You'll FLIP over this!

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

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!

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

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!

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

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

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?