VFHY Southwest Region

Visit from Delegate Morefield

2011-10-28T12:32:00.001-07:00

Julia Wood with Mount Rogers Community Services was a terrific hostess this week to Delegate Will Morefield at Bland High School. Julia and I discussed with the Delegate the Life Skills Training program that she implements in grades 3-8 in Bland and Rocky Gap thanks to her VFHY tobacco use prevention grant. GO BEARS!

VFHY Programs SHINE!

2011-10-28T12:06:00.001-07:00

Hats off to Bethany Webb of New River Valley Community Services and JD Carlin of Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare for their recent feature on NEWS 7!

Here are some photos of them hard at work (while cameras were rolling!) with kids in Roanoke City and Montgomery County. Both of these folks made all of us look great as the local television station highlighted what Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) funds are doing in our portion of the state.

If you didn't see last night's story, click here for the segment:
http://www.wdbj7.com/health/wdbj7-tobacco-money-to-keep-kids-healthy-has-it-gone-up-in-smoke-20111027,0,3538248.story

CVS Sells Poison Project

2011-10-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Drug stores are supposed to help us feel better when we are sick, right?

So have you ever thought about why cigarettes are available at the check out of these retailers? The very same lethal product that ends the life of over 400,000 Americans each year. The same product that causes cancer, heart disease, and emphysema that result in $75 billion in health care costs to treat. The same product that hooks hundreds of thousands of new, young smokers year in and year out.

One project is aimed at changing this contradiction in terms for CVS.

Check out the CVS sells poison project here: ww.ToxicTobaccoLaw.org/13news.shtml#CVS

Their objective is to get CVS pharmacy (over 7,000 stores, 500 medical clinics) to stop advertising, promoting, distributing and selling lethal, addictive cigarettes. CVS pharmacy claims to be the world's largest pharmacy health care provider, licensed by the states to promote health and provide care.

Check out their music video CVS sells poison The song at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjpqXQc4tKg or search for "CVS sells poison on YouTube. Over 6,000 views so far.

Last week, CVS Pharmacy was called upon "...to stop advertising, promoting, distributing and selling lethal, addictive cigarettes at its over 7,000 stores."

Earlier this year CVS's public relations department stated, "As a healthcare provider, we acknowledge that the sale of tobacco products in our stores is a challenging issue."

According to this Project's Director, Terence A. Gerace, PhD, "CVS should announce plans to stop selling cigarettes before Christmas 2011. Walgreens and Rite Aid will have to follow suit."

9-5-2-1-0 Scavenger Hunt in Danville

2011-10-17T06:17:00.000-07:00

Check out this fun and educational scavenger hunt conducted by the fine folks at Virginia Tech and the Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community.

At the October 8th River Festival in Danville, kids were given a clue card and challenged to find the answers to questions about healthy living. Their results would send them to various stations numbered 9-5-2-1-0 (for 9 hours of sleep, 5 fruits and veggies per day, 2 hours or less or screen time, 1 hour of physical activity and 0 sugary beverages). As you can tell from the photos, kids and parents alike had a great time and were given an adventurous opportunity to learn some healthy activities for the entire family!

The Nag Factor and Junk Food Ads

2011-08-26T06:10:00.001-07:00

Follow the link below to an article that caught my eye recently. Yes this may have to do with the fact that I have two young kids who can be EXPERT naggers at the grocery store from time to time!

It's worth the read and might make you reconsider your take on Chester Cheetah.

Does anyone else remember a time when a certain OTHER company used an animated character to lure kids to use their product??

www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/16/nag-factor-junk-fund_n_928253.html

If only there could be a series of cool, hip health nut type characters that kids would flock to...

Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community

2011-08-09T06:41:00.000-07:00

This HCAT group in the greater Danville area is partnering with some fine folks at Virginia Tech to assess their existing nutrition environment and physical activity outlets. Click on the link below to read the news article about their efforts on GoDanRiver.com!

http://www2.godanriver.com/news/2011/aug/06/students-map-out-where-food-exercise-available-dan-ar-1221056/

Worldwide Day of Play

2011-08-09T06:09:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 24th as the Worldwide Day of Play!

Nickelodeon has invited groups across Virginia and the nation to "Get Up, Get Out and Go Play!" On this day, the Nickelodeon channels and website will go dark in an effort to encourage youth and families to turn off the tv and be active, especially outdoors. This is a collaborative effort with First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign and the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition.

Now is the time to plan an event in your town - hold a dance off, games day, bike-a-thon, or water balloon fight for youth and families in your community. For more information or to register your group or event, visit www.nick.com/thebighelp/road-to-wwdop.html
Groups that register by September 14th will see their name scroll across tv screens tuned to Nickelodeon!

Galax Bike Rodeo

2011-08-02T12:10:00.000-07:00

Three cheers for the Twin County Healthy Communities Action Team (HCAT) for their recent Bike Rodeo event!

This new HCAT was delighted to have state Senator Roscoe Reynolds pay a visit to their free, fun kids' bike rodeo on July 21st at Felts Park in Galax.

The team worked together to provide free bike helmets for participants, bike safety training, some nutritional information, a fun bike course and luckily some ice cold water for all.

Kudos to all of the groups who helped out - TurnKey KB & Associates, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Galax Police Department and others for making it happen!

PreventObesity.net

2011-07-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Want to connect with others working on family/childhood obesity initiatives? Take a look at www.preventobesity.net for ways to network online with other specialists in this field.

There's not much on the map yet for Southwest Virginia but if our HCAT-funded groups sign up and promote it to their coalition partners, local university researchers, volunteers and other wellness professionals, we could greatly increase our potential for collaboration and possibly coordinate efforts in the future.

VA County Health Rankings

2011-07-14T12:32:00.000-07:00

Almost all of you seek out city/county level data for grant applications or to share with your community. These new County Health Rankings may be particularly helpful to you.

If you haven't already visited this site to see the Virginia map, click on the link below and find your county. You can get all kinds of cool data and see how your county stacks up against the rest of the state!

www.countyhealthrankings.org/virginia

Working on Substance Abuse Prevention/Treatment in SWVA?

2011-07-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

If you answered YES, you must get a copy of this new resource.

This blueprint, developed by One Care of SWVA Inc. is a tremendous tool that can be shared with decision makers, community leaders and those working in the trenches of the substance abuse field here in SWVA.

It is the result of several regional planning meetings involving our local public health leaders, the faith community, colleges, universities, social services, and CSB professionals among others. This blueprint does a fantastic job of framing the substance abuse problem in our region and outlines a coordinated approach with goals and objectives that can help move SWVA into a healthier future.

I have several copies on hand and will happily send one to you if you're interested!

You'll FLIP over this!

2011-06-21T08:41:00.000-07:00

We've got a great new loaner resource for all of you grant-funded folks!

A new Flip Video Camera that can record up to one hour of all of those fantastic programs, events and special activities that your groups are conducting!

These new cameras are available for loan so contact me if you'd like to check one out for an upcoming event. It comes with simple directions, software for your computers and a USB for charging the device and a USB for downloading the content. This will be a new and easy way to capture, organize and share video footage of some of our fantastic initiatives so be sure to take advantage of it!

1-800-QUIT-NOW

2011-06-06T08:06:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the Virginia Quitline services have been expanded this year?

The line is staffed with LIVE quit coaches and counselors, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with unlimited calls for those age 13 years and older. In addition, Medicaid and uninsured populations are eligible for FREE nicotine gum or patches.

Do your part today to help promote the 1-800-QUIT-NOW number. Post this info in your office or share it with others. It's also a great resource for employers who promote tobacco use cessation for their staff.

If you have questions about this campaign or the available resources, let me know.

Mini Grants -- Re-Release!

2011-05-18T06:57:00.001-07:00

These mini-grants have been re-released so be sure to visit www.preventionconnections.org/funding.shtml for all of the details!

Feb 8 - Childhood Obesity Event in NRV

2011-01-31T06:56:00.001-08:00

Come visit an exciting Childhood Obesity kickoff event for the

Virginia Interfaith Center

Tuesday, February 8th

from 5:30-7p.m.

at the

Blacksburg Church of Christ (315 Eakin Street, B'burg)

Join parents, faith leaders, educators and other community members as they discuss ways to promote 5-2-1-0 for kids and other ways to make a diference in your faith community.

