In the Words of a First Breath Quit Coach

How We’re Helping Families During COVID-19

The role of a First Breath Quit Coach has always been to support Wisconsin women in their tobacco-related goals. But in these unique times, according to one of our First Breath Quit Coaches, “Quit Coaches and their engagement are also needed to provide much needed time for participants to socialize with a person who cares about them and how they and their children are doing. The stress and isolation that women are experiencing related to COVID-19 is causing many to struggle, and First Breath and its service to women and families is more important now than ever.”

We know that factors such as stress, social isolation, and low income impact smoking and vaping rates, and with the burden that First Breath participants, like the rest of us, are experiencing as the result the COVID-19 (loss of employment, loss of childcare, increased daily task load, etc.), many are struggling more than they would otherwise regarding tobacco-related goals. “Many who had planned on quitting have found that they’re not where they want to be, and those who wanted to cut down are finding it hard to do so.” Additionally, we know that respiratory illnesses like COVID-19 cause more severe illness in people who smoke and vape, so it’s an even more important time to encourage participants to work towards cutting down or quitting their use of tobacco or e-cigarettes.

Thankfully, our trained First Breath Quit Coaches are up for the challenge. With social distancing rules in place across the state, First Breath Quit Coaches are working entirely remote, but they continue to offer the same services and support – if just in a slightly different format. Video chats have become a way for Quit Coaches to maintain “face to face interaction” in place of home visits since Mid-March, and regular phone calls help to further build rapport and relationships. Outside of tobacco use, Quit Coaches are also stepping up to support participants by connecting them to needed services outside of First Breath, such as health insurance, FoodShare, WIC and more to help address basic needs.

“In some cases, First Breath Quit Coaches may be the only outside support that a participant is engaged with right now, so connecting with them and supporting them in whatever way possible is vital to their well-being.” We’re doing everything we can to help our First Breath participants achieve their health goals, and we’ll absolutely still be here when this time of uncertainty and uprooting of normalcy passes too.