|
The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline, a program of TSET, is offering at least eight weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) to Oklahomans who sign up for the Helpline's All Access plan between now and June 30.
The Helpline offers Oklahomans the opportunity to quit with free, personalized help, including individual text and email support, phone and web coaching, patches, gum, lozenges and more.
The Helpline has traditionally offered All Access enrollees two free weeks of nicotine replacement therapy. This limited time offer of eight weeks of free NRT for new All Access enrollees is scheduled to last through at least June 30.
"Over the past two years, Oklahomans have faced a lot of challenges and may find themselves struggling with old or new habits that are ultimately harming their long-term health, such as using tobacco," Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline Director Jon Hart, Ph.D., said. "During this time of higher stress, we’re offering some extra support as Oklahomans take the important step of living tobacco-free by temporarily increasing the number of free patches, gum or lozenges that the Helpline offers to 8 weeks for everyone who needs it."
TSET has funded the Helpline since 2003, and since that time, more than 470,000 Oklahomans have signed up to receive services and build a Quit Plan that serves their needs.
Click HERE for more information or visit OKhelpline.com to explore the free services and resources available to Oklahomans.
Statewide Grant
Through a new, rolling grant opportunity, TSET is seeking to work with new partners and support innovative projects to improve health across the state.
TSET Discovery Grants are available to Oklahoma 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations, public entities and institutions of common and higher education.
“There are many wonderful organizations working to create a healthier Oklahoma and we look forward to new partnerships to improve health,” said Michelle Stephens, TSET Board of Directors chair. “This funding opportunity allows applicants to bring their best ideas and proposals forward for consideration.”
Maximum awards will vary by project and can be approved for up to three years. Matching requirements vary by award amount.
Grant pre-proposals will be accepted year-round, with awards granted each March and November.
Targeted Grant for Southeastern Oklahoma
TSET is also opening a targeted grant opportunity for counties in southeastern Oklahoma to build on work previously conducted by the TSET Healthy Living Program.
This opportunity is for institutions of common and higher education, public entities, 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations and tribal entities with programs in the following counties: Atoka, Bryan, Marshall, McCurtain, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, and Pushmataha.
TSET will provide applicants with the results of each county’s comprehensive community needs assessment as well as the menu of best practice strategies based on assessment results. Potential grantees must select to work on one or more of the preapproved strategies.
Awards will vary based on scope of work, with maximum awards of $120,000 per fiscal year for up to three years. There is no matching requirement.
Proposals are due June 6. Applicants will be notified of award in September and contracts begin October 1.
Click HERE for complete guidelines and application information for both new grant opportunities.
Availability of adequate health care is essential for a strong community, yet rural areas often struggle to recruit and retain physicians.
The Oklahoma Physician Loan Repayment program, administered by the Physician Manpower Training Commission in partnership with TSET and other entities, offers incentives to bring doctors where they are needed most.
Since 2013, participating physicians have conducted more than 500,000 patient visits statewide.
There are 38 participating physicians practicing in rural or underserved areas and numerous graduates that continue to serve in rural areas.
Dr. Stormy Walkup of Idabel is one of them. Read more here.
|
Perspective: Julie Bisbee in The Journal Record
Tobacco companies downplay the risks of nicotine and promote light or nicotine-only products as safe. However, the reality is nicotine is extremely addictive and harmful in its own right.
|
In episode 25 of the TSET Better Health Podcast, get an inside look into the Health Promotion Research Center, or HPRC, which focuses on reducing the burden of disease in Oklahoma by addressing modifiable health risk factors, such as tobacco use, sedentary lifestyle and poor diet through research, novel intervention development and dissemination of research findings.
Hear from HPRC co-directors Michael Businelle, Ph.d. and Dr. Darla Kendzor, Ph.d. about the Center's ground-breaking scientific research into mobile apps and financial incentives to quit smoking.
"Mobile apps are increasingly a way to reach people because most people have a smartphone," said Kendzor. "Even when they're busy, you know, taking care of their kids or doing other things in their daily life, we can reach them in those moments and we don't need them to go through the inconvenience of coming to see us for our counseling session or for a doctor's appointment. Whatever it is, we can reach them wherever they are."
Available on TSET's website and everywhere podcasts are listened to: Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, PodBean, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
|
