Community Outreach Programs

Director, Community Initiatives : Debbie Shandy
Phone: (405) 271-3619
Email: DebraS@health.ok.gov

Communities of Excellence Tobacco Use Prevention Programs

Initiated in October 2004, the Oklahoma Communities of Excellence Program was implemented by 17 local coalitions serving 24 Oklahoma counties and 4 tribal nations. Primarily funded through competitive grants awarded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, the programs provide coordination of comprehensive tobacco use prevention and cessation activities.

Ethnic Tobacco Education Networks

Three Ethnic Tobacco Education Networks have been initiated in Oklahoma:  the African American Tobacco Education Network, Native American Tobacco Education Network, and Hispanic Latino Tobacco Education Network.  These networks address policy and community action related to tobacco industry targeted marketing. They also address the disproportionate effect of tobacco-caused morbidity and mortality within their populations. The lead agencies are contracted through a competitive bid process, and are supported by funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Specific Populations

Initiated in 2006 through competitive grants awarded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, the programs provide coordination to prevent and reduce the rates of tobacco use within specific populations.  There are four coalition-driven grant programs that focus on evidence-based interventions to prevent initiation to tobacco use, promote cessation activities among youth and adults, reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, and reduce tobacco-related health disparities.

The following four grantees were selected to begin a nine-month planning period in FY 2007 followed by a four-year implementation phase: 

• Rural Health Projects, Inc., Enid, Oklahoma, serving rural youth at risk for smokeless tobacco use in six rural counties in northwest Oklahoma.
• OSU Seretean Wellness Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma, serving college students in Stillwater and a planned expansion to OSU campuses statewide.
• OSU Health Sciences Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving youth and adults in low-income housing in Tulsa and a planned expansion to Payne and Creek counties.
• Communication Services for the Deaf, Tulsa, Oklahoma, serving the deaf and hard of hearing statewide.

Communities of Excellence Tobacco Use Prevention Programs

Ethnic Tobacco Education Networks  

Specific Populations  

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Updated 6/1/2009