Schools, organizations encouraged to apply for tobacco cessation grants

Tobacco use is considered a top risk factor for premature mortality in Kane County.

Efforts are under way to keep youth from initiating smoking, protect all people from secondhand smoke, and to help smokers overcome their addiction to tobacco. There has been a significant decrease in smoking rates in Kane County over the past decade.

In fact, the current rate for the adult population is 13.6 percent, well below the national average of 17.8 percent.

In spite of that positive data, there are still specific populations that are more likely to smoke and suffer the consequences of tobacco addiction.

For example, residents in Kane County with low socio-economic status are more than twice as likely to smoke compared to the general population.

The Kane County Health Department is accepting grant applications for three grant opportunities, all focused on tobacco cessation and prevention.

Schools, clinics and other social agencies are encouraged to apply.

Awards range from $1,000 to $7,000.

• The first grant is available to a clinic that can complete a quality improvement project around smoking cessation. These projects have been recognized by National Association for County and City Health Officers and more information about Quality Improvement efforts can be found by visiting the website at www.kanehealth.com/qi.htm.

• The second is for a Social Norms Marketing Campaign within a school. The participating students will review tobacco norms among students, decide the best course of action in addressing these norms, and create a marketing campaign that will be displayed throughout their school. Initial social norms of tobacco use in the school will be identified through a pre-survey. Once the tobacco norms have been identified and the marketing campaign has been created and released, a post-survey will be distributed to identify any perceived changes in social norms. The goal is to prove to Kane County youth that the majority of youth do not smoke.

• The third grant opportunity, "Reality KANE Teen Advisory Panel," is for schools and organizations that are willing to work with youth to implement a policy to reduce tobacco use and exposure to tobacco smoke in the community. Through the Reality Kane program, teen advisory panels will strengthen community-based tobacco prevention efforts among the youth of Kane County. The TAP will conduct planning, implementation, and evaluation activities to support a communitywide policy initiative following the best practices for engaging youth in tobacco prevention and control.

The previous "Reality" groups - Bridging the Gap of Aurora Operation Snowball, STC Underground Teen Center, and Youth Leadership Academy - found success in their communities while advocating for smoke-free spaces. Bridging the Gap of Aurora Operation Snowball gained traction to strengthen school policy regarding electronic cigarettes. The Youth Leadership Academy successfully passed a smoke-free parks policy for Elgin. Lastly, STC Underground Teen Center passed a smoke-free parks policy for St. Charles. "Reality" teen members gained leadership skills, and learned that they have the power to influence community leaders.

Grants are due electronically to Alexis Slivka, slivkaalexis@co.kane.il.us, by 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 1. For details, call (630) 264-7670.

For a grant application and to learn more about the health department's tobacco program, visit www.kanehealth.com/tobacco_program.htm.