The VTSF agency overview video is up on VTSF.org – it’s on the front page (http://www.vtsf.org/index.asp ).
Look closely and you will see some of our very own Central region grantees in the film.
Great job!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Another Great Blog - Virginian's for a Healthy Future
Check out http://blog.smokefreevanow.org/ -- it’s a blog from the Virginians for a Healthy Future Coalition and it’s written by Cathleen Grzesiek from the American Heart Association. It contains lots of relevant info about smoke-free issues and news in Virginia, particularly for this General Assembly session.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Best Paractices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs
These are some highlights from the recently released Best Practices document from the CDC. Follow this link to find the complete CDC document: http://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/tobacco_control_programs/stateandcommunity/best_practices/index.htm
The more states spend on comprehensive tobacco control programs, the greater the reductions
in smoking—and the longer states invest in such programs, the greater and faster the impact.
Evidence-based statewide tobacco control programs that are comprehensive, sustained, and
accountable have been shown to reduce the number of tobacco-related deaths and disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recommended level of investment for tobacco prevention and control in Virginia is $103.2 million per year, or $13.50 per capita.
The more states spend on comprehensive tobacco control programs, the greater the reductions
in smoking—and the longer states invest in such programs, the greater and faster the impact.
Evidence-based statewide tobacco control programs that are comprehensive, sustained, and
accountable have been shown to reduce the number of tobacco-related deaths and disease.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recommended level of investment for tobacco prevention and control in Virginia is $103.2 million per year, or $13.50 per capita.
In Virginia, an estimated 9,300 adults are projected to die each year from smoking.
For each person who dies, another 20 people are suffering with at least one serious
tobacco-related illness.
If current smoking rates among people younger than age 18 continue, an estimated 152,000
of these Virginia youth are projected to die from smoking.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
A Victory for the Good Guys!
NEW YORK - The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., which has been under intense pressure from anti-smoking groups and members of Congress over print ads for its cigarettes, said Tuesday it would not advertise its brands in newspapers or consumer magazines next year.
The company had been criticized sharply for both its colorful and feminine Camel No. 9 ads, which appeared in fashion magazines and were seen as cynically aimed at young women, and also for a recent ad in Rolling Stone.
In that ad, four pages of Camel cigarette ads bookended Rolling Stone's own material on independent rock music, which was presented in a cartoon-like format. That angered anti-smoking advocates, who said it appeared the whole thing was a Camel ad — and that it recalled the old "Joe Camel" cartoons that were banned because they appeared aimed at children.
R.J. Reynolds spokeswoman Jan Smith said the decision, first reported Tuesday in the Winston-Salem Journal, had been made sometime before October and was unrelated to the Rolling Stone controversy.
In a telephone interview, Smith called the move "an effort by the company to enhance and sharpen the effectiveness and efficiency of its marketing programs." She did, however, say the company had taken into account, at least in part, the protests over the Camel No. 9 ads.
"Obviously tobacco industry issues are in mind with every decision we make," Smith said. "A result of this is there should be less controversy over cigarette advertising in magazines and newspapers, because we won't be doing it."
The Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which has long protested the Camel ads, called the company's decision "more a strategy to deflect criticism than a real change in marketing."
Matthew Myers, president of the group, said it was unfortunate that R.J. Reynolds had not committed to permanently stop print advertising. Smith said the company, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., would make decisions about future years at a later time.
Myers also said the company has far to go to curtail egregious marketing practices, which include promotions at bars and nightclubs.
"What they've done is just to limit the ads that have prompted the fiercest criticism, because they are the most visible," Myers said in a telephone interview. He noted the company is still engaging in direct mail advertising, heavy promotion at retail outlets, and price promotion "for the brands kids like most."
The Camel No. 9 ads, launched early this year, appear on thick, shiny paper in fuchsia or teal and are adorned with images of roses and lace. A group of Congress members, led by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., have been urging women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue and Glamour to stop accepting the ads, saying they threaten the health of the teenagers and young women who form a large part of their readership.
