Below
are links to essential resources and key website features tailored to support your success!
Organizational Priorities
Best and Promising Practices
Research and Evaluation
Quitline Sustainability
Building Partnerships and Networking Opportunities
New Media Resources for Quitline Programs
Lung Cancer Screening Training
New Communications, Top Webpages, and Web Features You Should Know About
Organizational Priorities
NAQC Strategic Plan 2030: A Member-Driven Roadmap for Modern, Sustainable, and Equitable Quitline Services
NAQC released Strategic Plan 2030, a member-informed roadmap for the future of commercial tobacco cessation in North America. This plan was developed over the course of the year and incorporated extensive input from members and partners gathered through discussions, and direct outreach, with stakeholder feedback intentionally woven into the final priorities and actions. Centered on three pillars—
Modernization & Innovation, Sustainability, Partnerships & Policy, and Increasing Impact—the plan responds to member concerns about uncertain funding, evolving products, and persistent health disparities, outlining how NAQC will support quitlines to modernize services and data systems, strengthen financial resilience and policy influence, and expand reach and effectiveness through coordinated promotion, strategic partnerships, and data-informed improvement.
Best and Promising Practices
Update on the Adoption of Priority Practices for State Quitlines
In December 2022, NAQC released the report
“Priority Practices for State Quitlines to Implement by June 2023” which identified the following six priority practices for state quitlines:
A. Counseling
1. Offer proactive telephone counseling.
2. Offer tailored texting service.
3. Provide tailored web-based service.
4. Offer tailored counseling for adults who use e-cigarettes.
B. Cessation Medications
5. Offer cessation medications.
C. Increasing Reach
6. Offer a range of referral options.
NAQC surveyed state quitlines about their adoption of the six priority practices in the FY2024 Annual Survey of State Quitlines. Seventeen state quitlines indicated that they had adopted all six priority practices. Thirty-two state quitlines had adopted five of the six priority practices. The cessation medications practice had the lowest adoption rate at 32%. The chart below shows the adoption rate of each practice.
Source: FY24 Annual Survey, n=53 quitlines.
Technology: NAQC’s learning community resulted in final recommendations for technology-mediated services, “Recommended Best and Promising Practices on Technology-Mediated Services for Quitlines,” in the areas of texting and web-based services. As of fiscal year 2024, 94% of state and territorial quitlines had adopted all four recommended practices regarding technology-mediated services.
Vaping: NAQC’s learning community resulted in an adult vaping cessation recommendations report, “Recommended Best and Promising Practices on Adult Vaping Cessation Services for Quitlines”. As of fiscal year 2024, 96% of state and territorial quitlines had adopted both recommended practices.
Youth: NAQC’s learning community resulted in the
“Youth Tobacco Cessation Brief”. This brief serves to provide a literature review and summary of quitline practice while highlighting areas where additional research is needed in order to make recommendations on best practices for quitlines in youth cessation services. As of fiscal year 2024, 92% of state and territorial quitlines had adopted all six of the recommendations on technology-mediated services and adult vaping cessation.
If you are interested in discussing your work to implement these practices with NAQC or other state quitlines, please contact Katie Mason (kmason@naquitline.org). We encourage you to also reach out if you have questions about any of the practices.
Research and Evaluation
Findings from the 2024 Annual Survey
Since 2004, NAQC has conducted an annual survey of quitlines in North America. The information collected
in the survey advances our understanding of quitline operations and services. The survey collects information on quitline financing, counseling interventions, medication provision, utilization, and evaluation. Aggregate results are shared with the
quitline community and partners and help achieve NAQC's mission of monitoring overall progress of quitlines and promoting evidence based quitline services across diverse communities in North America.
2024 survey results were released and included current data on quitline investment, efforts to reach groups experiencing disparities, and impact. To make the data easier to understand and share, we developed infographics that showcase quitline field metrics and emphasize
the ongoing need for sustainability. 2025 survey results will be released in April 2026.
Infographic (data snapshot 2024)
Infographic (quitline sustainability)
MDS Workgroup Progress – Disability Status Questions
A workgroup convened in 2025 to develop recommendations for a question on disability status to be included in the intake Minimal Data Set. The workgroup plans to pilot the question in a few quitlines in early 2026. If the pilot data suggests that the question is appropriate, the question will be put forth to membership to vote on adopting it for inclusion in the Minimal Data Set.
