Special Edition: Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project
Federal grant awarded for Chicago tobacco control
This special edition of Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago's e-newsletter covers the Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project, a collaboration between Respiratory Health Association and Chicago Department of Public Health. Stories include:- Chicago awarded $11.5 million to decrease tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke
- Local leaders join in the celebration (photos)
- Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project will target vulnerable population groups
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Chicago awarded $11.5 million to decrease tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke
Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago is the city's designated agency to oversee $11.5 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for a two-year project to help reduce tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke.
Chicago's project aims to reduce adult smoking rates by 10% and youth smoking by 25%.
The award is part of $372.8 million awarded to 44 communities around the country -- cities, towns, rural areas and tribes -- as part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative, a comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
"Seventy percent of people who smoke say they want to quit," said Joel Africk, president and chief executive officer of Respiratory Health Association. "This effort will target those individuals and connect them to local resources that can help them do so."
Local leaders join in the celebration
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Senator Roland Burris, Chicago Public Health Commissioner Bechara Choucair, MD, and U.S. Assistant Surgeon General James Galloway, MD, FACP, FACC, FAHA, joined Respiratory Health Association staff, board members and dozens of community supporters for the announcement last week.
Click here to view photos from the launch event.
Chicago Tobacco Prevention Project will target vulnerable population groups
Community populations targeted for smoking cessation and policy activities include lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, low income blacks, women who are pregnant, military veterans, people with mental health or substance abuse issues, youth, and food service workers. All of these groups have been shown to smoke at higher rates than the general population, and therefore merit special outreach to induce a significant reduction in smoking. Respiratory Health Association anticipates awarding $2.5 million to partners with established expertise serving these populations.
