In 2005, CTPR was selected as the evaluator for the Missouri Foundation for Health’s Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative. The Initiative is a nine-year funding program to provide grants to agencies and organizations located throughout Missouri to address the problem of tobacco use at both the regional and community levels. The Initiative is designed to address the following strategies:

1. Increase the tax on tobacco products (ended November 2006)
2. Implement smoke-free workplace programs
3. Promote school-based prevention programs
4. Advocate for tobacco policy change (new in 2007)
5. Eliminate tobacco related disparities (new in 2007)

CTPR is responsible for evaluating the overall Initiative, with a current focus on the first three strategies. The two major goals for the Initiative evaluation are to:

1. Conduct a rigorous evaluation of the Initiative
2. Increase the evaluation capacity of the MFH grantees