Northern Kentucky leaders honored for local smoke-free efforts

Northern Kentucky communities and health leaders took center stage at a statewide tobacco control conference, earning recognition for recent efforts to expand smoke-free policies and reduce tobacco use.

At the annual Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, hosted by the Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy and the Kentucky Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program, two Northern Kentucky efforts stood out. One focused on passing local smoke-free laws, while the other centered on educating residents, especially young people, about the risks of vaping and secondhand smoke.

• The City of Ludlow, represented by Mayor Sarah Thompson, received the Everette Varney Smoke-free Indoor Air Excellence Award. The award recognizes communities that adopt comprehensive smoke-free workplace ordinances aimed at protecting residents from secondhand smoke.

• Casey Baker-Romans, a substance use prevention health educator with the Northern Kentucky Health Department, was named Smoke-free Advocate of the Year for her work promoting education around secondhand smoke and advancing smoke-free policies. Organizers highlighted her “Ditch Vapes” initiative, which has expanded since launching as a pilot program in 2024.

This year’s conference focused on emerging trends in tobacco use, new treatment approaches and the role of personal storytelling in helping people quit.

A growing push for a smoke-free NKY

Efforts to create a smoke-free Northern Kentucky are supported by Breathe Easy NKY, a regional coalition that brings together health, education, business and elected leaders to reduce tobacco use and vaping. The coalition works to advance smoke-free policies and expand education around the health risks of tobacco, with a focus on improving overall quality of life in the region.

Efforts to create a smoke-free Northern Kentucky are supported by Breathe Easy NKY, a regional coalition that brings together health, education, business and elected leaders to reduce tobacco use and vaping. The coalition works to advance smoke-free policies and expand education around the health risks of tobacco, with a focus on improving overall quality of life in the region.

That work has led to both policy changes and statewide recognition. In recent years, communities including Dayton, Bellevue, Highland Heights and Ludlow have passed smoke-free ordinances, many with support from coalition partners. Several have also been honored at the Kentucky Tobacco Control Conference, along with local leaders such as Dr. Michael Gieske of St. Elizabeth Healthcare for work in tobacco prevention and education.

Coalition leaders said these recognitions reflect continued progress in expanding smoke-free protections and improving public health across Northern Kentucky.