To register for the event, click here:

www.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Invitation.aspx?e=2705cd2a-d15d-422a-a1c5-fb62149c37d4

Mini Grants Available!

2010-11-12T06:20:00.001-08:00

So we know that 1 in 3 American school children is overweight or obese. And we know that most kids are not active enough and are consuming too many high-calorie, nutrient-poor foods as well as sugar-sweetened beverages.

According to the 2010 Dietary Guidelinies for Americans "Primary prevention of obesity must begin in childhood. This is the single most powerful public health approach to combating and reversing America's obesity epidemic over the long term."

So where can your community begin to tackle this problem?

Well think about this...what if our schools' vending machines looked like this?

Instead of this?

Prevention Connections has two great opportunities for Virginia schools!

Take a look at the website www.preventionconnections.org/funding.shtml for Vending Machine Audit/Replacment and Safe Routes to School mini grants. The application deadlines are quickly approaching in December but the projects themselves can be conducted any time before November 2011. Call or email me with any questions!

VFHY Local Celebrities

2010-11-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

Kudos to two VFHY Grantees

American Lung Association

and

YMCA at Virginia Tech (Waldron Family YMCA in Shawsville)

On October 29th, Billie Murray of the American Lung Association hosted a legislative visit from Delegate Joe Johnson. Delegate Johnson visited Highlands Juvenile Detention Center in Bristol to see the Not On Tobacco (N.O.T.) program in action. Eight youth were enrolled in the teen cessation program and Delegate Johnson had very positive things to say about the work that we are all collectively doing to make kids healthier. Pictured here: Yours truly, Billie Murray, and Delegate Johnson with HJDC staff - Patti Mumpower, Yolanda Stuart and Tim Dotson.

And earlier this week, one of our new Healthy Communities Action Team grantees, YMCA at Virginia Tech was featured in a WDBJ 7 News story about their N.E.W Family program - which stands for Nutrition, Exercise and Wellness. (WOW - that's gotta be a record for number of times the word NEW can be used in one sentence...)

Anyway, the story is fabulous so click here to see it:

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj-new-program-in-shawsville-to-c-103110,0,5587900.story

Remember, sharing our success with our elected officials and broader communites is a WIN-WIN-WIN for us all! And don't forget to cite VFHY as the funding source when talking with your legislators and the media. If you need any assistance with press releases or meetings with State Delegates or State Senators, be sure to contact me and/or Richard Foster in our Richmond office.

I look forward to posting more examples like this in the future!

Mr. Gross Mouth, Mr. Foul Mouth, Mr. Dip Lip

2010-10-26T06:52:00.000-07:00

Just in time for Halloween...No these aren't new character costumes for trick-or-treating! They are just a few of the fabulous tobacco prevention resources I have in my office available for loan. In fact, I just sent these three fellows out together last week to a grantee who couldn't wait to share them with her TND participants! I have videos, games, displays, models, even a set of inflatable PIG LUNGS that can be checked out anytime.

Visit our website here (www.healthyyouthva.org/vtsf/grantes/forms.asp) to view the List of Supplemental Tobacco Control Materials Available for Loan and then send in a completed Loaner Agreement form to me and we'll get you what you need. I also have some fun buttons and "You can quit smoking" bookmarks for anyone who can use them.

The scary reality is that 9,300 Virginia kids under age 18 become new smokers every year. Wouldn't it be a treat for all of us if we could make that number disappear?

VDH Training Opportunity

2010-09-21T09:36:00.000-07:00

Visit http://www.cleartheairva.org/ to get details on this upcoming training opportunity for those in tobacco use control or community wellness. The training will be held Thursday, November 4 in Richmond.

Topics to be presented include:

Community and workplace strategies for reducing tobacco use and exposure

Smoke-free parks and play areas that promote physical activity

Initiatives that provide access to good nutrition and provide food security for communities

Safe places to walk and bike

Programs to promote cessation programs and 1-800-QUITNOW

Safe Routes to School Grants

2010-09-02T11:16:00.000-07:00

The Prevention Connections Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is accepting applications for $2,000 mini-grants to sponsor a Walk and Bike to School event.

The goals of the mini-grant program are to (1) increase awareness of the benefits of safe walking/biking to school, (2) increase the number of youth engaging in physical activity through walking/biking to school and (3) provide schools with resources on SRTS best practices and additional funding opportunities.

These mini-grants specifically target low-income areas. Studies show that these children face a higher risk of being injured or killed as pedestrians. The mini-grant program is intended to be a catalyst for these communities to begin to examine ways to make the environment safer and more accessible for children to walk and bike to school, as well as to connect these groups with larger funding opportunities.

The application is available online at www.preventionconnections.org. In order to apply, the targeted schools must be Title I elementary and/or middle schools in Virginia. A variety of groups are encouraged to apply including PTAs, local governments, community agencies and nonprofits, etc.

Deadline for applications is Thursday, December 30, 2010, 11:59 p.m. For any additional information, contact Ashley Johnson, SRTS Program Manager at (804) 225-3004 or ajohnson@preventionconnections.org.

And That's What It's All About

2010-07-22T06:13:00.000-07:00

Check out these shiny, happy faces from two of our Southwest grantees!

Pictured top above are some preschoolers ready to LUAU in Galax. Thanks to

Rooftop of VA CAP for sharing this photo of their Head Start kids

as they celebrated the end of their Al's Pals program.

Below that group, you'll see some students from St. John Neumann Academy in Blacksburg. They're staying cool during their end of year field day

following the completion of their Positive Action program.

What a fanatastic reminder that the work we do is building stronger,

healthier kids across our region!

Kudos to us all for a great 09-10 grant year!

*and you thought I was going to say the HOKIE POKIE didn't you? ;)

Take a Break from the Heat

2010-07-07T12:05:00.000-07:00

Are these dog days of summer getting to you? Are you in need of an American Idol substitute of some sort?

Then take a cool 26 minute break and watch this great documentary produced by WHRO in Hampton Roads (2008) called Surviving Abundance: Overweight Kids in Crisis that examines the epidemic of childhood obesity.

Childhood health professionals paint a grim picture for the future of overweight children unless we begin to make systemic changes that support more healthy choices. Local, state and national childhood health experts, including William H. Dietz, Jr., MD, PhD, Director of Nutrition & Physical Activity at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, discuss steps we can take to turn the tide, and the program highlights organizations with exemplary programs which encourage healthier lifestyles.

Surviving Abundance was produced in collaboration with the Consortium for Infant and Child Health (CINCH), a community partnership to promote health and prevent disease among all children in Hampton Roads.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUMn9ncZFjI

FDA's Light/Low Ban and NYC New Ad Campaign

2010-06-17T09:01:00.000-07:00

New information forwarded from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids:

As you know, the FDA law's ban on the use of misleading descriptors such as "light," "low," etc. goes into effect, along with many other provisions of the law, on June 22nd. This presents a great opportunity to remind smokers that there is no safer cigarette and to promote quitting through quitlines or other evidence-based cessation interventions. You probably also know that the tobacco companies are using color coding to send the same messages about the light and low sub-brands.

New York City has launched an innovative and extremely creative and thoughtful response to the tobacco industry's effort to subvert the intent of the law requiring the elimination of the terms "light", "low tar" and "mild". This campaign uses the mass media to counter the industry and to turn its color packages effort on its head. New York City is a model of a proactive response to this industry tactic. By attacking the industry package change by a public education, New York has avoided any of the First Amendment issues around banning colors and has been able to respond in a timely fashion in a way that a regulatory approach could not have done.

Check out NYC's Health Department's website to see the hard-hitting television ads: www.nyc.gov/health

--------------

And here in Virginia, adults that want to quit can call 1-800-QUIT NOW for free phone counseling.

Grant Closeout Reminders

2010-06-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Don't forget!

Final progress reports and invoices for fiscal year 09-10 are due to me July 15th.

Wellness Trainings - Roanoke

2010-04-16T11:28:00.000-07:00

Three Wellness Trainings sponsored by the CHAMPION program at VDH will be held at the Brambleton Recreation Center in Roanoke in May. For for full event details, contact Heidi Hertz, VDH Obesity Prevention Coordinator at 804-864-7836 or visit: http://www.vahealth.org/WIC/Champion

Monday May 10th 9am-4pm: BODY WORKS Train the Trainer session - participants receive a toolkit and training materials to educate and prepare the parents and caregivers of adolescent boys and girls to be role models for good nutrition and physical activity.