Capps on Tuesday called the Reynolds decision a "token concession" that was "a day late and a dollar short."
In fact, the print ads account for only a tiny portion of what the tobacco industry spends on marketing. But they've been notable because they often appear in magazines side by side with articles promoting women's health.
Print ads for tobacco are banned in a number of countries, including throughout Europe, but legal in the United States. Tobacco advertising was banned from radio and TV long ago, and more recently from billboards.
A major tobacco report issued earlier this year by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, recommended that print ads be restricted to black and white text only — no images.
The company had been criticized sharply for both its colorful and feminine Camel No. 9 ads, which appeared in fashion magazines and were seen as cynically aimed at young women, and also for a recent ad in Rolling Stone.
In that ad, four pages of Camel cigarette ads bookended Rolling Stone's own material on independent rock music, which was presented in a cartoon-like format. That angered anti-smoking advocates, who said it appeared the whole thing was a Camel ad — and that it recalled the old "Joe Camel" cartoons that were banned because they appeared aimed at children.
R.J. Reynolds spokeswoman Jan Smith said the decision, first reported Tuesday in the Winston-Salem Journal, had been made sometime before October and was unrelated to the Rolling Stone controversy.
In a telephone interview, Smith called the move "an effort by the company to enhance and sharpen the effectiveness and efficiency of its marketing programs." She did, however, say the company had taken into account, at least in part, the protests over the Camel No. 9 ads.
"Obviously tobacco industry issues are in mind with every decision we make," Smith said. "A result of this is there should be less controversy over cigarette advertising in magazines and newspapers, because we won't be doing it."
The Washington-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, which has long protested the Camel ads, called the company's decision "more a strategy to deflect criticism than a real change in marketing."
Matthew Myers, president of the group, said it was unfortunate that R.J. Reynolds had not committed to permanently stop print advertising. Smith said the company, based in Winston-Salem, N.C., would make decisions about future years at a later time.
Myers also said the company has far to go to curtail egregious marketing practices, which include promotions at bars and nightclubs.
"What they've done is just to limit the ads that have prompted the fiercest criticism, because they are the most visible," Myers said in a telephone interview. He noted the company is still engaging in direct mail advertising, heavy promotion at retail outlets, and price promotion "for the brands kids like most."
The Camel No. 9 ads, launched early this year, appear on thick, shiny paper in fuchsia or teal and are adorned with images of roses and lace. A group of Congress members, led by Rep. Lois Capps, D-Calif., have been urging women's magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue and Glamour to stop accepting the ads, saying they threaten the health of the teenagers and young women who form a large part of their readership.
Capps on Tuesday called the Reynolds decision a "token concession" that was "a day late and a dollar short."
In fact, the print ads account for only a tiny portion of what the tobacco industry spends on marketing. But they've been notable because they often appear in magazines side by side with articles promoting women's health.
Print ads for tobacco are banned in a number of countries, including throughout Europe, but legal in the United States. Tobacco advertising was banned from radio and TV long ago, and more recently from billboards.
A major tobacco report issued earlier this year by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, recommended that print ads be restricted to black and white text only — no images.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, October 4, 2007
VTSF 07 Conference Follow Up
Hello VTSF Central Region Grantees,
I hope everyone enjoyed, and got some usefull information from the VTSF 2007 conference, held last week in Newport News. There were some fantastic presentations and great neworking opportunities abound.
Speaking of presentations; Karen Burruss at the Va. Dept. of Health has asked that we distribute her PowerPoint about the Tobacco Use Control Project to our grantees since they didn’t get a printout of it at the grantee conference. You can download this presentation from the following link. http://www.vtsf.org/grantees/forms/TUCPpresentation.ppt
Please contact me if you need further follow up information, or feel free to post a comment to this blog.
