News Release November 15, 2001

Greene County Combined Health District Awarded $170,689 for The Tobacco Free Healthy Communities Program

Greene County Combined Health District has received a $170,689 grant from the Ohio Tobacco Use and Prevention Control Foundation to implement the Tobacco Free Healthy Communities Program in Greene, Clinton , Fayette and Warren counties, and the cities of Hamilton and Middletown .

The grant award will be used to provide tobacco education and cessation programs focusing on the following populations that use tobacco products: pregnant women; youth; adults; minorities and smokeless tobacco users.

In 2000 the state of Ohio received funds from a Master Settlement Agreement against the tobacco industry and Senate Bill 192, created the framework for Ohio’s plan to reduce tobacco consumption.

To address Ohio’s alarmingly high smoking rates, Senate Bill 192 allowed for the creation of the Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Trust Fund to help reduce tobacco use in Ohio. The Fund, governed by a 20-member Board of Trustees, distributes grants to reduce tobacco use among all Ohioans with a focus on youth, pregnant women, regional populations and any other groups disproportionately affected by tobacco use.

The Ohio Use Prevention and Control Foundation approved nearly $7 million for 28 community-based tobacco cessation and prevention grants on October 4, 2002 . The Foundation chose the awardees from pool of 100 applicants who requested $35,216,773 in funds. Southwest Ohio received $1.39 million or 20% of the funds.

For additional information regarding the Tobacco Free Healthy Communities Program, contact, Greene County Combined Health District, Director of Health Education, Sara Pappa at (937) 376-5600 or 1-866-858-3588.

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