Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition News
Volume
II, Issue 1 June, 2010 Welcome to the second issue of the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition (CCTFC) Newsletter! CCTFC is pleased to offer this newsletter on a bi-annual basis to keep legislators up-to-date on the latest coalition and tobacco news including event recaps, tobacco information and data, and upcoming meetings and events. We welcome your feedback and hope to see you at future coalition meetings!
RECENT EVENTS: Kick Butts Day 2010 Youth Writing Contest
by Jonae Saxon, Public Health Intern, West Chester University
On March 24th, 2010, students across the country participated in Kick Butts Day (KBD), a nationwide initiative that puts children and adolescents in charge of the effort to stop youth tobacco use. CCTFC sponsored a writing contest that was open to all seventh- and eighth-grade students in Chester County. Students were asked to write a letter addressed to a local legislator expressing their concern about tobacco. Three legislators; Representative Jim Gerlach, Representative Tom Houghton, and Representative Chris Ross helped select the 10 best entries, and on April 13th, the entries were read by their authors to a large audience at the Chester County Book and Music Company. The energy in the room was palpable. The 10 finalists were persuasive writers, eloquent speakers, and inspirational role models. They read letters about their feelings regarding tobacco use, the tobacco industry and their experiences with adults close to them who have quit smoking. Members of the audience were alternatively laughing, crying and
cheering for the students. The message was loud and clear - these children have been negatively impacted by tobacco, they vow to remain tobacco-free and they plan to encourage government officials to continue to provide education on how to quit smoking.Click here for a list of winners and to listen to the Podcast of this event on BrandywineRadio.com
Top photo - Jonae Saxon, Public Health Intern, poses with the essay contest winners
Photo at right - Representative Duane Milne congratulates essay winners.
Advocacy Day in Harrisburg
by Billie Goldstein, Phoenixville HospitalYouth advocacy is alive and well in Chester County. The students in the Teens Against Tobacco (TATU) Club at Phoenixville Area High School consider advocating for tobacco free environments a major part of their organization's mission.
On May 5th, fifteen members of Phoenixville TATU Club, along with TATU advisor/school nurse, Rosemary Newcomb and TATU facilitator/ Phoenixville Hospital nurse, Billie Goldstein, participated in the American Lung Association's (ALA) Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Harrisburg.
TATU teens are trained to be peer educators – taking tobacco prevention programs into the elementary schools. In the Phoenixville Area School District, TATU members are tobacco free role models for younger students. They not only reinforce the message from 4th grade health class that TOBACCO IS A DRUG, but membership in TATU also stands for living and advocating for tobacco free living in schools, homes, communities, states, nation and world wide.
Advocacy Day began in the Capitol's main rotunda with the youth standing on the steps behind ALA and legislative speakers while holding signs advocating for tobacco prevention and cessation funding. They next met with Senator Andrew Dinniman and Senator Jay Costa, Minority Chairman of the Appropriation's Committee, to articulate concerns about diminishing programs and promote legislative actions to support tobacco prevention and cessation in the state of Pennsylvania. Senator Dinniman then led the group to the floor of the Senate where the photo was taken. They were next shown to the visitors’ gallery to observe the Senate in Session and from there, TATU was asked to stand and Senator Dinniman introduced the teens and their cause to the Senate. The group ended their day of hands-on advocacy with a guided tour of the Capitol.
Photo: Senator Andrew Dinniman welcomes Phoenixville teens to the PA Senate
TOBACCO NEWS: Impact of Funding Cut on Tobacco Services in Southeastern PA
CCTFC recognizes that passing the PA budget in 2009 was a difficult and
stressful time for decision makers. The services in Chester County and
the Southeastern PA counties have been dramatically reduced because of
the funding cuts to tobacco prevention and cessation. Health Promotion
Council (HPC), the Southeast PA Regional (SEPA) Tobacco Control Project
(TCP) Provider, has continued to fund adult and collegiate cessation
services, including six weeks of free Nicotine Replacement Therapy for
all participants.