Tuesday May 11th 9am-12 noon: Personal Empowerment - participants will review this worksite wellness program complete with CD-Rom and reproducible handouts, logos and evaluation tools.

Tuesday May 11 1pm-4pm: Creating Communities for Active Aging - training participants will learn how to improve the walkability of their communities, especially for older adults. Participants will identify challenges to safe physical activity and work on a plan to address these issues.

And feel free to forward these announcements along to

any other individuals or groups

working on obesity prevention/wellness initiatives

in your community!

Kudos to the Southwest Regional Advisory Board

2010-03-24T08:26:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of the Southwest Regional Advisory Board members that turned out for the RAB Recognition and Training Event in Staunton last week. You are all an important part of who we are and what we accomplish at VFHY! I'm joined here by board members (L to R): back row - Gina Wohlford, Lavern Davis, Debbie Flinn, Debbie Sams, Kathy Kenley, Rebecca Buchanan, Andy Muelenaer. Front row - Kim Brown and Billie Murray.

And The Black Lung Goes To...

2010-03-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

You may be up to speed on who won the Golden Boy Statues for Best Picture and Best Actor/Actress last weekend but do you know which actors received the

HACKADEMY AWARDS?

Breathe California of Sacramento-Emigrant Trails sponsors the
Hackademy Awards with Thumbs Up!/Thumbs Down! ratings for major motion pictures as well as for individual actors/actresses as a way to promote the impact of tobacco use

in films on pre-teens and young adults.

You may be surprised at some of the winners and losers!

http://www.sacbreathe.org/hacks.htm

This idea is something local youth advocates could easily replicate.

Check out http://www.scenesmoking.org/ for additional information.

Tobacco Harm Reduction News

2010-03-05T09:27:00.001-08:00

Check out these recent articles (compliments of Bill Godshall, Smoke Free Pennsylvania) regarding electronic cigarettes and FDA regulation,

http://www.aaphp.org/special/joelstobac/2009/TobaccBill.htm

as well as Ariva - a new "modified risk tobacco product."

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=105863&p=irol=

The world of tobacco products continues to change at an alarming rate. And the topic of harm reduction continues to spark controversy within the public health community.

Safe Routes to School Mini Grant Opportunity

2010-03-05T08:10:00.000-08:00

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for up to 35 $1,000 mini-grants for creative, youth-focused ideas that support safe walking and/or bicycling to school. Eligible activities must occur at an elementary or middle school in Fall 2010 and support the overall goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs — to enable and encourage children nationwide to safely walk and bicycle to school.

Check out their website for more information:

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/news_room/minigrants/index.cfm

Obesity Prevention Grant Opportunity

2010-03-02T07:59:00.001-08:00

Calling those of you in far Southwest Virginia interested in obesity prevention initiatives!

The Mountain States Health Alliance has teamed up with the College of Public Health at East Tennesee State University to offer grants of up to

$2000 for community level obesity prevention efforts.

Click on over to their website if you are located in the Wythe-Grayson-Tazewell County areas and/or points West. Applications are due MARCH 15th! http://www.healappalachia.com/

Kick Butts Day - March 24th!

2010-02-25T08:01:00.000-08:00

2010 Kick Butts Day!

This event is a day to celebrate youth activism across the nation

and help young people take action against tobacco use at home and abroad.

More details can be found here: http://www.kickbuttsday.org/

Southwest Regional YADAPP Conference

2010-02-22T11:38:00.000-08:00

Check out the Roanoke County Prevention Council's website for more information on the 6th Annual

SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA REGIONAL YADAPP LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

WHEN: Saturday, March 27th 1pm-7pm

WHERE: Northside High School in Roanoke

WHAT: Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project is a statewide youth leadership project focused on getting youth involved in making their schools and communities safe and drug-free.

This conference is a team-based leadership experience for middle school youth and sponsoring adults. An ideal team consists of four youth and one adult leader representing a school or community organization. If the school or organization does not have a team, individual registrations will also be accepted. Visit http://www.preventioncouncil4youth.org/ for more information and to register!

Childhood Obesity Summit May 2010

2010-02-22T11:23:00.000-08:00

Check out these Roanoke stars!

2010-01-13T06:29:00.000-08:00

These young ladies are some of the Positive Action program participants at the West End Center and they "Dare to dream..." on the new Martin Luther King Jr. pedestrian bridge in Downtown Roanoke. This photo was recently included with the legislative letter sent to Delegate Onzlee Ware and Senator John Edwards on behalf of Family Service of Roanoke Valley.

Don't forget to mail those letters if you haven't already and a photo like this one is worth a thousand words!

Thanks to Cheri Hartman of FSRV for sharing!

Smokeless-Tobacco Use By 12th Graders Hits 11-Year High

2010-01-12T09:17:00.000-08:00

Smokeless-Tobacco Use By 12th Graders Hits 11-Year High
By Richard Craver, Media General News Service, 2 weeks, 6 days ago

The use of smokeless-tobacco products reached an 11-year high among 12th graders nationwide in 2009, according to the annual Monitoring the Future study released yesterday. The study by University of Michigan researchers found that 8.4 percent of 12th graders used the products within a 30-day period - the highest level since 8.8 percent in 1998. The rate had been as low as 6.1 percent in 2006 and was 6.5 percent in 2008.

The rate of use among 8th graders rose from 3.5 percent in 2008 to 3.7 percent in 2009, while the use among 10th graders increased from 5 percent to 6.5 percent. By comparison, 20.1 percent of 12th graders said they smoked within a 30-day period compared with 20.4 percent in 2008.

The study, in its 35th year, included 46,097 8th, 10th and 12th graders from 389 schools. It also showed that marijuana use is becoming more popular among U.S. teens and that they have cut down on binge drinking and using methamphetamine.

The study comes on the heels of a report released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month that showed that more local high-school students were using marijuana than smoking cigarettes. Most researchers and analysts say that it is too soon to tell whether the combination of new smokeless-tobacco products, particularly at subsidiaries of Reynolds American Inc., and recent prominent advertising in magazines played a prominent role in the increases in the use of smokeless-tobacco products.

But the report is likely to stoke further debate between two sets of anti-smoking groups. One set says smokeless tobacco serves as gateway products for teenagers to cigarettes. The other set encourages the products as a way to reduce the risk of tobacco use compared with cigarettes.

"These new products no doubt appeal to kids because they are easy to conceal, carry the names of youth-popular cigarette brands, and come in candy-like forms and flavors," said Matthew Myers, the president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "More than 60 percent of smokeless marketing is spent on price discounts, including coupons, that make smokeless tobacco products more affordable and appealing to price-sensitive youth customers."

Among the more outspoken proponents of smokeless-tobacco products as reduced-risk alternatives has been Bill Godshall, the executive director of SmokeFree Pennsylvania. "It appears that more youth smokers, like adult smokers, are beginning to substitute smokeless tobacco for cigarettes," Godshall said. "Since cigarettes are 100 times more hazardous than smokeless tobacco, public health benefits every time a smoker switches to smokeless, regardless of age."

The increased marketing of smokeless tobacco likely has had some effect on teenagers, said Dr. John Spangler, a professor of family and community medicine at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Spangler is involved in federally funded research aimed at developing strategy for reducing use or even quitting smokeless-tobacco products. "

It should be noted that research does not support the concept that people will quit smoking by switching to smokeless," Spangler said. "In fact, there is a very high risk that smokers who turn to smokeless tobacco become dual users of cigarettes and oral tobacco." David Howard, a Reynolds spokesman, said that "it is a guiding principle of the company that youth should not use tobacco products. All of our marketing communications are designed for, and communicate with, adult tobacco consumers."

Although it was the 10th time in the past 12 years that the smoking rate among 12th graders declined, anti-tobacco advocates said they are concerned by the marginal drop. That's because the number of adults who smoke rose from 19.7 percent in 2007 to 20.6 percent - or 46 million Americans - in 2008, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The proportions of students seeing a great risk associated with being a smoker has leveled off in the past several years," Johnston said. One factor in the continuing decline of cigarette smoking among teenagers may be hormonal - 81 percent of 8th graders, 80 percent of 10th graders and 75 percent of 12th graders said "they would prefer to date people who don't smoke." "It is clear that any young person today who becomes a smoker will pay an important social price for that choice by becoming less attractive to the great majority of the opposite sex," the researchers said.

