Modernizing a 20 Year MCH Cessation Program Through Texting Support

Full Description: The Quit For Kids (QFK) Texting Support Program, funded by the NJ Dept. of Health (NJDOH), was created to optimize the reach of smoking cessation services to pregnant women, families and caregivers of young children. As technology has become an integral part of the MCH healthcare system, Mom’s Quit Connection for Families (MQCF) created QFK to improve access to cessation help. A new study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine states, “that smokers who use a texting service to help them quit are twice as likely to be smoke free after six months, compared with those who just receive smoking-cessation reading material.” To further QFK’s reach, collaboration with statewide MCH and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCO) is an important part of connecting smokers with cessation help.
QFK is an additional service option for MQCF; a NJ state-wide smoking cessation program for pregnant women and families. MQCF started in 2001 to help pregnant women quit smoking in the 7 southern counties. In 2016, MQCF was awarded state funding to offer cessation services statewide. MQCF now offers services to pregnant women, parents and caregivers of young children through individual cessation sessions, either in person or by phone.
QFK began in 2020 after determining the positive impact it could have on cessation services. Technology, including the use of mobile phones for individual well care and telehealth, has increased dramatically over the years. With this increase in mobile use, especially among the age group MQCF serves, the program assessed and determined text messaging could be an effective means of increasing client reach, as well as providing additional intervention. MQCF’s Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists created QFK text messages to offer education, links to articles and updates by the CDC, NIH and other cessation experts, Quit Tips and other helpful information to anyone wanting to quit smoking.
QFK a program of Family Health Initiatives (FHI), a subsidiary of The Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative. FHI is contracted with the NJDOH to process and store the PRA data. The PRA Form is a tool used to allow health officials to gather information and detect any early prenatal risks for Medicaid-eligible pregnant women in the state. The use of the PRA Form by MCOs works to increase referrals to specialty services, including MQCF. Patients who report tobacco use on the PRA form are auto-enrolled in QFK with the ability to opt-out at any time. By providing this e-referral, pregnant women are immediately provided the ability to reach a trained Quit Coach and receive support.
QFK has reached 739 individuals and currently has 358 active clients. With future advancements and collaborations, QFK would like to continue to increase participant use of the program through providing QFK in Spanish. Through technology, MQCF offers clients multiple interventions to increase their access to cessation services for a successful outcome.

Abbreviated Description: Quit For Kids (QFK) Texting Program is a technology-based service of Mom’s Quit Connection for Families (MQCF) smoking cessation program. With an increase in mobile use among MQCF’s population, QFK provides tailored text messages as an intervention that optimizes the reach of services to pregnant women, family members of young children. To further QFK’s reach, collaboration with MCH and Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) is an important part of connecting smokers with cessation help. The PRA Form, a tool used by Medicaid MCOs to gather information and detect early prenatal risks, works to increase referrals to specialty services, including QFK. Since 2020, QFK has reached 739 clients and currently has 358 active clients. Family Health Initiatives, funded by NJDOH, supports this project.

See video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7bMVrvNxr0