Unfortunately, the current state budget reduced Master Settlement Agreement tobacco prevention and cessation funding by 45%. As a result, many services were cut. Over half of 300 schools that responded to a HPC survey in 2009 requested assistance from our program in at least one of the areas of comprehensive school based tobacco use prevention. Due to the funding reduction, these needs can no longer be met. Cuts were also made to other previously funded services including youth cessation, community programs, and education and outreach to tobacco retailers to reduce tobacco sales to minors.
Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. killing over 450,000 each year. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates that Pennsylvania currently spends $5.2 billion annually on tobacco-related health care costs. Unfortunately, moving forward, taxpayers dollars will end up replacing Master Settlement Agreement dollars when patients are treated for lung, heart and other life threatening diseases. A sustained, well-funded, comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program prevents tobacco use by youth and adults, protects residents from being exposed to secondhand smoke, reduces tobacco-related healthcare costs, and ultimately, saves lives in Pennsylvania.
Unfortunately, the current state budget reduced Master Settlement Agreement tobacco prevention and cessation funding by 45%. As a result, many services were cut. Over half of 300 schools that responded to a HPC survey in 2009 requested assistance from our program in at least one of the areas of comprehensive school based tobacco use prevention. Due to the funding reduction, these needs can no longer be met. Cuts were also made to other previously funded services including youth cessation, community programs, and education and outreach to tobacco retailers to reduce tobacco sales to minors.
Tobacco remains the number one cause of preventable death in the U.S. killing over 450,000 each year. The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids estimates that Pennsylvania currently spends $5.2 billion annually on tobacco-related health care costs. Unfortunately, moving forward, taxpayers dollars will end up replacing Master Settlement Agreement dollars when patients are treated for lung, heart and other life threatening diseases. A sustained, well-funded, comprehensive tobacco prevention and control program prevents tobacco use by youth and adults, protects residents from being exposed to secondhand smoke, reduces tobacco-related healthcare costs, and ultimately, saves lives in Pennsylvania.
Community Recognition: Kaolin Mushroom Farms Celebrates One-Year Tobacco-Free
On June 1, 2009, Chester County mushroom grower, Kaolin Mushroom Farms Inc., implemented a tobacco-free campus policy where nowhere is anyone allowed to smoke on the premises, including their cars or any public area that is within eyeshot of the Company.
It didn’t happen overnight. Owners John and Mike Pia talked about the smoke-free concept over three years ago. Elaine Marnell, director of labor relations at Kaolin, was hands-on since the beginning and worked closely with the employees to promote a healthier atmosphere. The Southeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (SE PA AHEC), La Communidad Hispana and Project Salud (salud means “health” in Spanish) partnered with Kaolin to offer quit smoking support to employees. A tobacco cessation specialist worked one-on-one with many employees prior to the campus going smoke-free.
One year later, Ms. Marnell says, “the direct and indirect impact has been overwhelmingly positive. We are providing a healthier work environment for our employees and many of them, including smokers, are thanking us for it!” She added, “those who did not quit smoking completely, stopped smoking at all during the work day. Many employees have also increased their wages because they are not taking smoke breaks, but instead working more and producing more on the line.”
Genaro Jacinto, Health Educator with La Comunidad Hispana in Kennett Square has been providing one-on-one counseling for those employees that want assistance with quitting. “With the new tobacco-free campus policy, many employees quit on their own, reduced their smoking or called me for quitting assistance.” “I have worked with 22 employees over the past year who have stopped smoking”, he added.
The CCTFC strongly encourages innovative, forward thinking workplaces and businesses to enact stronger tobacco-free policies within their properties.
Photo: Melissa Ranking, co-chair of CCTFC, presents Mike Pia, Jr., President of Kaolin Mushroom Farms with an award of appreciation for their commitment to providing a health work environment and 100% smoke-free working campus.
Upcoming Meetings - You're Invited!
The next CCTFC meeting will be held on Monday, July 12th, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Government Services Center (room 171), 601 Westtown Road, West Chester, PA. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Any questions, please contact the Chester County Tobacco-Free Coalition.
CCTFC News is supported by the Chester County Commissioners and the Chester
County Health Department. For more information on tobacco control
services and programs in Southeastern Pennsylvania, contact the Southeastern Pennsylvania Tobacco
Control Project or call 866.756.5412.