Source: Monitoring the Future study by University of Michigan researcher.

Updated Legislative Forms Needed

2009-11-30T10:06:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to email me your updated legislative contact form by Tuesday, December 1st. You should identify the State Delegate and State Senator for each of your program locations and include their Richmond office addresses.

Thanks!

Tues Dec 1st - Celebrate Smoke Free Restaurants!

2009-11-30T09:44:00.000-08:00

Join me in DINING OUT on Tuesday, December 1st in honor of Virginia's landmark smoke-free restaurant legislation! Yes that's right, all restaurants in the Commonwealth will now be smoke-free (unless they choose to consturct a separately ventilated area for smokers). See the link to a letter from the State Health Commissioner asking you to dine out on December 1st to support the new law.
http://www.healthyyouthva.org/documents/announcements/Commonwealth_Challenge_smoke_free_dining.pdf

So go on - grab your friends and family and find your favorite eatery on Tuesday night (I'm sure you're tired of turkey by now anyway). Then take a deep breath of fresh air and know that I, and many others are celebrating this historic day too!

Have You Seen Flavored Tobacco Products for Sale?

2009-11-20T07:12:00.000-08:00

On September 22, 2009, the FDA ban on clove, candy and fruit-flavored cigarettes went into effect. This ban was mandated by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act that created the new FDA Center on Tobacco Products, and is a long overdue step to end the tobacco industry’s recruitment of youth as “replacement smokers” by appealing to them with flavored products. It makes it illegal to manufacture, distribute, sell or import any cigarette (including roll-your-own tobacco and rolling papers) containing herb, spice or fruit flavors. The only flavors still allowed for cigarettes are menthol and tobacco.

The ban of flavored cigarettes is an important opportunity for you to provide timely and useful information to the FDA. Reporting violations of the law is crucial and will allow FDA to successfully enforce the Act. In addition, any information you provide regarding other flavored tobacco products will assist FDA as it examines options for regulating these products. A collection of sample images of what you can look for is available at: http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/campaign/flavoredcigaretteban_reference_112009.pdf.

Some tobacco companies are attempting to get around the ban by selling flavored cigarettes but labeling them as “little cigars.” These “little cigars” are really cigarettes in disguise and are also subject to the flavor ban.

In addition, the FDA is empowered by the new law to take action on flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes, such as flavored cigars and flavored smokeless tobacco, but it needs proof of how these products are appealing to youth in order to assert that authority.

If you are aware of continued sales of flavored cigarettes and/or roll-your-own tobacco and rolling papers, it is important to let the FDA know! Call or email me to get the reporting information that is required to document such sales.

Or you can contact the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids directly via Victoria Almquist at valmquist@tobaccofreekids.org.

Incidentally, this would be a great topic for discussion/activity with your youth. They usually love "enforcement" type projects!

Bring on those fruits and veggies

2009-11-13T09:05:00.000-08:00

About 100,500 new cases of cancer are caused by obesity every year, according to the most comprehensive attempt ever to estimate the cancers attributed to extra weight. The analysis, released recently by the American Institute for Cancer Research, is based on updated cancer data and a report released earlier this year by a panel of experts.

The types of cancer most strongly linked to excess body fat include breast cancer, endometrial, kidney, colorectal, pancreas, esophagus, and gall bladder. For the full story click here:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/weightloss/2009-11-05-obesity_N.htm

Delegate Ware visits Westside Elementary

2009-11-05T10:48:00.001-08:00

Kudos to Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare for arranging a legislative visit with Delegate Onzlee Ware of Roanoke. Delegate Ware joined the Magic Place kids at Westside Elementary last Wednesday to learn more about the Too Good for Drugs program. Sheila Lythgoe, Prevention Specialist with BRBH is pictured here providing the lesson for some very eager participants!

Delegate Crockett-Stark visits Bland Elem

2009-11-03T06:45:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday, October 28 I had the pleasure of visiting Bland Elementary School along with Delegate "Annie B" Crockett-Stark and Richard Foster the VFHY Public Affairs Coordinator. We joined Brooke Bates from Mount Rogers Community Services and sat in on a wonderful group of fourth graders learning about the Life Skills Training program.

Brooke pulled out all of the bells and whistles for us....using the LST cd-rom and Smart Board! The kids were engaged, we loved it and Delgate Crockett-Stark was wowed for sure. Another fantastic legislative visit by another outstanding grantee.

Senator Reynolds visits Floyd High

2009-11-02T07:23:00.001-08:00

Thanks to New River Valley Community Services for arranging a legislative visit from state Senator Roscoe Reynolds to the Toward No Drug Use program at Floyd High School. Check out these fabulous eighth grade program participants along with the adults (from L to R): their classroom teacher Mrs. Sue Banks, Senator Reynolds, Dr. Colleen Kraft-Carilion pediatrician, Mrs. Linda Vaught-NRVCS Prevention Specialist who teaches TND, and Dr. Terry Arbogast-Superintendent of Floyd County Schools. Great program, great contact with a legislator, great fall colors in our photo....what could be better?

More Conference Photos!

2009-11-02T07:09:00.001-08:00

Her Glass is Half Full!

2009-10-16T09:56:00.000-07:00

Sometimes don't you wonder if it all boils down to your perspective on things? You know "Are you a glass half full or glass half empty type of person?" As many of you know, there were plenty of things that weren't exactly perfect about our grantee conference this year. As is evident here, I'm trying to maintain a sense of humor about most of them and know that there are always lessons to be learned for next time.

Well here's one thing I know for sure: Jeanette Phillips with Mountain View Youth and Family Services is definitely a glass half full kind of gal! Bless her heart, Jeanette does a bang up job with her grant funded program in Carroll County, reaching every 6th and 7th grader with the LST program.

She also has been a great resource at our conferences the past two years - speaking at a "Spice Up Your Programs" break out session in 2008 and providing a grantee exhibit in 2009. Evidently Jeanette has a good deal of patience too. Miss Jeanette came home with conference stories of her own including room service that runs an hour late and water glasses with cracks and lipstick imprints on them. YIKES!

All I can say is "Thanks for enduring, Jeanette!" And yes, we'll probably know which evaluation form is yours when we read it. :)

Thoughts? Similar conference nightmare stories? Photos? Send 'em on or comment here!

Grantee Conference Wrap Up

2009-10-09T11:23:00.001-07:00

It was great seeing all of you wonderful SW grantees in Richmond earlier this week! I hope your travels home were safe and that you gained some new information and resources as a result of our event. I definitely learned a few things at the 2009 VTSF Grantee Conference and I couldn't wait to post at least a few of them here:

10. If ever you are asked to serve on the Audio/Visual Set Up Team for a conference of 200+ of your favorite colleagues and esteemed co-workers, be sure to smile politely, say no thanks and RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN in the opposite direction!

9. If you actually end up serving on said Team, be sure to wear sensible shoes.

8. If you are a die-hard Coke drinker and stay at the Downtown Marriott in Richmond, you should probably plan to pack a cooler or be ready to spend much of your time tracking down vending machines on Broad Street.

7. If you ever find yourself working on AV and trying to track down a Diet Coke simultaneously, keep up with your wallet.

6. Cold tortellini in alfredo sauce is not all that tasty.

5. Prevention conferences are always made more interesting when elderly folks from a neighboring meeting room (can anyone say Family Reunion?) wander into break out sessions and offer their assistance.

4. When hosting a tobacco use prevention event that also includes obesity information, it is just plain TORTUOUS to be meeting near groups that have candy bars and cheesecake offered during breaks.

3. Consult your hotel floor plan promptly upon arrival. Otherwise you could be schlepping A LOT of AV equipment A LONG WAY in very uncomfortable shoes.

2. Even the brightest of yellow folders, can and do end up MIA sometimes.

1. Despite the ups and downs of conference planning, a few logistical nightmares and some just plain blonde moments, this week was a good one and I'm thankful for the fine folks I work with (and especially thankful for their patience with me)!

Have a great story you'd like to share from our conference this year? Leave a comment or email me.

"Hit the Road TXT L8R Campaign"

2009-08-06T12:03:00.001-07:00

Elle magazine and clothing retailer Express have teamed up for a new print campaign and online PSA to create awareness about the dangers of texting while driving. Check out the August issue of Elle magazine or visit http://www.express.com/content.jsp?pageName=RADD to see the video.

