July 17, 2000

SPRINGFIELD, IL – Governor George H. Ryan today announced $10 million in grants were awarded to the state's 94 local health departments as part of the state's financial support for community tobacco prevention and control efforts.

"These grants to local health departments are just a portion of the substantial commitment the state is making toward tobacco prevention efforts this year," Ryan said. "The best way to reach people and to help people is through local health departments."

The Illinois Tobacco Free Community Grants are distributed using a formula that provides a minimum of $30,000 and allocates additional funds based on population. The grants are used to help fund programs to prevent youth smoking, to promote smoking cessation, and to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.

Funding for the one-year grants is from the Tobacco Settlement Recovery Fund, a special state treasury fund established last November to collect payments from the multi-state lawsuit against the tobacco industry.

"By allocating these tobacco settlement dollars, the Governor and the General Assembly recognize the negative impact tobacco has had in Illinois," Dr. Lumpkin said. "They are providing the building blocks for communities to fight back against tobacco use and the effects it can have on our families and friends."

The local agencies have formed partnerships in their communities with senior centers, nursing homes, churches, senior groups, school districts, local department stores, hospitals and local YMCA's.

Examples of community program activities include:

• Providing educational programs to youth, parents, retailers, businesses, law enforcement, community leaders, health care providers, civic group members, school personnel, and members of special populations to equip and motivate groups to promote changes in the way tobacco is promoted, sold, and used;
• Promoting public health policies that encourage tobacco-free community norms. Policies can focus on clean indoor air, access restrictions, product regulation, insurance coverage for treatment, cessation activities, restrictions on local advertising and promotions, and tobacco product ingredient disclosure; and
• Linking school-based efforts with local community coalitions and statewide counter-advertising programs.

Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the United States and claims the lives of more than 430,000 persons a year - 20,000 of those in Illinois.

A list of local health departments Illinois Tobacco Free Community Grants is attached.