Quitline Sustainability
Online Group: Community of Practice
This member-only online community began with a focus on cost-sharing partnerships – exploring how different organizations (like states, insurers, and employers) could share the costs of running quitline services. Over time, we expanded into a broader sustainability model. Now, we look at every aspect of long-term quitline
success, from funding and resources to partnerships and policies. Our purpose is simple yet powerful: to help quitlines not just survive, but thrive well into the future. Open to state funders only, please let us know if you would like to join this
community by messaging naqc@naquitline.org.
Quitline Administrator Online Self-Assessment
To support your professional growth, NAQC staff, along with
the Advisory Council and the Sustainability Workgroup, have developed a self-assessment covering nine core competency areas for quitline administrators.
Completing this assessment will:
- Help you identify training and technical assistance opportunities.
- Provide you tailored resources to enhance your skills.
- Support your ongoing development as a quitline administrator.
The competency assessment aims to help quitline administrators assess their skills across key domains of quitline management and identify areas for professional development. This online assessment does not determine deficiencies, and individual results are kept confidential.
After completing the assessment, please review the Resource Outline for Enhancing Quitline Administrator Competencies. This resource contains key publications, expert guidelines, and NAQC materials designed to strengthen administrator knowledge and skills with evidence-based practices.
The Value of Quitlines: Discussion Points
We created a document outlining key talking points designed to support Quitline administrators in educating stakeholders, partners, and decision-makers about the critical role quitlines play in promoting commercial tobacco cessation. The document highlights how quitlines provide evidence-based services, enhance access to treatment, and contribute to better public health outcomes—particularly for communities disproportionately impacted by commercial tobacco. These talking points can help effectively convey the importance of continued investment in quitlines as an essential part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce harm associated with commercial tobacco.
Contingency Planning for Quitlines: Summary of Resources and Best Practices
NAQC has a variety of resources that can guide your planning while ensuring the effectiveness, quality, and sustainability of quitline services.
These resources focus on:
- Identifying triggers for contingency plan implementation.
- Prioritizing evidence-based practices, including technology-mediated services.
- Budget-based decision-making for Quitline services.
- Enhancing service delivery through innovative and sustainable approaches.
Click on the sections below to access the information.
Quitline Program Sustainability Action Plan Framework
Quitline Contingency Planning
NAQC Project to Strengthen State-Level Quitline Funding
NAQC launched a new project, funded by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, aimed at producing defensible, specific funding recommendations to increase U.S. state and territorial quitline capacity. This effort will benchmark state
capacity across key areas to support state commercial tobacco cessation through quitlines. The project analyzed data from the FY24 NAQC Annual Survey of Quitlines and other national health datasets to estimate the resources needed for each state to
implement all six priority best practices and exceed the median reach for quitlines. Findings were shared through State Factsheets showing how each jurisdiction compares to the national median service benchmarks with recommended funding levels to
close service gaps.
Building Partnerships and Networking Opportunities
Recap of the Quitline Reception
We sincerely appreciate everyone who contributed to the NAQC sessions at the conference and commend your outstanding efforts in preparing your presentations. The collective message shared by Dr. King, Senator Durbin, Karla
Sneegas, Barb Schillo, Delmonte Jefferson, and others was unmistakable:we face significant challenges ahead, but we possess the necessary tools and determination to overcome them.
The impact of your work is deeply valued and continues to make a positive difference in countless lives.
Key Achievements since last NCTOH (June 2022; data from the NAQC annual survey)
- Quitlines received more than 1.86 million direct calls.
- 741,356 individuals received phone counseling and/or quit medications from their state quitline program.
- Providers sent 618,191 referrals to quitlines for follow up cessation support.
- Based on the average quit rate across quitlines, an estimated 254,464 people quit smoking for good with help from a state quitline.
- Adoption of Priority Practices: as of fiscal year 2024, 92% of state and territorial quitlines had adopted all six of the recommendations on technology-mediated services and adult vaping cessation.
We would also like to express our gratitude to all who attended the quitline reception. The event was a great success, with attendees representing 30 state quitlines, 5 service providers, and 22 partner organizations. Thank you to RVO Health, National Jewish Health, and Information & Quality Healthcare for their generous co-sponsorship of this event.