Just recently, Virginia Tech issued a new study highlighting the increased collision risk when drivers text. You can see the entire article here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/28/technology/28texting.html?_r=1

A great reminder for our teenage program participants, our own kids
and well yes, some of us too.

Register Now!

2009-07-30T07:31:00.000-07:00

The 2009 VTSF Grantee Training Conference registration is now open!
VTSF marks its 10 year anniversary this year and we look forward to
"Celebrating the Past, Embracing the Present and Envisioning the Future"
with you on October 7-8 in Richmond.

You should have received this information via email but here's a link to
take you to the online registration page.

http://www.healthyyouthva.org/training/registration-form.asp?regfrm=102-ce

It's shaping up to be a great conference and I'm looking forward to seeing
all of your SMILING SOUTHWEST faces there! :)

Deciphering the new FDA legislation

2009-07-30T07:26:00.000-07:00

Interested in learning more about the new FDA regulation of tobacco products? The Tobacco Control Legal Consortium recently issued two new publications to help us all break down the details of the legislation and its impact on state and local authority. Click on over today!

http://www.tclconline.org/Tclc.asp

Smoke vs. Smokeless?

2009-07-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

The public health debate continues about the advantages and disadvantages of promoting smokeless tobacco products as a safer alternative to cigarettes. No one can deny that the smokeless tobacco market is changing and growing at a rapid pace. Check out this article about smokeless tobacco sales from a Convenience Store publication. http://www.csdecisions.com/article/6206

Note that in response to this article Bill Godshall, Executive Director of Smoke-Free Pennsylvania and outspoken 'harm reduction' advocate said "The quote attributed to Stan Glantz (in this article) is inaccurate, and the quote attributed to Timothy O'Leary at the WHO (in the second article) is deceiving. Both statements intentionally mislead the public to believe that smokefree tobacco/nicotine products are as hazardous as cigarettes, which encourages smokers to continue smoking cigarettes (instead of switching to less hazardous smokefree alternatives) and encourages smokefree users to switch to far more hazardous cigarettes. Smokers have a right to be truthfully informed about the comparable health risks of different tobacco/nicotine products, and public health agencies and professionals have an ethical duty to truthfully inform cigarette smokers about less hazardous smokefree alternatives."

That's a lot of food for thought. How do you weigh in? Research the info out there on smoking vs. smokeless tobacco and leave a comment here!

New N-O-T website for teens

2009-07-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

The American Lung Association in Virginia is pleased to announce a new and exciting website for teens – http://www.vanot.org/. This is a great resource where teens can begin to find out how, and why, they should stay away from cigarettes. By exploring some of the posted hard facts and other useful links, young people are exposed to an abundance of valuable information. In addition to this, teens can find out what the Not On Tobacco program is all about and where it is being offered throughout the state. Check it out today!

Welcome 09-10 Grantees!

2009-05-27T05:44:00.001-07:00

Congratulations to the following one year and three year VTSF grantees!

WELCOME ABOARD!

American Lung Association of Virginia - Southwest

Bland County Schools

Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare

Bristol Youth Services

Church of New Beginnings

Community Youth Program at St. John's

Cumberland Mountain Community Services

Dickenson County Behavioral Health

Family Services of Roanoke Valley

Franklin County Schools

Galax City Schools

Giles County Schools

Grayson County Schools

Henry County Schools

Highlands Community Services

Mount Rogers Community Services Board

Mountain View Youth and Family Services

New River Valley Community Services

Piedmont Community Services

Pittsylvania County Community Action

Planning District One Behavioral Health Services

Pulaski County Schools

Radford City Schools

Rooftop of VA CAP

Saint John Neumann Academy

Scott County Schools

Smyth County Schools

STEP Inc.

Virginia Wilderness Institute

Happy Halloween

2008-10-30T10:49:00.000-07:00

It's all TRICKS and NO TREATS from RJ Reynolds....

read on from the American Lung Association.

http://lungaction.org/campaign/trick_or_treat/wig6ini2v7k56iww

New Tobacco Product on the Market

2008-10-09T11:06:00.000-07:00

Dissolvable tobacco offered as smoking bans proliferate; critics say it looks like candy

By Richard Craver Journal Reporter (Winston-Salem Journal)
Published: October 8, 2008

R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is introducing three dissolvable smokeless products in its latest bid to make its tobacco more accessible within a society that's clamping down on smoking.
The dissolvable products -- a pellet (Camel Orbs), a twisted stick the size of a toothpick (Camel Sticks) and a film strip for the tongue (Camel Strips) -- had their debut at this week's National Association of Convenience Stores convention.

The products are made of finely milled tobacco and come in the flavor styles of fresh and mellow, spokeswoman Maura Payne said. The products last from two to three minutes for the strips, 10 to 15 minutes for the orbs and 20 to 30 minutes for the sticks.

"We're meeting the adult tobacco consumer where they are in society today," Payne said. "Consumer research has found that adult tobacco consumers have wanted another option for using tobacco where it wasn't comfortable or they weren't permitted to smoke."

Reynolds said that it is the first major U.S. tobacco manufacturer to offer the products. Star Scientific Inc., a smaller manufacturer based in Petersburg, Va., has been selling its dissolvable tobacco products -- Ariva and Stonewall -- in select regional and national chains such as Food Lion and 7-Eleven.

Reynolds plans to test the new products in Indianapolis; Columbus, Ohio; and Portland, Ore. The orbs and sticks products will have their debut in January and the strips in the second quarter.
Although Reynolds does not dictate retail prices, the company said that the dissolvable products should sell at a comparable price to a tin of Camel Snus, which is between $4 and $4.50.
The products drew criticism from the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which has protested most Reynolds tobacco innovations in recent years.

"These products are flavored and packaged like candy, and very likely will appeal to children," said Matthew Myers, the president of the advocacy group. "These products appear to be part of a continuing effort by RJR and other tobacco companies to get around the growing number of smoke-free laws and give smokers new ways to sustain their addiction in places they cannot smoke," Myers said.

Payne said that the products are sold in child-resistant packaging. Only adult consumers will be able to buy the products, and they will carry the same health warnings as other oral smokeless products.

Bill Godshall, the executive director of SmokeFree Pennsylvania, said that Reynolds is probably trying to introduce its new smokeless products before potential Food and Drug Administration regulation stamps out most innovation.

"I'm pleased that Reynolds is being aggressive in accelerating the switch to smokeless tobacco and getting more products that are likely to appeal to tobacco users," Godshall said.
In the past nine years, Reynolds has expanded its flagship brand Camel through such introductions as Camel Exotic Blends, Camel No. 9 and Camel Signature. It has branched out with Camel Snus, a smokeless product that is being promoted as the industry's best bet in a post-smoking environment.

Michelle Roehm, an associate marketing professor at Wake Forest University, said that she likes the packaging design."It appears to mimic the shapes and sizes of PDA devices that we're all accustomed to carrying around these days," Roehm said. "The design speaks to the occasions on which the products are likely to be used, such as on smoke-free flights, where it can conveniently be stored and accessed in the compartments of a carry-on bag."

Roehm said that the shape of the packaging does lend itself to complaints "from certain sectors that the product may catch the eye of children because the package resembles those used for gum."John Sweeney, the director of the sports-communication program at UNC Chapel Hill, said that Reynolds will need to be subtle in how it markets the dissolvable products. "If the ads surround Camel Sticks with bursts of color and youth-oriented language, there will be a social uprising," Sweeney said. "On the other hand, if the advertising is adult in orientation and quietly informative, the product may be left to find its way."

■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.

Products at a glance
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. is preparing to test three new Camel smokeless tobacco products in 2009.Product - Flavors - Flavor length - Pack amount - Nicotine amount

Orbs - Fresh, mellow - 10-15 minutes - 15 - 1 milligram per orb
Sticks - Mellow - 20-30 minutes - 10 - 3.1 milligram per stick
Strips - Fresh - 2-3 minutes - 20 - 0.6 milligram per strip

Source: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.

Now that's a good lookin' group!

2008-10-02T12:44:00.001-07:00

Southwest Regional Grantee Meeting ~ Sept 25, 2008

Great to see you!

2008-09-25T07:07:00.001-07:00

It's been fabulous to see all of the smiling Southwest Grantee faces here in Newport News!

