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Tobacco Control Program Newsletter |
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On July 31, our Tobacco Control Team, Virginia Department of Health (VDH) colleagues, and friends gathered to celebrate Rita Millerās 35-year career in public service. Prior to working at VDH, Rita was the Director of Membership for the Girl Scouts of the Commonwealth of Virginia and would later serve as the Director of Youth Initiatives for the American Cancer Society.
During her 12 years as the Tobacco Use and Dependence Treatment (TUDT) Coordinator at VDH, Rita was a passionate advocate for tobacco cessation, a consummate team player, and an employee who epitomized the delivery of excellent customer service. Rita explained that her goal as the TUDT Coordinator was to provide the tools and resources that would give all people who use tobacco the best opportunities to quit tobacco.
As the TUDT Coordinator, Rita:
- Presented at statewide conferences and professional health association meetings to expand cessation reach
- Built partnerships with organizations serving populations disproportionally impacted by tobacco
- Worked with the state quit line contractor to increase cessation treatment options on digital platforms and provide tailored quit tobacco counseling to special populations
- Helped increase the number of healthcare providers trained to refer patients to Quit Now Virginia (QNV)
Rita, our TCP Team thanks you for guiding QNV efforts for over a decade and for building the cessation capacity of communities to help thousands of Virginians become tobacco free!
To our partners, if you have any questions related to QNV, please email TobaccoControl@vdh.virginia.gov
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Meet Our TCP Partners: Robyn Chapman
Robyn is the Grant Program Manager for the Orange County Office on Youth. In her role, she coordinates the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth (VFHY) Tobacco Use Prevention Grant and the Healthy Communities Action Teams Obesity Grant. Her tobacco prevention efforts include working closely with the Orange County Youth Council to stop vaping in rural Orange County, VA.
With the VFHY grant, Robyn set up the Truth Initiativeās This is Quitting program in the area. Youth can text VAPEFREEOC to 88709 for free help to quit vaping. She coordinates an annual Take Down Tobacco Day Contest where youth in grades 6-12 create original advertisements against flavored tobacco. Every year, Robyn collaborates with the Litter Control Committee and Youth Council to do two tobacco litter control clean ups in the towns of Gordonsville and Orange.
Currently, the Youth Council is petitioning the Orange County Board of Supervisors and both the Gordonsville and Orange Town Councils to adopt an ordinance restricting new vape shops from being within 1,000 feet of a school or a child day center.
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New Resource: VapeFreeVA.org
VDHās Tobacco Control Program launched VapeFreeVA.orgĀ as a one-stop resource guide for teens, young adults, and their support circles-- parents, guardians, coaches, educators, and physicians. While Virginiaās āLive Vape Freeā texting program has been phased out, the livevapefreeva.orgĀ website will continue to connect Virginians to our new page with cessation information and additional support to quit vaping.
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We still offerĀ Quit Now Virginia (QNV)-- our free and confidential cessation program that supports all Virginians 13+ who want to quit any tobacco or nicotine products.
- Teens have access to a cessation texting program and online support designed just for them.
- Young adults can benefit from an interactive texting program in addition to online support.
- QNV offers coaching for loved ones who are trying to support someone in quitting, and this includes concerned adults who are helping a teen or young adult to quit vaping.
- Visit QuitNowVirginia.org, call 1-800 Quit Now, or text READY to 34191.
Check out our new site at VapeFreeVA.org. If you have any questions or if you are currently using Live Vape Free as a resource and want to talk through the best way to shift to Vape Free VA, please reach out to tobaccocontrol@vdh.virginia.gov.
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Data Highlight
On Tuesday, July 30th, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) in partnership with Eliminate Tobacco Use (ETU) Virginia, launched the Virginia Higher Education Tobacco Policy Dashboard. The goal of the dashboard is to encourage colleges and universities in Virginia to strengthen campus policies to reduce student and employee tobacco use and increase cessation efforts. The dashboard presents the current tobacco policies of 49 public and private college and university campuses usingĀ tobacco policy report cards.Ā
The tobacco policy report cards evaluate existing tobacco policies and identify key areas needing improvement based on standards established by the Americans for Non-Smokers Rights Foundation. The report cards offer valuable insights, highlighting both the strengths of current policies and the specific areas where enhancements would be beneficial. Some schools already haveĀ plans to improveĀ their policies.Ā
Take a few minutes to check out the dashboard and provide feedback using the survey button at the bottom of the webpage. The dashboard will be updated on an annual basis.
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Upcoming Events & Opportunities
Apply for a 2024 Comprehensive Community Grant from the UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center. The goal of this grant is to leverage the strengths of Virginia communities to address the cancer burden and advance health equity to help community members reach optimal health. Letters of intent are due on August 31st.
The Prevent Cancer Foundation's Community Grant application is now open. Community-based organizations can apply for $100,000 grant over two-years to bolster their patient navigation efforts. Application deadline - September 10, 2024.
Pilot Study: Assessing Vaping Exposure Risk for Teens (AVERT): A Resource Linkage Tool - The same research team who created Rethink Vape is looking for education professionals who work with middle and high school students (ages 11-17) in Virginia to participate in a 20-minute interview or 40-minute focus group. Participants will receive up to $30 for participation. Contact Hannah Savage at youthvape@evms.edu or 757-446-5209 for more information.
September 9 | 1:00 - 2:00: Clearing the Air: Steps to Going Smokefree
September 10 | 12:00 - 1:00: Dangers of Youth Vaping: What Parents Need to Know in 2024
September 30 - October 2 - Champions of Youth Summit 2024: Join the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth and Prevention Connections in exploring best practices to impact youth and young adults on topics such as tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, factors that impact childhood obesity, and more!Ā
Please share with your partners!
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Free help to quit tobacco.
Quit Coaches available for support.
- www.QuitNowVirginia.org
- 1-800-QUIT NOW (1-800-784-8669)
- Text READY to 34191
- A free 24/7 service for all Virginians, 13 and older for all types of tobacco/nicotine
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Free Vaping Resources for Teens, Youth Adults, & their Support Circles.
- VapeFreeVA.org
- Find vaping prevention and cessation facts & tips
- Support Circle tips are for any adult concerned about vaping -- parents, guardians, educators, physicians, etc.
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- Becoming a Tobacco Free Worksite,
- Referring your patients and clients proactively to Quit Now Virginia,
- Finding your local tobacco and nicotine coalition, or
- Scheduling a tobacco and nicotine related training for your staff or community.
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