Prizes awarded in KD MVP challenge

Shape Your Future and Kevin Durant have partnered together to create the Shape Your Future KD MVP Challenge, a series of healthy challenges for children in Oklahoma. The fun continues this month with all new challenges for you to try at home, including the obstacle course, silly walk, fruit freezer pops and stack of beans challenges.

So far, 11 lucky winners from all over the state including Tahlequah, Edmond, Moore, Ardmore, Sallisaw, Tulsa, and Crescent have taken home Neff Gear prizes and KD gear.

Enter by taking a photo or video of yourself doing one of the challenges and post it to the Shape Your Future Facebook page for a chance to win cool prizes and even meet KD!  

Eat better, move more and be tobacco free so you can be the MVP of your own life!

Journal Supplement Highlights Prevention Work in Oklahoma

Congratulations to TSET-research grantee Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, whose work has been featured in the January 2015 supplement of the American Journal of Preventative Medicine.

The supplement includes 16 articles that highlight Best Practices, Research and Oklahoma's Investment in Tobacco Control.

To see the supplement, visit the American Journal of Preventative Medicine Supplement

Local Tobacco Policy Prompts Change Across State Lines

Local work by a Communities of Excellence grantee has prompted positive changes in other states. Muskogee County TSET grantee, Muskogee Against Tobacco Coalition worked with Jackson Hewitt Tax Service to pass a Tobacco-Free Business Grounds policy. Jackson Hewitt employs more than 200 in Oklahoma. Jackson Hewitt locations in Missouri, Arkansas, and Florida are also adopting the tobacco-free policy. Working with the Communities of Excellence coordinator from Muskogee County, Jackson Hewitt passed a tobacco-free policy that prohibits tobacco use at company worksites both indoors and outdoors, as well as in company vehicles or at company sponsored events, 24-hours-a-day, 7-days-a-week.

TSET Board of Directors awards 5-year grant to Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research

The Board of Directors of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) recently approved a 5-year, $14.72 million grant to the Oklahoma Center for Adult Stem Cell Research (OCASCR). 

Envisioning a healthier, smokefree Oklahoma

A new year brings new hope for new opportunities to improve health in Oklahoma.  We know through research and work in other states that we can reduce our state’s leading causes of death – cancer and cardiovascular disease – by reducing smoking, and increasing physical activity and nutrition.

Earlier this month, city councilors in New Orleans unanimously voted to make all workplaces and public places smokefree, including bars and the city’s land-based casino. New Orleans joins hundreds of U.S. cities, 24 states, and Washington, D.C. in protecting the right of residents, visitors, and employees to breathe clean air, free from the hazards of secondhand smoke.  This action sets an important precedent for the southern states, most of whom have lagged behind the rest of the nation in providing this important protection for health.

In Oklahoma, state law prohibits cities from regulating smoking and tobacco use outside of their own city property. As a result, the only way to protect all Oklahomans from the toxic soup of chemicals and carcinogens found in secondhand smoke is through a state law making public places and workplaces smokefree.

In November, the TSET Board of Directors passed a resolution in support of a statewide, comprehensive smokefree law. To view this resolution, click here. While we don’t actively lobby for legislation, it cannot be ignored that there is overwhelming evidence that secondhand smoke harms innocent bystanders. There is a rapidly growing body of clear and convincing evidence that smokefree laws reduce heart attacks, reduce smoking rates among youth and young adults, and they do not harm business.

As we continue the celebration of 15th anniversary of TSET’s creation, we envision a smokefree future for Oklahoma and pledge to continue to work with you on effective policies and programs that encourage Oklahomans to eat better, move more, and be tobacco free.

Seduced by cigarettes? It's a fatal  attraction.

Smoking can make your heart stand still. Permanently. Every cigarette you smoke increases your odds of getting heart disease. During Heart Month, don’t let tobacco break your heart. Call 1-800 QUIT NOW for free help.

In Case You Missed It

TSET released the documentary, Oklahoma TSET: Keeping the Promise for Health on January 15th. Click here to view the documentary.

Oklahoma group names Open Streets OKC Best Public Initiative

Open Streets OKC took home the award for Best Public Initiative at the Urban Land Institute’s Oklahoma’s Inaugural Impact Awards on January 15th. This was the first year this group has given such awards.Oklahoma County TSET grantee, Wellness Now Coaltion partnered with a variety of groups including YMCA, the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments and others to hold the Open Streets event. The Open Streets OKC initiative focuses on active transportation and community building through temporary reclamation of city streets for non-motorized transportation such as walking, jogging, or cycling. Check out a video of last year's Open Streets event here. Open Streets OKC is scheduled for March 22 with hopes to expand its route from 23rd between Robinson and Western to include the Paseo Arts District.

Current Funding Opportunity: TSET Healthy Living program

TSET is seeking proposals for community based work as part of the TSET Healthy Living program.

The goal is to expand current prevention efforts, integrate tobacco control, physical activity, and nutrition strategies, and impact as many of Oklahoma’s 77 counties as possible.

 The TSET Board of Directors has designated up to $22 million annually in support of the five-year grant program. For additional information including important deadlines and frequently asked questions, please click here. All proposals will be due by 4 p.m. on February 23rd.