I hope the conference event has been a valuable learning and networking opportunity for you.

Come back to the blog soon for our group photo! :)

Smoke free restaurants online!

2008-09-25T06:46:00.000-07:00

Hey folks - sorry for the previous error with this hyperlink...let's try it again!

Here's a great new resource for locating smoke free restaurants in your area (or anywhere in Virginia for that matter). Here is the link to the website that you can search by county:

www.healthspace.ca/vdh

RICHMOND, Va. - The Virginia Department of Health is adding the smoking status of Virginia restaurants to its Website on restaurant health inspections.

The popular state Web site averages more than 90,000 visits a month. It displays health inspection information gathered from more than 60,000 unannounced restaurant inspections a year throughout Virginia.

State Health Commissioner Karen Remley says this information can help diners decide where to eat. The new information for each restaurant will now include whether smoking is permitted or banned. Smoke-free facilities are identified with a nonsmoking icon.

Survey says....

2008-09-15T10:59:00.000-07:00

The 2007 Virginia Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) results are in and the word is out - Big Declines in Youth Smoking!

VTSF had the honor of hosting a press conference last Tuesday where Governor Tim Kaine announced that youth smoking rates in Virginia have hit the lowest point this decade. According to the YTS results, Virginia is almost 5 percent below the national average for high school smoking!

You can read the entire press release and more about the survey in general here:

http://www.vtsf.org/data/youth-tobacco-survey.asp

What phenomenal news and what a great way to share it! The press conference alone reached over 668,000 Virginians and even more have read about our amazing outcomes through The Associated Press, The Washington Post, The Richmond Times, and The Roanoke Times among other print reports.

Enjoy this moment of celebrity, folks because you have all played a part in this incredible achievement. Local programs are a key component to the youth smoking declines we have seen in Virginia over the last six years. Andrew Carnegie once said that teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results. I could not agree more.

ALA calls on VCU to break ties with Big Tobacco

2008-09-04T10:43:00.001-07:00

Click over to this article in Style Weekly highlighting how the National and Virginia chapters of the American Lung Association are calling on VCU and all Virginia colleges to "refuse all research and sponsorship funding from the tobacco industry.”

http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17653

Join the race...

2008-09-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendar for a very exciting
conference you don’t want to miss!

Virginia’s First Comprehensive
Statewide Cancer Conference
“JOINING THE RACE TO CONQUER CANCER”

Registration and agenda are available at www.cmevillage.com

(look under educational opportunities tab, live conferences, by date)

When & Where:
Thursday and Friday, November 20-21, 2008
Doubletree Hotel,
990 Hilton Heights Road, Charlottesville, Virginia, 22901

Call (434) 973-2121 by October 29 for CPAC Room Reservations
Registration Fees:
Registrations prior to September 30th: $50
Registrations after September 30th: $75
Credits: 1.2 CEUs

Who should attend?
This conference is for healthcare professionals, community leaders, public health
professionals, policy makers and the general public.

■ Come listen to keynote speaker Steven Patierno,

Executive Director of The GW Cancer Institute
■ Attend sessions with national speakers
■ Learn about the Virginia Cancer Plan 2008-2012
■ Get practical information about cancer
■ Networking opportunities
For more information contact:
Lucie Ferguson: lucie_ferguson@bshsi.org
Nila Saliba: ns7e@virginia.edu
Rachel Schmidt: rachel.schmidt@comcast.net

Wacky Tabacky Article

2008-08-28T11:51:00.001-07:00

Ever heard of Crown 7, Snus or Ariva? Check out this article from The New York Post which outlines these and other hip, new forms of smokeless tobacco which are gaining in popularity, especially among young women.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08192008/entertainment/wacky_tabacky_125036.htm

You'll hear even more about emerging tobacco trends later in September at our 7th Annual Grantee Conference.

Parenting Workshops - Roanoke area

2008-08-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

Guiding Good Choices® Workshops
Building Strong Family Ties

The Roanoke County Prevention Council is offering workshops for parents of children in grades 3 through 8.

The sessions include:
healthy beliefs and clear standards in the family
strengthening parenting skills
strengthening family communication skills
dealing with peer pressure
challenges of adolescence
building protective factors

A special feature of the Guiding Good Choices® program is peer refusal skills. Refusal skills focus on ways to avoid high-risk activities under peer pressure and still maintain important friendships. Workshops are available for: Parents, Schools, Faith Based Groups, Community Coalitions, Civic Organizations Health/Human Service Organizations

Cost to parents attending workshops is $40.00 paid by the first session by cash or certified check payable to Family Service of Roanoke Valley.

Class schedule for September 2008:

Brambleton Center September 9th, 16th, 23rd, 30th 6:30pm – 8:30pm

To register for classes contact:
Brooks Michael
Roanoke County Prevention Council
mailto:lhatcher@fsrv.org or 540-314-5030

So many training opportunities, so little time!

2008-08-19T10:49:00.001-07:00

Virginia Statewide Parent Education Coalition (VSPEC) will host the

2nd Annual Statewide Parent Education Conference

Parent Education in Virginia ~ We’re All in This Together

Monday, September 15, 2008

TIME: 8:30am-4:30pm (8:30am Registration & Sign In)**
Continental Breakfast and Lunch Provided **
PLACE: Holiday Inn Select Richmond- Koger South Conference Center
10800 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23225

COST: $25.00 Registration Fee (The registration fee will remain the same as last year. This includes all food and conference materials.)

REGISTRATION FORM: The registration form and tentative agenda is available on the Rural Virginia United Coalition web site at www.rvuc.com

Lifestyle Medicine Conference in Salem

2008-08-19T10:32:00.000-07:00

Carilion Clinic is sponsoring a two-day, evidence-based, lifestyle medicine conference on Sept 15-16 at Roanoke College in Salem. This cutting-edge event, supported by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, will feature three international experts on the science and practice of lifestyle medicine and is intended for physicians. Psychologists, healthcare providers, educators, scientists and anyone with an interest in the management and prevention of major illnesses would also greatly benefit from this program. Topics include how to prevent and reverse heart disease, nutritional treatments, the looming healthcare crisis and the need for lifestyle medicine.

To register, call 800-422-8482 or visit http://www.lifestylemedicine.org/

More Ammo for Clean Indoor Air

2008-08-18T06:35:00.000-07:00

Public smoking bans improve health and now there's one more study to prove it. Check out this link to a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine that examined hospital admissions for acute coronary syndrome in nine Scottish hospitals before and after their nationwide clean indoor air legislation was enacted.

http://www.rwjf.org/publichealth/digest.jsp?id=8310&c=EMC-ND141

The evidence is mounting so the pressure is on Virginia!

If you are interested in this issue, contact the Virginians for a Healthy Future and ask about their current postcard campaign .

www.smokefreevanow.org

or info@vfhr.org.

Family Day Dinner in Roanoke

2008-08-18T06:27:00.001-07:00

If you are in the Roanoke area, mark your calendars for

Monday, September 22nd. Join the Roanoke County Prevention Council's celebration of Family Day with a day to eat dinner with your kids.

Dinner will be provided by Ukrops at 6p.m. at the Arnold R. Burton Center. Seating is limited so RSVP by September 15th at http://www.preventioncouncil4youth.org/

Alicia Keys says "Back Off!" to PM

2008-08-07T12:54:00.001-07:00

Read more about how the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids and singer Alicia Keys worked together to end Philip Morris branding on her concert in Indonesia.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/07/31/keys.cigarettes.ap/index.html

More photos from McHarg Elem

2008-08-07T11:08:00.001-07:00

Know Your Body at McHarg Elementary

2008-08-07T10:57:00.000-07:00

On July 30, I had the pleasure of escorting VTSF Executive Director Marty Kilgore and Delegate Dave Nutter's legislative aide Angie Hall to McHarg Elementary School in Radford. We enjoyed seeing the Know Your Body program implemented with the summer enrichment academy kids. Kudos to Radford City Schools for starting off their grant year with such a fun and fantastic tobacco use prevention program!

Southwest Va Beauty

2008-07-21T13:25:00.000-07:00

As we all know, Southwest Virginia is remarkable is a number of ways. To live, work and play here in the mountains is indeed very special. SWVA is even more unique for VTSF this fiscal year since we have a record high number of grantees – 29. That's more than any other region of the state! VTSF programs will be happening throughout SWVA – in public and private schools, through community service boards, community centers, correctional facilities, and through other non-profit organizations and groups. You've probably heard me say this before but it certainly bears repeating -- Southwest is simply the best!

