Unicoi County to Receive $50,000 in Funding to Reduce Tobacco Use

Erwin  – Tennessee Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Bruce Behringer will join other state and local officials on Tuesday, April 1, at the Unicoi County Health Department in Erwin to present $50,000 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. Unicoi County will focus its first-year efforts on a variety of projects to reduce smoking during pregnancy.

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:  Bruce Behringer, Deputy Commissioner for Continuous Improvement and Training, Tennessee Department of Health

           Cindy Sayler, Northeast Regional Assistant Health Director and Unicoi County Health Director, TDH

           Beth Rader, Northeast Regional Community Services Director, TDH

           Greg Lynch, Unicoi County Mayor

What:  Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program Funding

When:  Tuesday, April 1, 2 p.m. EDT

Where:  Unicoi County Health Department

                101 Okolona Drive

                Erwin, Tennessee  37650

MEDIA CONTACT:  Beth Rader, 423-979-4591 (office), 423-915-6913 (cell) or Beth.Rader@tn.gov