Bedford County to Receive $36,611 in Funding to Reduce Tobacco Use
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Department of Health Chief Medical Officer David Reagan, MD, PhD, will join other state and local officials on Wednesday, April 23, at the Bedford County Health Department in Shelbyville to present $36,611 in funding as part of the Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program.
Each county in Tennessee will receive funding during this three-year program to reduce the burden of tobacco use in the state. All counties are challenged to set goals and select one or more projects that address three topics: eliminating smoking during pregnancy; reducing infants’ and children’s exposure to second-hand smoke; and preventing child and adolescent tobacco use. Bedford County will focus its first year efforts on reducing second-hand smoke exposure in children ages one through five.
Funding from the Tobacco Settlement was provided to the Tennessee Department of Health for fiscal years 2014-16 to address the state’s high rate of tobacco use and prevent expensive related medical costs. The plan to distribute $15 million over three years has been generated with input from all 95 counties. This plan includes a variety of projects to target behaviors designed to protect the health of Tennessee’s most vulnerable populations: unborn babies, pregnant women and children.
Who: David Reagan, MD, PhD, Chief Medical Officer, Tennessee Department of Health
Jeffrey Kriseman, PhD, MSc, Chief Public Health Informatics Officer, TDH
Janet McAlister, South Central Regional Assistant Health Director, TDH
Angie Faulkner, Bedford County Health Director, TDH
Eugene Ray, Bedford County Mayor
Sen. Jim Tracy, District 14
Rep. Pat Marsh, District 62
What: Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program Funding
When: Wednesday, April 23, 9 a.m.
Where: Bedford County Health Department
140 Dover St.
Shelbyville, Tennessee 37160
MEDIA CONTACTS: Shelley Walker, 615-253-5184 or Shelley.Walker@tn.gov or Janet McAlister, 931-490-8885 or Janet.McAlister@tn.gov.