Is your passport ready?

2008-07-17T20:08:00.000-07:00

Join us as we explore Grassroots Programs: The Passport to Healthy, Tobacco-Free Youth at the 7th Annual VTSF Grantee Training Conference in Newport News.

Click on this link to view the entire registration brochure:

http://www.vtsf.org/grantees/forms/VTSFRegistrationForm.pdf

Registration is now open, so take a look at the form to review the schedule of events for September 24-25. Read the exciting session descriptions and find out where you want your passport to take you! Then click on over to our website to register online. You will then be sent a confirmation email with your conference "itinerary."

Participation at our conference is a requirement of your grant and up to two individuals from your organization should attend. We pack a lot into just a couple of days....new tobacco prevention info, dynamic presenters, networking opportunities and so much more. We promise the 2008 Grantee Conference will be a journey like no other!

Breaking Up is Hard to Do...

2008-07-17T19:37:00.000-07:00

...with tobacco, that is.

That's what several hundred Canadian teens indicated through a recent study conducted by the University of Montreal. The research cites some very interesting trends found in the process by which young people become addicted to nicotine. It happens earlier and quicker than most young people would ever believe! This study was also published online in the American Journal of Public Health.

http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=4837e433-2a9d-46ce-a4d9-ab95d1312fa0

Polonium-210

2008-07-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

Is that a hot, new sportscar from Italy? Or is it the next version of Windows due out in 2010?

Neither.

It's a radioactive, cancer-causing chemical found in cigarettes and tobacco smoke that tobacco companies have been trying downplay for years. A new study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic and Stanford University, found that tobacco companies suppressed publication of their own internal research about the presence and potential health effects of polonium-210. Based on a review of internal tobacco industry documents, the study found that tobacco companies for 40 years have been concerned about the public relations and litigation problems posed by polonium-210 in cigarettes and sought to avoid public attention to the issue for fear of “waking a sleeping giant,” as one Philip Morris document put it. The study found that tobacco companies “continue to minimize its [polonium-210’s] importance in smoking and health litigation and remain silent on the issue on their Web sites and in their messages to consumers.”

Citing prior research, the study states, “It is estimated that smokers of 1.5 packs of cigarettes a day are exposed to as much radiation as they would receive from 300 chest X-rays a year. PO-210 has been estimated to be responsible for 1% of all U.S. lung cancers…. PO-210 may be responsible for more than 1,600 deaths in the United States and 11,700 deaths in the world every year.” Polonium-210 received significant media attention in 2006 when it was found to have been used in the fatal poisoning of former KGB agent Alexander V. Litvinenko.

Source: Statement from Matthew Myers, outgoing President of the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, dated July 16, 2008.

Y St. and You

2008-07-17T19:11:00.000-07:00

Applications for the $2,000 Y Street Mini-Grants will continue to be accepted until July 31st. These mini-grants are available to any youth-serving organization, club or youth group in Virgina and can help connect YOUR kids to a one-of-a-kind statewide youth movement.

The Y Street Mini-Grants will begin this September and are an easy way to involve your kids in tobacco control advocacy activities AND help raise funds for your group. To learn more, visit this site and download the grant application: www.ystreet.org/grants. Two thousand bucks could buy a lot of t-shirts, pizzas, or GAS for your student organization!

Turning Technology Grant Opportunity

2008-06-26T13:26:00.000-07:00

Some of you may remember the fun "clickers" used at our last VTSF grantee conference but for those who were not there, these audience response gadgets integrate into Microsoft® PowerPoint® and allow audiences and students to participate in presentations or lectures by submitting responses to interactive questions using a ResponseCard® keypad or other hand-held/computer devices.

This company now has a grant opportunity for K-12 schools to obtain this neat gizmo. Visit this site to learn more:

<http://cts.vresp.com/c/TurningTechnologiesL/ec791cd86d/185c7fc7d6/d29aa740bf/cid=k12grant08>

Fit Kids Act

2008-06-23T06:21:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions here in our country. By 2010, 20% of U.S. children are expected to be obese, increasing their danger of suffering from heart disease as adults. What does this have to do with tobacco use prevention you ask? A lot! Studies have found that youth involved in sports are less likely to smoke.

Take a look at this new initiative by the American Heart Association which proposes an amendment to the No Child Left Behind Act which would encourage schools to provide regular, quality physical education and promote healthy lifestyles. This legislation can make a real difference in the quality of our kids’ lives – now and in the future. Click on over and see how your young people can take part. There's a fun photo petition of well-worn sneakers, resources for kids' health/fitness and an email template to send to legislators. http://www.fitkidsact.org/

Don't forget!

2008-06-23T06:17:00.000-07:00

REMINDER to all new one year grantees (FY 08-09)

Please sign and return two copies of the contract that was emailed to you with your award letter as well as your signed acknowledgement form from the VTSF Grants Administration Manual. These are your first grant reporting requirements and must be submitted to our Richmond office before any invoices/reimbursements can be processed. Thanks to those who have already sent them in.

Yabba Dabba WHAT?

2008-06-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

There's more than one reason these moms are outraged....

Check it out!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=NAExoSozc2c

Teens and Smoke Free Restaurants

2008-06-19T10:30:00.000-07:00

If you didn't catch this Associated Press article last month, be sure to read on. Very interesting findings regarding the impact of smoke free policies on our youth.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/05/06/0506smokingstudy.html

Latino Council Fellowship Opportunity

2008-06-12T20:46:00.001-07:00

I recently learned of a fellowship opportunity through the National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT). This fellowship program was designed in 2001 to address the leadership shortage in Hispanic tobacco use prevention and control efforts at the community level. The purpose of the program is to create a trained cadre of Hispanic/Latino tobacco control advocates to work on public awareness and public policy initiatives in communities throughout the country. If you have interest or know of others who might be good candidates, please email me at jmartin@vtsf.org for the application details. The deadline is July 3rd.

OOPS!

2008-06-05T14:06:00.000-07:00

So for all of you over-achieving new one year grantees out there, please throw out the one year invoice you may have already downloaded from our website. We just ran it through another test and found a glitch. So sorry for any confusion! As of Wednesday (June 4) the correct version was posted so please use that one.

Start spreading the news....

2008-06-05T13:49:00.001-07:00

New York now has the nation's highest cigarette tax bringing a pack to $10 in New York City.

They've certainly got the right idea as the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids states "Every 10 percent increase in the price of cigarettes will reduce youth smoking by about seven percent and overall cigarette consumption by about four percent."

Here's the full article for your reading pleasure:

http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/health/984263,cigarette060308.article

Tar Jar Instructions

2008-06-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dawn Viers at New River Valley Community Services, we can all make our own Tar Jars now! Check out this link for information on tobacco use prevention activities that you and your class can create on your own.

The Tar Jar is an item sold by Health EdCo and similar companies as a teaching tool to graphically illustrate a year's worth of tar that accumulates in a smoker's lungs.

http://www.tarwars.org/PreBuilt/TobaccoEducationExperimentsAndActivities.pdf

Telethon scheduled to promote cancer research

2008-05-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

Check out the following article highlighting the upcoming joint telethon between ABC, CBS and NBC to benefit cancer research:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/arts/television/28canc.html

Charles Gibson, Katie Couric and Brian Williams, the evening news anchors from the three networks will be involved and each one of them has lost a family member to cancer. With some Hollywood "Red Carpet Regulars" appearing and a huge national viewing audience, wouldn't it be nice to have a mention made of the importance of tobacco use prevention in the fight against cancer?

A warm welcome to....

2008-05-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Our Newest One-Year Grant Recipients:

Bristol Youth Services
Chilhowie Elementary School
Community Youth Program at St. John’s, Inc.
Grayson County Public Schools
Henry County Public Schools
Mountain View Youth and Family Services
Pittsylvania County Community Action Inc.
Planning District One Behavioral Health Services
Presbyterian Community Center
Pulaski County Public Schools
Radford City Public Schools
Roanoke County Public Schools
Rooftop of Virginia CAP
St. John Neumann Academy
Support to Eliminate Poverty (STEP), Inc.
Virginia Wilderness Institute

Some of you are what I like to call "repeat offenders" :) and others are brand new.

