The San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium

IMPACT Tobacco Control

Who We Are

Consistent with its mission of improving health care in Central California, the San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium supports a comprehensive tobacco control program, Fresno County’s IMPACT (Individuals, Mentors, and Peers Advocating to Control Tobacco.) The mission of IMPACT is to empower young adults to advocate, educate, and innovate strategies to prevent or control tobacco use, primarily among 18-24 year olds. Its activities focus on serving those young adults (1) who have unmet needs, (2) who are at high risk, and (3) who are disproportionately targeted by the tobacco industry.

Goals

Our goal is to de-normalize (change social views on) tobacco use in Fresno County, primarily among 18-24 year olds, by addressing three Priority Areas:

1. Countering Pro-Tobacco Influences in the Community,
2. Reducing Exposure to Secondhand Smoke (SHS)

IMPACT Continues

Tobacco Control Section of the California Department of Health Services awarded a three-year contract to the San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium to fund the IMPACT Program for three more years. With budget cuts across the state, the competition for funding was intense. Thanks to our IMPACT Executive Advisory Board and to our mini-grantees for the excellent work they accomplished over the last four years, we are now funded through June of 2008.

Recruitment

With the start of a new school year we are again recruiting young adults, ages 18-29, for membership on our IMPACT Executive Advisory Board. This is an exciting opportunity for young people to make a difference in Fresno County. The IMPACT Board directs our project, targets venues for interventions, and plans activities for their selected events. Learning new skills, building a resume, connecting with others, improving the health of the community, and having fun are just some of the benefits of serving on the IMPACT Board. To volunteer or to learn more, call Justina Felix or Susan Pearman at the San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium: 446-2323.

Tobacco

Tobacco is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States. Killing approximately 440,000 people per year, it wipes out more folks than all illegal drugs, alcohol, homicide, and suicide combined. Smoking not only disables and kills smokers, but also the people around them who breathe their secondhand smoke.

Despite the Master Settlement Agreement, numerous lawsuits, and costly settlements, the tobacco companies still advertise their wares. Big Tobacco even now spends millions to make tobacco use appear cool, sexy, alluring, desirable, attractive, and compelling.

For more information:

To learn more about the mini-grant program, or to volunteer for the Executive Advisory Board, please contact IMPACT Program Manager, Susan Pearman, at 446-2323.

The San Joaquin Valley Health Consortium was founded in 1972. Our mission throughout the San Joaquin Valley is to improve healthcare. This is done by taking a proactive role to identify needs, acquire resources, coordinate the use of resources, disseminate information, promote health education and respond to health opportunities.
(Learn more about health in the valley...)

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