NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

262-658-8166

6103 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142

262-658-8166

6103 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI 53142

NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

NEED HELP NOW? Call 911 for emergencies. Call or text 988 for mental health or substance use crises. Local 24/7 support: 262-657-7188.

KRW Tobacco-Free Coalition2026-07-30T11:34:27-05:00
Prevention & Advocacy

KRW Tobacco-Free Coalition

Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties, working together — to educate about the hazards of tobacco use and secondhand smoke, promote cessation, and support youth in choosing a tobacco-free life. Three counties, one goal: environments where the tobacco-free choice is the easy one.

Krw

The coalition at a glance

Three counties

Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties, coordinated through Hope Council and funded by the state for tobacco and nicotine prevention.

Real accountability

332 tobacco retailer compliance checks were conducted in 2025, with a 4% youth sales rate — proof that consistent retailer education and accountability work.

Who it serves

Youth, retailers, schools, property owners and managers, local officials, and community partners across all three counties.

Quitting isn’t easy

We’re here to help — free cessation resources are available. Start with the tobacco and nicotine resource pages, or contact the coalition coordinator.

Prevention and advocacy work

A science-based, state-level initiative designed to decrease youth access to tobacco and nicotine products. Partnerships with local law enforcement and businesses create healthier communities through annual retailer compliance checks and retail employee education on the tobacco sales law. Free online training and certification for tobacco retailer employees is available at WITobaccoCheck.org.

Clear Gains

Wisconsin’s smoke-free housing initiative helps property owners, managers, and residents create healthier, safer multi-unit housing. Resources can be customized to a building and its residents — model lease addendum language, policy implementation timelines, enforcement tips, and resident education. Smoke-free housing is popular, profitable, legal, and healthier for everyone.

WRAP — Wisconsin Retail Assessment Project

The tobacco industry spends an estimated $155.8 million on marketing in Wisconsin every year. WRAP collects uniform data in the retail environment and uses it to tell the story of how tobacco advertising, product placement, and price discounts impact our communities.

Candidate Education

The coalition provides education to candidates for office on the lasting health impacts of tobacco use — so the people representing our communities can guide legislation that improves lives.

Supporting a tobacco-free generation

The coalition’s youth work meets the products where they actually are — vaping, nicotine pouches, and whatever comes next — with honest, evidence-based education instead of scare tactics. For school programming, parent resources, and youth vaping prevention, start with the Youth and Teens resource pages or request programming directly.

Get in touch with the coalition

Kendall Needham

kendall@hopecouncil.org
262-658-8166 ext. 103

Retailers, property managers, schools, local officials, and community partners — reach out to get involved or request resources.

Common Questions

What does the coalition do?2026-07-08T20:16:02-05:00

Tobacco and nicotine prevention across Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth Counties: retailer education and compliance through Wisconsin Wins, smoke-free housing support through Clear Gains, retail marketing data through WRAP, candidate education, and youth prevention.

How is this different from the Kenosha County Substance Abuse Coalition?2026-07-08T20:16:34-05:00

KRW focuses entirely on tobacco and nicotine, across three counties, with state funding. The Kenosha County Substance Abuse Coalition covers every substance in one county. Different scopes, same idea.

I own or manage rental property. What is Clear Gains?2026-07-08T20:17:01-05:00

A free Wisconsin initiative helping multi-unit housing go smoke-free — with customizable model lease language, implementation timelines, enforcement tips, and resident education. Contact the coordinator to get started.

How do I get free retailer training for my employees?2026-07-08T20:17:27-05:00

Free online training and certification for tobacco retailer employees is available at WITobaccoCheck.org, and the coalition provides retail employee education on the tobacco sales law.

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