Handsel Art
PRESS
RELEASE
Date: 22 August 2008
For
Immediate Release
Contact: J.R. Few at
(870) 427-1365 or email
TFMC Shows Effective Funding
Tobacco Free Marion County celebrated its 6th year of grant funding from the Arkansas Department of Health with a ceremonial $50,000 check presentation during a Marion County HomeTown Health meeting at the Marion County Health Unit August 18th.
TFMC has one of the most successful programs in the state. In 2002 Marion County’s adult smoking rate of 31.9% was the second highest in Arkansas. The most recent data available from the Arkansas Department of Health shows adult smoking in Marion County to have fallen to the lowest in the state at 14%.
ADH uses Master Settlement funds from voter mandated Act 1 of 2000 to support various health related issues including competitive community based tobacco prevention grants like TFMC’s. While once ranked at the top of the nation for tobacco prevention funding new data shows that Arkansas now only funds 46% of what the Centers for Disease Control recommends.
Pictured from left are: Ken Schooley, Dianna Erickson, Shelley and Wyatt Crombie, Yellville Mayor Shawn Lane, Marion County Judge Kenneth Oxford, MCHTH President Mike Rotenberry, Julie Andersen, TFMC Chairman Jerry Strobel, Renee Meyers, Carlos Parker, Sara Daniel, and Fred Strobel.
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