Anderson County to Receive $64,600 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 Anderson County Health Department in Clinton to present $64,600 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. Anderson 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, TDH

                                            Janet Ridley, RN, BSN, MSN, East Regional Director, Tennessee Department of Health

                                            Art Miller, Anderson County Health Director, Tennessee Department of Health

                                            Terry Frank, Anderson County Mayor

                                            Sen. Randy McNally, District 5

                            Rep. Dennis Powers, District 36

                                            Rep. John Ragan, District 33                                              

What:  Presentation of Tennessee Tobacco Settlement Program funding

                                When:  Friday, April 11, 10:45 a.m. EDT

                                Where:  Anderson County Health Department

                                                710 North Main St.

                                                Clinton, Tennessee  37716

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Woody McMillin, 615-741-3446 or Woody.McMillin@tn.gov or Bill Christian, 615-741-2308 or Bill.Christian@tn.gov.