NAQC Presentations at NCTOH
NAQC staff presented on a range of topics at the 2025 National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH), reflecting the organization's expertise in quitline administration, workforce development, and evidence-based cessation interventions. Presentations span panel discussions and poster presentations, offering attendees practical insights into expanding quitline reach, implementing priority practices, integrating trauma-informed approaches, and engaging Tobacco Treatment Specialists in lung cancer screening conversations. The presentations below highlight NAQC's commitment to advancing the field through research, evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and innovative training initiatives.
Trauma-Informed Approaches for Tobacco Cessation: From Theory to Practice (Panel Presentation: Thomas Ylioja, PhD)
This panel contribution highlighted the unique role of quitlines as highly accessible, trauma-aware points of care within commercial tobacco treatment systems. Quitlines serve more than 185,000 people annually, with nearly half reporting a behavioral health condition, and most programs already offer tailored counseling and targeted outreach for behavioral health populations. Within this context, Thomas discussed how quitlines can integrate trauma-informed principles into brief interventions—typically 17-minute counseling calls delivered by frontline tobacco treatment specialists—while recognizing key constraints, such as limited behavioral health training among coaches, the brief and episodic nature of quitline counseling, and the multi-coach model used in many services. His perspective focused on practical strategies to align quitline workflows, coaching approaches, and referral practices with trauma-informed care, positioning quitlines as a critical, scalable touchpoint for people whose commercial tobacco use is connected with behavioral health challenges and trauma histories.
No More Guessing What You Need to Know: Developing a Competency Framework for Quitline Program Administrators in the National Tobacco Control Program (Joyce Swetlick, MPH, Senior Program Manager)
This session highlighted NAQC’s work to create a standardized competency framework for state quitline administrators in the National Tobacco Control Program. The framework defines core knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to oversee commercial tobacco cessation programs, addressing variation across states and the impact of staff turnover. Drawing on job analyses, stakeholder input, and national role benchmarks, NAQC organized competencies into three main areas: promoting quitline reach, strengthening capacity and service quality, and sustaining support for quitlines. The framework uses the NIH Proficiency Scale to describe levels from basic to expert and is paired with an assessment tool to identify gaps and guide targeted training and technical assistance. By the end of the session, participants were better equipped to implement competencies, plan professional development, and evaluate the use of this framework to improve quitline reach, quality, and sustainability.
Expanding State Quitline Reach and Impact Through Implementation of Best and Promising practices (Katie Mason, MPP, Research and Evaluation Manager)
Nationally, nearly 29 million adults smoke commercial tobacco, and approximately 68% want to quit. To expand reach and effectiveness, NAQC released the Report on Priority Practices for State Quitlines to Implement by June 2023, recommending six priority practices: proactive telephone counseling, tailored texting, tailored web-based services, tailored counseling for adults who use e-cigarettes, cessation medications, and a range of referral options.
As of June 2023, 40% of state and territorial quitlines had implemented all six priority practices, with adoption rates ranging from 40% (cessation medications) to 100% (e-cigarette counseling). When cessation medications were excluded, 89% of quitlines had adopted the remaining five practices. Budget constraints were reported as a major barrier to implementing the medications practice. Notably, referral pathways connected nearly 19,500 individuals to services, while texting and web-based services enrolled an additional 47,700 individuals who did not access phone counseling or medications. This session examined adoption trends, identified barriers to practice implementation, and explored strategies for advancing priority practice uptake to strengthen quitline reach and effectiveness across all states and territories.
Charting the Course to Cessation: Identifying Available Quitline Services Through a Dynamic Online Map
(Poster: Natalia Gromov, Executive Administrator)
This poster highlighted NAQC’s dynamic online map as a practical evaluation and surveillance tool for understanding
quitline services across the United States and Canada. The map compiles real-time information on each quitline’s contact details, available services, eligibility criteria, cessation medications, supported languages, referral contacts, and key annual
metrics. By integrating data from NAQC’s annual survey and ongoing updates from designated quitline contacts, the map allows users to examine engagement (volume of calls and clients served), investment (funding per person who smokes), and impact (reach
and quit rates) in a single, accessible digital format. Viewers learned how to navigate the map, interpret its indicators, and apply this resource to support individuals who want to quit or assist others in quitting commercial tobacco use, while also
informing program planning and equity-focused decision-making.
