Virginians for a Healthy Future

Since you're all savvy blog-readers now, I've got one more for you to bookmark. http://blog.smokefreevanow.org/ -- it’s a blog from the Virginians for a Healthy Future Coalition and it’s written by Cathleen Grzesiek from the American Heart Association. The VFHFC will use the blog to post relevant info about smoke-free issues and news in Virginia, particularly for this General Assembly session. Click on over to it now to see the great happenings with clean indoor air policies in the Tidewater area.

New VTSF video

Check out the latest and greatest VTSF promotional video which can be viewed

from our homepage at

http://www.vtsf.org/index.asp

or under the About Us section at http://www.vtsf.org/global/about.asp.

It's a fabulous new tool that we can all utilize in spreading the word about VTSF initiatives. It is about six minutes long and highlights some grantee programs, research projects, youth access efforts and the world reknown Y Campaign. This video is the perfect introduction to VTSF for those who are still getting to know our organization. Kudos to our PR genius Richard Foster for such a nice polished product!

Save a stamp!

As a reminder, invoices can be submitted electronically each month. If you/your fiscal staff have not yet made the switch, be sure to do so and save some time and money. Contact me if you have questions.

Share your story in the VTSF newsletter

Calling all grantees --- we're looking for short articles to include in our upcoming VTSF newsletter. Can you describe a little bit about your organization, who you serve and how VTSF funding is helping the kids in your community in 300-400 words? If so, contact Richard Foster at rfoster@vtsf.org. This is a great opportunity to highlight your program for all of our stakeholders statewide. Articles must be submitted by January 14, 2008.

Life Skills Training at Bridle Creek Elementary

I had the pleasure of visiting Bridle Creek Elementary School this week to watch Michelle Stamper in action with the Life Skills Training curriculum in Mrs. Young's third grade class. Kudos to Michelle and the entire Grayson County Schools team for making their first VTSF grant program such a success - keep up the good work!

Middle School Focus Groups Needed

Could your local middle school use an extra $1000?

YES you read that correctly - a cash incentive for schools!

We are looking for middle school students to participate in our marketing campaign research. For this research, there is a short ten-question survey and then follow up focus groups (which can be conducted during lunch). The time commitment is minimal for the school - just give us four homeroom classes of kids and we'll do all the work.

If you know of a school that might be interested, call or email me right away!

Calling Moms and Daughters!

As part of the Better Living Series in the Roanoke Valley, Carilion Clinics are sponsoring "Girl Talk" on Thursday December 13th at Roanoke Memorial Hospital from 6-9p.m. This interactive workshop is designed for moms and daughters (ages 9-13) to help strengthen communication and reinforce good decision making skills during the difficult adolescent years. The cost is $5 per person. To register call 1-800-422-8482 or for more information call Jill Lucas at Carilion (540-244-4958).

New Tobacco Product on the Market

Some of you learned about a new tobacco product called Snus (pronounced snoose) at our Annual Grantee Conference in Newport News. It is a smokeless tobacco pouch product that is put between your cheek and gum and is different from dip or chew in that it is "spit-free". Both Philip Morris (Marlboro Snus) and RJ Reynolds (Camel Snus) are test marketing their products now. They come with flavorings such as mint, spice and vanilla. Here is a link to the Marlboro Snus fact sheethttp://www.philipmorrisusa.com/en/popup_marlboro_snus_fact_sheet.asp

The following article from the USA Today outlines the current debate about harm reduction within the public health community. Be sure to read on....
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-08-06-snus_N.htm

Even in the field of tobacco use prevention, the old adage holds true "Change is the only constant!"

Best Practices from CDC

Check out the latest Best Practices in Tobacco Control Programs document produced by the Centers for Disease Control. Lots of good info on comprehensive programs, evaluation and administration.

http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/tobacco_control_programs/stateandcommunity/best_practices/index.htm

VTSF in the news

Today, the Richmond Times Dispatch featured a front-page article about youth and adult smoking rates and highlights one of our grantee programs. Read on....

http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/sports.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-11-15-0173.html

Great American Smokeout - November 15!

