New Program Launches in Tulsa County to Support Child Care Providers to Support Healthier, Tobacco-Free and Nicotine-Free Futures

A new American Lung Association initiative funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) through the Discovery Grant is launching in Tulsa County. This program will engage the community in lung disease prevention and education through the ONE Step Program.

ONE Step is designed to support child care providers in creating healthier, tobacco and nicotine-free environments for children, families and staff. The program aims to reduce children’s exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke while promoting long-term health and wellness within early childhood settings. By strengthening tobacco and nicotine-free policies and education, ONE Step helps build safer spaces where young children can grow and thrive.

The ONE Step program offers comprehensive training, technical assistance and practical tools to child care centers and home-based providers. Participants receive step-by-step guidance on developing, strengthening and implementing tobacco and nicotine-free policies that meet best practice standards. The program also provides customizable resources, educational materials and ongoing support to ensure sustainable policy adoption.

Upcoming virtual ONE Step training courses are scheduled for:

• April 29 at 6:00pm
• May 16 at 9:00am

These sessions provide child care professionals with convenient opportunities to participate, earn professional development hours and certificates of completion and take meaningful action toward strengthening their tobacco and nicotine-free policies.

Child care providers and community partners can visit ONEStepOK.org to learn more about the program, access resources and register for upcoming training.

ONE Step is a structured training program tailored specifically for early childhood professionals. The program includes:

• Evidence-based education on the health impacts of secondhand and thirdhand smoke
• Guidance on creating and implementing comprehensive tobacco and nicotine-free policies
• Templates, toolkits and communication materials for families and staff
• Support for meeting high-quality standards, including alignment with licensing and quality rating systems when applicable
• Recognition for providers who complete certification and/or implement gold-standard tobacco and nicotine-free policies

Through a clear, step-by-step framework, ONE Step makes policy development manageable and achievable for childcare providers of all sizes.