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