TSET January 2021 Newsletter

Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust sent this bulletin at 01/29/2021 08:30 AM CST

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TSET Newsletter

January 29, 2021

TSET Board of Directors Approves Youth Advocacy and Education Program

Teens are facing increasing threats to good health as rates of vaping and obesity continue to climb in Oklahoma and nationally. That's why the TSET Board of Directors recently approved a proposal to launch a four-year youth advocacy and education program. The plan is the second phase of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative that began this past fall with a youth-focused media campaign to educate on the risks of vapor use. Read more.

In a recent educational campaign, City of Tulsa employee Gitzel Puente encouraged Oklahomans to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

TSET Partners with OSDH to Battle COVID

TSET, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, recently disseminated important messaging to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Messaging encouraged Oklahomans to use the 3 W's – wear a mask, wash your hands and watch your distance. Included in the effort were First Lady Sarah Stitt, Interim Commissioner of Health Dr. Lance Frye and INTEGRIS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Julie Watson. Watch here.

Applications for TSET Healthy Incentive Grants Due Feb. 5

Applications are open for TSET Healthy Incentive Program grants to cities, towns, schools and school districts that adopt policies supporting tobacco-free environments, improved nutrition, increased physical activity and employee wellness.

“The two incentive grant programs complement TSET’s programs and public education initiatives that seek to reduce the leading causes of death in Oklahoma – lung disease, heart disease, diabetes and cancer,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “The grants help create environments allowing Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free.”

Since the program's inception in 2012, 128 communities, 179 school districts and 44 schools have received incentive grants. The application period closes at 4 p.m., Friday, Feb. 5.

Learn About Big Tobacco's Political Play

In the newest episode of the TSET Better Health Podcast, hear as TSET hosts discuss the tobacco lobby’s influence in Oklahoma with two experts in the field of policy and public health. Doug Matheny, of the TSET Health Promotion Research Center, takes a deep dive into the tobacco industry's tactics to shape governmental policies in their favor by stripping away local control from Oklahomans. Sarah Rivin, of the American Heart Association, talks about the public health efforts underway to combat the effects of vaping and tobacco use.

Available on TSET's website and everywhere podcasts are listened to: Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, PodBean, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.

TSET Board of Directors Select Leaders for 2021

The TSET Board of Directors recently chose new officers to lead the board in 2021. Michelle Stephens, of Weatherford, was selected as chair. She previously served as vice-chair. Bruce Benjamin, Ph.D., of Claremore, was selected as vice-chair. He previously served as chair.

Stephens is an attorney who previously served on the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services, the State Board of Education and the state CareerTech Board. She has practiced law since 1992.

Benjamin is the vice provost for graduate programs, associate dean for biomedical sciences and associate professor of physiology at Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences. As vice provost, he serves in a leadership role for the graduate programs in biomedical sciences, forensic sciences, healthcare administration and athletic training.

FROM THE JOURNAL RECORD:
In Oklahoma, e-cigarette companies and retailers have avoided the same regulation as other tobacco products. Learn about common sense policies that could improve health.

TSET Health Promotion Research Center Welcomes New Faculty

Three new faculty have joined the TSET Health Promotion Research Center (HPRC) at OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center. New faculty are: Adam Alexander, Ph.D.; Thanh Bui, M.D.; and Julia McQuoid, Ph.D. They join the center as assistant professors at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. They will address health risk factors such as tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet through scientific research and intervention development.

“We are thrilled to have these talented new investigators expand the expertise of the center to include a focus on African American and rural health, health geography, and HPV vaccination promotion,” said Darla Kendzor, Ph.D., HPRC co-director. “The expertise of the new faculty will increase our reach across the state, allowing the center to target tobacco use and other health risk factors among more Oklahomans.”