Loudon County to Receive $38,000 in Funding to Reduce Tobacco Use
NASHVILLE – Tennessee Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, will join other state and local officials on Friday, April 11, at the Loudon County Health Department in Loudon to present $38,103 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. Loudon County will implement first year projects targeting each of these three focus areas.
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: John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH, Tennessee Health Commissioner
Leslie Humphreys, MPA, Assistant Commissioner for Community Health Services, Tennessee Department of Health
Janet Ridley, RN, BSN, MSN, East Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Health
Teresa Harrill, Loudon County Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health
Estelle Herron, Loudon County Mayor
Sen. Randy McNally, District 5
Rep. Kent Calfee, District 32
What: Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program Funding
When: Friday, April 11, 9 a.m. EDT
Where: Loudon County Health Department
600 Rayder Ave.
Loudon, Tennessee 37774
MEDIA CONTACTS: Woody McMillin, 615-741-3446 or Woody.McMillin@tn.gov or Bill Christian, 615-741-2308 or Bill.Christian@tn.gov.
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