TSET research grantee, the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center, hosted Dr. Michael Fiore from the University of Wisconsin, Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) earlier this month. Dr. Fiore is a nationally recognized expert on tobacco, whose research focuses on developing strategies to encourage health care providers to ask patients about their tobacco use. His presentation, “Treating Tobacco Dependence in 2016: Clinical and Policy Approaches” featured information on the epidemiology of tobacco use as well as the latest evidence and innovative clinical approaches to cessation. 

Two communities were recognized recently for receiving TSET Healthy Communities Incentive Grant awards. Guthrie and Piedmont both achieved Gold level through the grant program.

•  The City of Guthrie received a $37,000 incentive grant. Guthrie achieved the Gold level by adopting policies such as providing an active and safe routes or walking school bus program and incorporating a tobacco free policy for city owned and operated properties. The funds will be used to update the city pool so it can be used for physical activity for local residents and youth. Guthrie previously received a $5,000 Bronze level incentive grant in 2012 and partnered grant funds with local efforts to enhance the Guthrie community garden. In 2013, Guthrie also received an $8,000 Silver level award and the city used grant funds to purchase bike racks and other materials to promote active transportation in Guthrie.
  
  
• The City of Piedmont was awarded a Gold level incentive grant of $50,000. Piedmont achieved the Gold level after passing policies that support farmer’s markets, making their city property tobacco free, and making Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline information available to their community members. Piedmont will combine grant dollars with funds raised by community groups to build a new park that includes a playground, walking paths, a splash pad, adult fitness equipment and covered picnic areas. The community chose to use the grant funds on the park to promote safe, healthy outdoor activity for all ages.  

Davis Public Schools and Beggs Elementary School were recently recognized as part of TSET’s Healthy Schools Incentive Grant program.

• The Davis Public School District was recently recognized for receiving a $5,000 Healthy District Incentive Grant. To be eligible to apply for the grant, Davis Public Schools enacted several policies and strategies variety of policies and strategies in place to promote health and wellness for students and staff.  The district has chosen to use the grant funds to purchase health education curriculum, physical education equipment, and provide staff training for implementing the new health education curriculum.
  
  
• Beggs Elementary School was recently honored as the first school to achieve a “three star” status as part of the TSET Healthy Schools Incentive Grant Program. The school received a $10,000 Healthy School Incentive Grant. The grant funds were combined with funds the Creek Nation and dollars raised through school fundraiser to build a new playground. To receive this particular TSET Healthy Schools Incentive grant, the school implemented numerous healthy policies and adopted the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Coordinated School Health Model. To learn more about the Coordinated School Health model, click here to read the press release. 

TSET often works with partners to leverage existing programs. Most recently, TSET has worked with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board to provide Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline and Tobacco Stops With Me media to support efforts to address tobacco use, nutrition, physical activity and chronic disease and diabetes prevention among the Oklahoma American Indian population.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is also working with the Oklahoma Dental Association (ODA) to message about Helpline resources available to dental providers. ODA has provided its membership with Helpline-branded collateral items and is currently working on a social media campaign to help promote the Helpline.  

Shape Your Future won two golds and one silver in the District competition. These entries have advanced to the national competition this June. Those entries include Dine-osaurs and Yumscars social media campaigns.

The American Advertising Awards are the advertising industry’s largest and most representative competition, recognizing creative excellence and the very best advertising. The American Advertising Awards represent the true creative spirit of advertising by recognizing all forms of advertising, from all types of media, created by all sizes and types of entrants, from anywhere in the country.