The use of a policy adoption and implementation model to advance a smokefree multi-unit housing ordinance in a large city in California, USA.

Local development, adoption, and implementation of tobacco-related ordinances is an intricate but instrumental process that can contribute to the reduction of smoking prevalence and exposure to secondhand smoke. Since 2004, the Tobacco Control and Prevention Program in Los Angeles County has supported and provided technical assistance to 50 cities to initiate and complete policy campaigns that successfully led to the adoption of over 100 tobacco-related policies, including 20 smokefree multi-unit housing (MUH) ordinances. The program has been able to achieve these results through its partnerships with 32 prior and current community-based organizations and its use of the Policy Adoption and Implementation Model (PAIM), a practical framework and tool that originated in Los Angeles County. This model utilizes a multi-phased approach that focuses on community engagement, building local coalitions, and managing community-level campaigns to advance local ordinances. In this case example from 2023, we describe how PAIM was used and leveraged to successfully help Torrance, California develop, adopt, and implement a smokefree MUH ordinance.