 July marks the beginning of the TSET Healthy Living Grant Program in communities across the state. In May, the TSET Board of Directors awarded grants to 50 organizations that are working across 63 counties to engage businesses, schools, cities, and community groups in creating meaningful opportunities for Oklahomans to eat better, more move and be tobacco free.
The TSET Healthy Living program is a 5-year grant program that takes an integrated approach to addressing our leading causes of death – cancer and cardiovascular disease – by preventing and reducing tobacco use and obesity.
Healthy Living grantees represent a wide variety of organizations including non-profits, hospitals and county health departments. They bring strong relationships with local leaders and a demonstrated commitment to improving health.
We are excited to welcome eleven organizations and 12 counties that have not previously held a TSET grant. Check out the list of funded organizations on our website.
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From left to right: Mayor Bob Coburn, Program Manager Healthy Community Incentive Grant progam Connie Befort, Cherokee Nation Public Health Educator Jason Shelor and Healthy Living Coordinator D'Elbie Walker
The City of Muskogee is the recipient of a
$50,000 TSET Healthy Community Incentive Grant award at the silver level. The
funds will be used to promote physical activity and improve
nutrition, including supporting the city’s community garden, wellness
trainings, sports equipment and hosting a youth triathlon as part of the youth
wellness campaign. TSET’s incentive
grant funding for communities is based on population size and the types of
strategies implemented. Cities that have met TSET’s criteria and been awarded a
grant are able to determine how the incentive funding will be used to promote
health in their communities. Grant funds are frequently used to leverage other
funds for community projects that advance health.
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Community
coalitions often lead the way in safeguarding community health by promoting social
norm change through policy adoption. In some states, tobacco control laws are
weak, in part because of tobacco industry efforts to promote passage of state
laws. These laws prohibit or pre-empt communities from enacting local ordinances to
protect citizens from secondhand smoke. Oklahoma statutes make our state one of
the most preemptive states in the nation. However, several local coalitions have
succeeded in promoting sustainable changes that create and support healthier
environments.
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Researcher
Spotlight: Elizabeth Hile PhD, PT, NCS, CLT
Elizabeth Hile, director of Cancer Rehabilitation
Science Program at Stephenson Cancer Center and assistant professor at OUHSC
College of Allied Health, came to Oklahoma from Pittsburgh to start a new
program focusing on the rehabilitation for cancer survivors and to conduct innovative
research to support the growing field with TSET funding in the amount of $225,000. Hile, a
TSET Researcher at SCC, is part of a team researching approaches to lessen or
prevent side effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. Rehabilitation
for cancer survivors is not new, but Hile and her team are taking a proactive
model approach, evaluating and educating patients before they begin their cancer
treatments so they can recognize side-effects (and offer intervention) earlier.
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Shape Your Future has launched its new website with
additional resources to help Oklahomans eat better, move more and be tobacco
free. The new website, ShapeYourFutureOK.com offers new social and interactive features like shareable and printable
recipes, video workouts, resources for schools and workplaces, downloadable
flyers, posters and classroom activities and a whole lot more.
Do you have a story to share about how you and your
family, community or workplace are eating better, moving more or being tobacco
free? We’d love to hear it! Share your story here!
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