Your VTSF Grants Program Administrator,
Henry H. Harper, III
I hope everyone enjoyed, and got some usefull information from the VTSF 2007 conference, held last week in Newport News. There were some fantastic presentations and great neworking opportunities abound.
Speaking of presentations; Karen Burruss at the Va. Dept. of Health has asked that we distribute her PowerPoint about the Tobacco Use Control Project to our grantees since they didn’t get a printout of it at the grantee conference. You can download this presentation from the following link. http://www.vtsf.org/grantees/forms/TUCPpresentation.ppt
Please contact me if you need further follow up information, or feel free to post a comment to this blog.
Your VTSF Grants Program Administrator,
Henry H. Harper, III
Friday, September 7, 2007
Statewide Evaluation Update!
As many of you are aware, the statewide evaluation process has been modified for the 2007 - 2008 grant year. Students will now only be completing a single survey at the end of the program. This means that students will no longer be required to create a unique identifier as we will not be matching pre and post surveys. The student post surveys are one page long (front and back) and should take no longer than 10 - 15 minutes to complete. Before surveys can be administered parents must be notified about the survey using a parental notification letter.
Additionally, changes have been made to the instructor cover sheet. The cover sheet has been expanded to collect additional information regarding program fidelity. We feel that this additional information will help compare program outcomes across the state.
You should expect to receive periodic updates from VCU regarding the surveys they have received from you. If you do not receive an update directly from VCU at least quarterly, please call or e-mail your SERL contact person to request an updated list.
The timeline for receiving and submitting surveys is as follows:
- Agency contact should have received surveys at least two weeks before the program is scheduled to end (unless the agency has requested an alternative mailing cycle)
- Agency contact will distribute surveys and parental notification letters to instructors
- Instructors return surveys with coversheets as soon as they have been completed (within two weeks of last session)
SERL Contact Info
Central and Southwest Regions
Candace Price
Phone: 804-827-4247
Fax: 804-827-3793
e-mail: ceprice@vcu.edu
North and Southeast Regions
Andy Hollins
Phone: 804-827-4223
Fax: 804-827-3793
e-mail: s2aholli@vcu.edu
We are hopeful that this streamlined process will enable us to effectively assess program outcomes across the state as well as track program fidelity across programs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me!
Additionally, changes have been made to the instructor cover sheet. The cover sheet has been expanded to collect additional information regarding program fidelity. We feel that this additional information will help compare program outcomes across the state.
You should expect to receive periodic updates from VCU regarding the surveys they have received from you. If you do not receive an update directly from VCU at least quarterly, please call or e-mail your SERL contact person to request an updated list.
The timeline for receiving and submitting surveys is as follows:
- Agency contact should have received surveys at least two weeks before the program is scheduled to end (unless the agency has requested an alternative mailing cycle)
- Agency contact will distribute surveys and parental notification letters to instructors
- Instructors return surveys with coversheets as soon as they have been completed (within two weeks of last session)
SERL Contact Info
Central and Southwest Regions
Candace Price
Phone: 804-827-4247
Fax: 804-827-3793
e-mail: ceprice@vcu.edu
North and Southeast Regions
Andy Hollins
Phone: 804-827-4223
Fax: 804-827-3793
e-mail: s2aholli@vcu.edu
We are hopeful that this streamlined process will enable us to effectively assess program outcomes across the state as well as track program fidelity across programs. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Governor's Prevention Conference Round Table
Building on the success of the Round Table format from the first Prevention Comes First Conference, the Governor’s Office for Substance Abuse Prevention is inviting individuals and groups to apply as presenters at the “Round Table - Mini-Workshop” sessions at this year’s Prevention Comes First Conference. The conference is being held on Monday, October 29, 2007 in Richmond. The intent is for participants to hear how groups in communities across the Commonwealth have chosen and implemented an effective prevention practices & program, as well as the resulting outcomes.* The choice of which prevention program and/or practice to present is left to the presenter(s) and is not limited to the theme of bullying; hence, the “and beyond” in the title. The proposal to present is attached.
