CROSSVILLE — Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, joined other state and county officials on last Thursday at the Cumberland County Health Department in Crossville to present a celebratory check for $52,748 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.
Each county in Tennessee will receive funding during this three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state. All counties are challenged to set goals and select one or more projects that address three topics: eliminating smoking during pregnancy; reducing infants’ and children’s exposure to second-hand smoke; and preventing child and adolescent tobacco use.
“I am delighted to be back here in Cumberland County to present this check for funds that will help with programs to eliminate tobacco use among pregnant mothers and youth of the county,” Dreyzehner said.
Cumberland County will focus its first year efforts on projects to address each of these three topics.
Among those present for the ceremony were Cumberland County Mayor Kenneth Carey Jr., and Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center Director Jan Boston Sellers, whose mission for years has been the prevention of alcohol, tobacco and substance abuse in the youth of Cumberland County.
Several new programs will be offered through the Cumberland County Health Department. The funds will also go toward prevention and cessation to include in-house programs and partnerships with Head-Start and teen organizations.
Funding from the Tobacco Settlement was provided to the Tennessee Department of Health for fiscal years 2014-’16 to address the state’s high rate of tobacco use and prevent expensive related medical costs.
The plan to distribute $15 million over three years has been generated with input from all 95 counties. The plan includes a variety of projects to target behaviors designed to protect the health of Tennessee’s most vulnerable populations: unborn babies, pregnant women and children.
Also present for the ceremony were Debbie Johnson, Upper Cumberland Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Health; and Karen Roper, Cumberland County Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health.
Earlier this month, the Cumberland County Commission approved Resolution 03-2014-6 — a $52,748 budget amendment for the Cumberland County Health Department to receive the grant funding from the state of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement monies.
The grant requires no local funding match and is 100 percent funded by the state tobacco settlement money.
– See more at: http://www.crossville-chronicle.com/local/x1984804732/County-presented-with-tobacco-settlement-funds#sthash.pZl4005e.dpuf
