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ANTI-SMOKING PROGRAMS
Tobacco grants' funding dries up
Saturday, June 7, 2008 3:12 AM
By Dana Wilson

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Community-health agencies statewide learned this week that grant
contracts with the former Ohio Tobacco Prevention Foundation will not
be honored by the Ohio Department of Health.

The state agency mailed 54 letters last week, breaking the news to
public health departments, hospitals, medical centers and others that
rely on tobacco money.

Current grants will stop June 30, leaving many agencies and roughly
400 employees in the lurch. The funding loss will affect tobacco-
prevention efforts in schools, community coalitions, cessation
treatments and health programs that help the state's minority and
impoverished residents.

"Basically, everything statewide is shutting down," said Shelly
Kiser, spokeswoman for the American Lung Association of Ohio.

After reviewing the defunct tobacco foundation's contracts, the state
Health Department terminated awards because it does not have the
funds to give, spokesman Kristopher Weiss said.

Last month, Gov. Ted Strickland signed a bill to dissolve the Ohio
Tobacco Prevention Foundation and divert $230 million of its $270
million endowment to a statewide economic-developmen t package. The
$40 million balance was to be transferred to the Health Department.

But the money is frozen while the American Legacy Foundation, a
Washington-based anti-smoking group, fights in court to gain control
of the endowment money.

Meanwhile, agencies funded by tobacco grants are scrambling to find a
way to continue existing programming, Kiser said.

The loss is significant for the Fairfield Department of Health, which
oversees grants for Fairfield, Hocking, Licking, Perry, Pickaway,
Ross and Vinton counties.

The department had anticipated receiving $473,820 during the next
three years. "I know there are some counties that have already laid
employees off, (and) others that are doing their best to try and
retain their employees," said Pat Navin, director of community health
development.

The Delaware General Health District expects to lay off two employees
at the end of the month.

In Licking County, health educator Mary Siembida said much of her
grant-funded work has been focused on teaching children and teenagers
the dangers of smoking.

"It's kind of scary, not just because of jobs being lost but because
of our youth being exposed to this," Siembida said. "Tobacco
companies aren't going to stop advertising. "

Although the Franklin County Board of Health did not receive grant
money from the former foundation, it served as a helpful resource for
education and communication, said Susan Tilgner, health
commissioner. "We'll feel a loss."

dwilson@dispatch. com

awe poor little antis are loosing their jobs because the tobacco funding has been terminated

why do I want to laught insead of cry?

..hummmmm wonder if those anits felt bad at the 1000s of business that went out of business and the jobs lossed to their stupid smoking bans

carma effect I suppose what goes around comes around

time to celibrate with some bacon dogs

Maybe they'll quit assaulting our ears and common sense with those dreadful commercials now.

Piss on 'em.