Conversations That Save Lives: How Tobacco Treatment Specialists Can Engage Clients in a Discussion About Lung Cancer Screening (Poster, Etta Short, MS, Senior Program Manager)
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, yet low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening can detect the disease early and significantly improve survival rates. Tobacco Treatment Specialists (TTS) are uniquely positioned to educate eligible clients about lung cancer screening, particularly those without regular healthcare access. Project ENGAGE, funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), developed an interactive e-learning course launched in November 2024 that equips TTS from diverse professional backgrounds with knowledge and strategies to discuss screening with clients. This poster presented the course content, evaluation findings using mixed-methods approaches, and effective strategies for promoting the training to the TTS workforce.
Quitline Program Sustainability Workshop Series
The Quitline Program Sustainability workshop series was held over the summer as a structured, multi-part training designed to help quitline administrators strengthen long-term program stability. Through these sessions, participants explored core concepts such as strategic planning, funding diversification, partnership development, and embedding quitlines within broader health systems. The series emphasized practical tools and actionable strategies that administrators can adapt to their own context, supporting more resilient programs that can weather funding and policy changes while continuing to serve people who use tobacco.
Ongoing Monthly Tips Campaign Calls with Service Providers
NAQC’s monthly Tips campaign calls brought together quitline service providers to monitor call and text volumes and discuss real-time trends in client outreach. These ongoing sessions also provide updates on media promotion, helping programs understand how campaign timing, messaging, and channel strategies are influencing demand. By combining data review with practical discussion, the calls support rapid adjustments to staffing, workflows, and communication plans so that quitlines can effectively respond to campaign-driven activity.
Weekly Coffee/Tea Break Calls
Earlier in the year, NAQC hosted weekly Coffee/Tea Break calls which offered an informal, member-only forum to discuss the evolving status of federal funding and other timely issues affecting quitlines. These conversations created space for peers to share real-time updates, compare experiences across jurisdictions, and surface common challenges and emerging needs. By fostering open dialogue in a low-pressure setting, the calls helped members stay informed, connected, and better prepared to respond to shifting policy and funding environments.
Knowledge Series Workgroup
NAQC recruited members to join a Knowledge Series Workgroup to help define a training agenda while building a purposeful library of resources to support quitline administration. This initiative will feature trainings, webinars, and resource guides designed to empower the quitline and tobacco cessation community. Workgroup members collaborate to set the training agenda based on competencies and quitline administrators’ needs, identify speakers for webinars, and contribute to resource guides by authoring or updating existing documents.
Highlights and Takeaways for the Quitline Community from the Surgeon General’s Report
The Surgeon General’s report, Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, underscores that while overall tobacco use has declined in the U.S., progress has not been shared equally across populations, with persistent gaps by race, income, education, geography, sexual orientation, gender identity, occupation, and behavioral health status. The report reinforces the vital role of quitlines in expanding access to commercial tobacco treatment and helping reduce these disparities. To support the quitline community, NAQC developed an infographic and an executive summary highlighting key findings most relevant to quitlines, along with a recorded webinar held in January 2025 that walks through the main takeaways and implications for practice. These resources are available on a dedicated NAQC webpage, which will be updated regularly and can be shared widely with colleagues and staff.
Addressing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities Among People with Disabilities
In May, we hosted a special webinar titled, Addressing Tobacco-Related Health Disparities Among People with Disabilities: Insights and Interventions. People with disabilities make up about 25% of the adult U.S. population and were recently identified as a health disparity population by the National Institutes of Health. They experience higher rates of cigarette smoking, yet few cessation interventions are tailored to their needs. Tobacco use disparities span various types of disabilities, such as cognitive, mobility, and visual impairments, but research often excludes this population. This webinar explored these disparities and showcased efforts to promote health equity. Highlights included presentations on the impact of nicotine reduction standards, harm perceptions of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, tobacco use among disabled youth, Quitline utilization, and accommodations in smoking assessment procedures.
Presenters
Jay Schulz, PhD, MPH – Assistant Professor, University of Nevada, Reno
Dana Rubenstein, MHS – Medical Student, Duke University
Caitlin Weiger, PhD - Postdoctoral Fellow, Rutgers Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies
Jessica Rath, PhD, MPH, CHES - Senior Vice President, Truth Initiative
Dana Bourne, MPH - Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Vermont Department of Health
View the webinar presentation and recording.
