arm takes an inclusive approach to delivery, engaging people of varying motivations and readiness for change. While smokefree rates achieved on the programme are higher for 'ready' people, the greater number becoming smokefree are from the larger 'low ready' group. Smokechange™ has developed from its formative days through a research study funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand in 1997 (study director, Dr Rodney Ford), then a programme in transition supported by the Pegasus Medical Group (Chair, Paul McCormack), being taken forward by developing a community trust (Chair, Stephanie Cowan) until it was funded by the Ministry of Health in 2000 and replicated in seven centres (Invercargill, Christchurch, National Women's Hospital, Starship Children's Hospital, Central Auckland, West Auckland, North Shore). Smokefree pregnancy services to families are now a mainstream service.

Midwife education

The midwife education takes a 'partners in change' approach to addressing smoking in pregnancy, aligning with the practice frameworks of midwives. It fosters understanding of smoking itself, its impact in pregnancy, the process of facilitating change in challenged settings as well as enabling midwives to take practical and immediate action. It became a mainstream service in 2000, with the programme provided to midwives around New Zealand in a joint venture relationship with the New Zealand College of Midwives and the Midwifery and Maternity Provider Organisation. Funding since then has been from the New Zealand Ministry of Health

Independent social profit agency

In June 2012, Smokechange Limited was set fee of Change for our Children completely with the change of directorship from Stephanie Cowan, founding director, to Jo Houston. The agency now operates with charitable status and provides services within New Zealand under contract to the Ministry of Health.