The Round Table – Mini-Workshop format is an effective way for participants to receive a great deal of information about programs and practices in a condensed time period. Presenters will speak with groups of ten (10) or fewer participants at a “round table” for 15, minutes with five (5) minutes for questions before participants move to another table. Presenters repeat their presentation in three consecutive sessions, enabling participants to hear multiple presentations. Presenters are asked to use flip charts or battery-powered laptops (no cords or sound) as visual aids, and to bring handouts for participants to take with them. Set-up time should be kept to ten (10) minutes or less. Round Table – Mini-Workshops will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Proposals should be submitted to:
Dr. Michelle Schmitt Mail: GOSAP
Email: mmschmit@vcu.edu P.O. Box 1475
Fax: (804) 828-0962 Richmond, VA 23219
Selection of presenters will begin on September 15, 2007. Those chosen will be notified by October 1, 2007. Each Round Table Presentation selected will receive complimentary access for one presenter to attend the full Prevention Comes First Conference.
For questions please contact Dr. Schmitt at (804) 827-2610.
The Round Table – Mini-Workshop format is an effective way for participants to receive a great deal of information about programs and practices in a condensed time period. Presenters will speak with groups of ten (10) or fewer participants at a “round table” for 15, minutes with five (5) minutes for questions before participants move to another table. Presenters repeat their presentation in three consecutive sessions, enabling participants to hear multiple presentations. Presenters are asked to use flip charts or battery-powered laptops (no cords or sound) as visual aids, and to bring handouts for participants to take with them. Set-up time should be kept to ten (10) minutes or less. Round Table – Mini-Workshops will be held from 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Proposals should be submitted to:
Dr. Michelle Schmitt Mail: GOSAP
Email: mmschmit@vcu.edu P.O. Box 1475
Fax: (804) 828-0962 Richmond, VA 23219
Selection of presenters will begin on September 15, 2007. Those chosen will be notified by October 1, 2007. Each Round Table Presentation selected will receive complimentary access for one presenter to attend the full Prevention Comes First Conference.
For questions please contact Dr. Schmitt at (804) 827-2610.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
VTSF 2007 Conference
Hey all,
Just a reminder that the deadline for the conference rate at the Marriott Newport News is August 25. If you have not already done so, please register soon. The hotel reservation number is: 757-310-5045.
If you have not yet registered for the conference its self, please do so by following this link. http://www.vtsf.org/registration/registration-form.asp?regfrm=57-6tn
To date, my list shows that 17 of the 23 Central region grantees have registered. If you have already registered, please follow this link http://vtsf.org/registration/reglist2.asp?regfrm=57-6tn to see if you are listed as being registered. If you are not listed, please contact me.
Thanks!
Just a reminder that the deadline for the conference rate at the Marriott Newport News is August 25. If you have not already done so, please register soon. The hotel reservation number is: 757-310-5045.
If you have not yet registered for the conference its self, please do so by following this link. http://www.vtsf.org/registration/registration-form.asp?regfrm=57-6tn
To date, my list shows that 17 of the 23 Central region grantees have registered. If you have already registered, please follow this link http://vtsf.org/registration/reglist2.asp?regfrm=57-6tn to see if you are listed as being registered. If you are not listed, please contact me.
Thanks!
VTSF forms
Hello Central region grantees. I just wanted to remind everyone that any forms you will need for your 2007 - 2008 grant year can be found on the vtsf.org website. All 3 year grantees should be using the 07-08 invoice form for 3 year grantees beginning the month of July 07. Remember to use your latest revisions (if any) of your year 2 budget. Are there any questions about the download or use of these forms?
VTSF Central region
Hi Central region VTSF grantees. I am beginning a new endeavor to help network regional grantees and share information about the tobacco prevention and cessation world. I hope this will offer an opportunity to collectively answer some of your questions and to provide updated VTSF news and information. If there is anything you all would like to discuss in this forum, please respond to this blog.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
I look forward to hearing from you all.
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