New Media Resources for Quitline Programs
New Guide! Social Marketing for the Digital Age: An Overview for Quitline Programs
The North American Quitline Consortium is pleased to release of a new practical resource: Social Marketing for the Digital Age: An Overview for Quitline Programs.
Why This Guide Matters
Quitline programs can benefit from encouraging commercial tobacco cessation using digital media. Social marketing approaches for quitlines can expand reach, strengthen engagement, and help programs connect with communities in meaningful ways. This guide combines evidence-based strategies with real-world examples to make the process accessible for cessation coordinators and media coordinators alike.
What You’ll Find Inside
- Introduction to Digital Social Marketing: Foundational concepts and current landscape.
- Key Terminology: Definitions to ensure clarity and consistency among teams.
- Developing Your Digital Social Marketing Strategy
- Planning For Your Digital Social Marketing Campaign
- Managing Your Digital Social Marketing Campaign
- Measuring Campaign Performance & Outcomes
- References: Supporting evidence and further reading for each topic.
This structure provides practical guidance and in-depth advice with examples, helping programs move from strategic planning through launch, management, and results measurement, all grounded in the latest evidence-based approaches.
Lung Cancer Screening Training
Project ENGAGE: Training TTSs on use of a Patient Decision Aid on Lung Cancer Screening
Project ENGAGE,
draws from several key evidence-based learning platforms, including Project CONNECT decision aid, to create an innovative new FREE on-line training module for Tobacco treatment
Specialists - Conversations that Save Lives: How Tobacco Treatment Specialists can Engage Clients in a Discussion about Lung Cancer Screening.
Course Highlights:
- Accredited Learning: Approved by the Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs, featuring 1 continuing education contact hour and a certificate of achievement.
- Latest Data & Strategies: Stay current on lung cancer screening recommendations, eligibility criteria, and ways to set client expectations—including how to address health disparities.
- Proven Impact: Over 1,200 healthcare professionals have registered for this course, strengthening their role in lung cancer prevention.
Become part of the solution—register and help more clients benefit from early detection and tobacco cessation support this summer!
Register Now and join a movement dedicated to saving lives!
Help us share information about the new Project ENGAGE online course on your website, via communication channels, and social media accounts. The Media Kit is located here.
We are excited to have started work on a Spanish version of this online training made possible by Nuestras Voces Adelante Network (program of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH)).
New Communications, Top Webpages, and Web Features You Should Know About
Orientation/Refresher Sessions
We offer orientation and refresher webinars to ensure that the quitline community is familiar with the services offered by NAQC and can make the most of them! To help address recent staffing changes at many quitlines, we have added additional orientation sessions to better accommodate new team members and changing needs.
If you and your team would like to schedule a webinar—either to learn more about NAQC or to focus on a new priority program for your quitline—please contact us at membership@naquitline.org.
New Monthly Communication
We're delighted to have launched new monthly communication titled, Highlights: Programs and People. This series is all about celebrating the passionate individuals and innovative programs that make our Quitline community so special.
Share your story and help us shine a light on the impactful work happening across our network. Submit here. You can review past issues
here.
Upgraded Online Membership Community
Have you explored the fresh look and functionality of our online member community? We’ve introduced exciting updates, including a new Information and Settings tab that lets you manage automated notification preferences with ease. Additionally, the revamped Content and Features tab empowers you to post job openings or upload your resume, making it easier to navigate job opportunities and searches. For more information please refer to the member profile features page.
Peer-to-Peer Communications through the ListServ and Membership Directory (members-only)
Have a question for your peers? Post it to the new and improved NAQC ListServ to gain feedback from other quitline professionals in real time. Posting a question is easy. Simply send an email to naqclist@gaggle.email.
Please visit the membership directory page to access the online directory (members-only). Note: Please make sure to keep your membership information current. You can update your information by signing into your NAQC membership profile.
Contact membership@naquitline.org with any questions or for assistance with making member profile updates.
Career Center
We launched a new
Career Center, designed to support your professional growth, job search efforts, and job openings promotion. Whether you’re a recent graduate, a seasoned professional, or looking to make a career change, our Career Center offers a variety of resources to help you succeed. You can find the Career Center located under “get involved” section of the NAQC website. Please feel free to post job openings which will also get featured in our monthly issue of Connections.
Thank you again for the important work you do and your support! If you have any questions, please contact us at
naqc@naquitline.org
or 800-398-5489 ext. 707.
We look forward to another year of moving quitlines forward!