Either way, I'm thrilled to be your VTSF point person and will be delighted to start another

exciting year of tobacco use prevention programs in Southwest.

See you in Blacksburg on Tuesday!

Heard of Salvia???

2008-05-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

Salvia is a hallucinogenic member of the sage family also known as "Magic Mint" or "Sally-D" that can be smoked or chewed. This article form Newsweek delves into the sale of salvia and its growing popularity among youth.
http://www.newsweek.com/id/136317
Some states are now considering banning the substance or criminalizing its sale or possession. Luckily the Virginia General Assembly acted on this information during this year's session and Salvia is now a controlled substance, listed as a Schedule I hallucinogenic drug.

Is this a well-known substance among youth in your community?

A new wrinkle in smoking enforcement....

2008-05-22T13:24:00.000-07:00

Funny article from Yahoo news on an age-verification process being considered with tobacco vending machines in Japan.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080512/od_nm/smoking_dc;_ylt=AjMsSxVz.Ftrb_EXYx.g0cztiBIF

Roanoke County LST Banner

2008-05-08T13:08:00.000-07:00

The LST program participants at Oak Grove Elementary School in Roanoke County made this cool, tie-dyed banner for their peers at Hidden Valley High School, encouraging them to stay tobacco and drug free. It was on display during Red Ribbon Week in October. Thanks to Fran Kiker in the Guidance Department for the photo!

Carroll County Students

2008-05-08T12:58:00.001-07:00

Here are a few fine Carroll County students getting involved in a Kick Butts Day activity and getting an up close and personal look at the tar caused by smoking. The 6th and 7th grade students wrapped up their Life Skills Training program with a year-end pizza party!

Thanks to Jeanette Phillips with Mountain View Youth and Family Services for submitting the photos.

Calling all shutterbugs...

2008-05-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Please, please, please send me some of your digital program pictures.

If you have shots of your programs in action, groups of smiling program participants or pictures of your year-end celebration events etc. PLEASE send them my way.

I'd like to post them here and more importantly also forward them to our Richmond office so they can be included in our grantee clips video at our conference in September.

Let's see those smiling SOUTHWEST faces!

Save the date!

2008-05-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars for the VTSF Annual Grantee Conference

on September 24-25

at the Marriott Newport News at City Center.

We're gearing up with a jam-packed schedule of riveting speakers, information-loaded sessions and resources galore! More registration information will be forthcoming from our Program Specialists Charlie McLaughlin and Terri-ann Brown but as a reminder, be sure to flip forward to your Fall calendar and set aside those dates now.

Small Innovative Grant Opportunity

2008-04-11T11:37:00.000-07:00

American Legacy Foundation is currently accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) for the Small Innovative Grants Program. Through this program, Legacy supports projects that advance creative, promising solutions based on sound principles of tobacco control to remedy the harm caused by tobacco use in America. Grants under this program seed new projects or enable an organization to pilot a new idea or approach. Legacy issues renewable grants for up to $100,000 for the first year of funding. Upon invitation, grantees may apply for a second year of funding for up to 50% of the amount awarded in the first year.

All applicants must submit a Letter of Intent. Twice a year, Legacy will invite a limited number of grants under this program. The next deadline for letters of intent is Friday, May 23, 2008, at 5:00pm Eastern Standard Time. Please visit the Grants section of the Legacy website, http://www.americanlegacy.org/1710.aspx , for guidelines and on-line application instructions.

Robin Scott Program Officer, Grantsph 202.454.5579 fx 202.454.5599 rscott@americanlegacy.org
American Legacy Foundation
1724 Massachusetts Ave, N.W.
Washington, DC 20036

Building A World where young people Reject Tobacco and Anyone Can Quit

About American Legacy Foundation

Two Time Magazine Articles

2008-04-11T11:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the folks at NRV Community Services for passing these links along. Two neat articles on nicotine addiction.....

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1727624,00.html

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1727161,00.html

Latino Tobacco Use Control Forum - April 22nd

2008-04-11T11:33:00.001-07:00

Latino Communities: Up in Smoke?
A National Campaign for Tobacco-Free Latino Lives and Communities

Sully Governmental Center
April 22, 2008
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Chantilly, VA

Program Description
The National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention (LCAT) invites you to attend a forum titled, “The Latino Community: Up in Smoke? A National Campaign for Tobacco-Free Latino Lives and Communities”. The goal of the forum is to bring together local organizations in an environment that strengthens current relationships, fosters new ones and promotes change in the Latino community regarding tobacco usage and related matters.

The forum will provide participants with an opportunity to share data and information, strategies and success stories that deal with the issue of tobacco prevention in the Latino community. Presentations will be followed by facilitated group discussions that will offer practical information about tobacco prevention, coalition building and culminate in the creation of a group action agenda.

Target Audience
Among others, Latino community service providers, whether or not services provided deal with tobacco issues, community-based organizations or individuals, governmental health and related agencies and Latino community-based media.

Location
Sully Governmental Center
4900 Stonecroft Avenue
Chantilly, VA 20151

Registration
There is no pre-registration or fee for this event. It is open to the public.

Questions
Wynnie Lamour
Project Coordinator
National Latino Council on Alcohol and Tobacco Prevention Control
Telephone 212.334.5738
WLAMOUR@NLCATP.ORG

Not your Grandpa's stogie....

2008-04-11T11:11:00.000-07:00

Cigars have changed dramatically over the last few years and with these changes has come an increase in popularity, especially among youth. With kid-friendly flavors (think strawberry, grape and vanilla) and heightened exposure in music, movies and ads, cigars are no longer relegated to old men's poker games! The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids recently posted a new factsheet on their website entitled, The Rise of Cigars and Cigar-Smoking Harms. http://www.tobaccofreekids.org/research/factsheets/pdf/0333.pdf

Check it out!

VTSF training info

2008-04-03T11:46:00.001-07:00

VTSF offers training in many topic areas for youth program providers. Take a look at the summer 2008 schedule on our website to see if any topics interest you/your agency.

Remember - you do not have to be a VTSF grantee to participate so feel free to spread the word!

http://www.vtsf.org/registration/upcoming-programs.asp

FDA legislation bill

2008-04-03T11:44:00.001-07:00

Congress is currently reviewing legislation that would provide FDA oversight of tobacco products. Read about the latest developments at this New York Times link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/03/business/03tobacco.html?_r=1&ref=business

After-School Conference

2008-03-27T11:31:00.000-07:00

Calling All After-School Program Providers

This flyer is from Rescue Social Change Group (RSCG) regarding their upcoming conference on after-school programs. Some of you might remember Jeff Jordan of RSCG from our previous grantee conferences.

RSCG is the contractor used by VTSF for the street marketing elements of the Y? campaign. You can find out more at http://www.boostconference.org/

We at VTSF are in hopes of including some of this info at our grantee conference in September.

Thoughts? Feedback? Suggestions?

Email me!

Kick Butts Day - April 2nd!

2008-03-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Many of you have events and activities planned for Kick Butts Day on April 2nd but if not, it's not too late to plan. Check out http://www.kickbuttsday.org/ for tons of resources.

Kick Butts Day is an annual national celebration of youth tobacco-use prevention efforts and activities sponsored by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids. This would be a great way to reward your program participants and get them involved as tobacco use prevention activists!

Virginia Tobacco Use Data

2008-03-20T13:45:00.000-07:00

Updated Virginia tobacco use statistics have just been posted to the VTSF website thanks to the

Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.

Click on over to get the latest numbers:

www.vtsf.org/data/index.asp

Town Hall Meeting with Gov. Kaine

2008-03-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

Governor Kaine is holding Town Hall Meetings next week in Roanoke, Norfolk, and Front Royal. The Virginians for a Healthy Future Coalition encourages smoke free air advocates to utilize this opportunity to tell legislators, the Governor and the media that you and your community want and support smoke free air. Supporters of the smoke free air laws and the banning of smoking in public places are encouraged to attend, to thank the Governor for his support of smoke free air legislation and to encourage legislators to support smoke free air legislation. All town hall meetings are open to the public and the media. This is a very effective way for individuals to convey to the media that smoke free legislation is important and supported.

No sign-in is required to attend or to ask questions or make comments.

Monday, March 17, 2008 - Roanoke
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Location: Patrick Henry High School Auditorium
2102 Grandin Road Southwest
Roanoke, VA