Check out this website for the Great American Health Challenge:

http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/Smokeout.asp

This new expansion of the Smokeout now includes information on eating right, active lifestyles and health checks.

Check out the latest from Tobacco Free Press....

http://www.ttac.org/TCN/tfp/2007/october-2007/youth_prev.html

Join Together Online

Here is another great resource for those in the alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention field:
http://www.jointogether.org/

This site is designed to advance community-based prevention efforts through the use of the most current, scientifically valid approaches. You can sign up for their news and alerts by submitting your email address and they also have resource publications and other helpful websites listed as well.

A little tobacco humor for you....

Send your Implementation Schedule

Just a reminder that I need your program implementation schedule (if you did not include it in your quarterly report). The following format would be great:

Your Organization Name

Compendium Program Name

Dates (or Days of the week) and Times of Implementation

Start Date and End Date

Location (Program Site and City Names)

This information is helpful to us in coordinating visits from VTSF staff and sharing the details of your program with local media and/or elected officials.

Thanks and have a great weekend everyone!

Conference Follow Up

What a fine looking group!


I have been pleased to hear such positive feedback about the conference event in Newport News. It sounds like folks thoroughly enjoyed the sessions and networking opportunities!

Below you will find a link to the PowerPoint presentation made by Karen Burruss of the Virginia Department of Health - Tobacco Use Control Project. She spoke on the second day plenary session and her slides were not available for distribution at that time. http://www.vtsf.org/grantees/forms/TUCPpresentation.ppt

Statewide Evaluation Reminder

As many of you are aware, the statewide evaluation process has been modified for the 2007 - 2008 grant year. Students will now only be completing a single survey at the end of the program. This means that students will no longer be required to create a unique identifier as we will not be matching pre and post surveys. The student post surveys are one page long (front and back) and should take no longer than 10 - 15 minutes to complete. Before surveys can be administered parents must be notified about the survey using a parental notification letter.

Additionally, changes have been made to the instructor cover sheet. The cover sheet has been expanded to collect additional information regarding program fidelity. We feel that this additional information will help compare program outcomes across the state.

You should expect to receive periodic updates from VCU regarding the surveys they have received from you. If you do not receive an update directly from VCU at least quarterly, please call or e-mail your SERL contact person to request an updated list.

The timeline for receiving and submitting surveys is as follows:

- Agency contact should have received surveys at least two weeks before the program is scheduled to end (unless the agency has requested an alternative mailing cycle)

- Agency contact will distribute surveys and parental notification letters to instructors- Instructors return surveys with coversheets as soon as they have been completed (within two weeks of last session)

SERL Contact Info SW Region
Candace Price Stafford: 804-827-4247 or e-mail: ceprice@vcu.edu

We are hopeful that this streamlined process will enable us to effectively assess program outcomes across the state as well as track program fidelity across programs.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me!

Terri-ann Brown (tabrown@vtsf.org)
Program Specialist
Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation
Phone: (804) 225-3466

Welcome to the VTSF Southwest Region Blog

Welcome to the newest communication tool from VTSF - the SW Region Blog for grantees!

Blogs (short for "web logs") are the latest and greatest way to post information online for others to view on a continual basis. Ideally this will be the go-to place for all grantee-related information and reminders from VTSF as well as a resource for up-to-the-minute tobacco use prevention/control news and links. You, as grantees, are also able to leave a comment in response to any of the posts. Feel free to pass along any suggestions you have for this blog. I want it to be a useful and efficient communication tool for all of us.

I plan to update the blog on Thursdays so click on over for a visit on Fridays to see what's new!

Here are some examples of things to come...

Training Opportunities

Helpful Hints

Photos of Grant-funded Programs (got some now? send 'em to me!)

Reminders of Due Dates/Deadlines

Any News or Announcements from Grantees