Earlier this month, the TSET Board of Directors approved $2.8 million in funding for projects that promote physical activity and healthier lifestyles, strengthen health polices and improve infrastructure.
The awards fall into two funding categories: Innovations in Active Living and Healthy Eating and Policy and Built Environment Grants. Both opportunities support immediate, impactful programs to improve the health of Oklahomans.
The funding was awarded to:
Grantee |
County |
Amount |
Program |
Town of Westville |
Adair |
$575,504 |
Expand park amenities and enhance downtown streetscape and walkability |
City of Pauls Valley |
Garvin |
$90,000 |
Develop a master park plan to encourage active living with better access to safe outdoor areas |
City of Pryor Creek |
Mayes |
$102,749 |
Improve safety and walkability of downtown with wayfinding signage, better drainage, improved ADA accessibility and safer crossing areas |
Town of Locust Grove |
Mayes |
$27,418 |
Add playground equipment, a dog park, disc golf course and historical monument walk at the town park |
Oklahoma State University – Oklahoma City |
Oklahoma |
$500,000 |
Renovate the campus’ deteriorating asphalt walking track, install fitness equipment and launch Cowboy Fit, a series of wellness education events open to the public |
Healthy Schools Oklahoma |
Oklahoma |
$500,000 |
Help elementary schools in areas with higher-than-average obesity rates to develop a plan of action to address physical activity and nutrition |
Oklahoma State University – Stillwater |
Payne |
$700,000 |
Build a Horticulture Education Center that will be used for workshops, camps, school field trips and other programs promoting healthy lifestyles statewide |
City of McAlester |
Pittsburg |
$280,822 |
Build 1.25 miles of ADA accessible sidewalks to connect neighborhoods to city attractions |
Northwestern Oklahoma State University |
Woods |
$50,000 |
Improve exercise facilities, repair tennis and basketball courts and install a pickleball court |
“TSET is interested in new partnerships that support improved health across Oklahoma, and this funding opportunity sought innovative proposals from local stakeholders,” said Michelle Stephens, TSET Board of Directors chair. “These grants enable us to support projects that are core to TSET’s mission – from enhancing public spaces and infrastructure that encourage active living to innovative approaches that utilize technology to help curb obesity.”
While this funding opportunity is closed, TSET recently announced a new, rolling grant program, TSET Discovery Grants, to continue building partnerships and momentum throughout Oklahoma.
Click HERE for more information about open grant opportunities.
Two State Laws Target Youth Access to Tobacco
More Effective Policies
A new law that takes effect in November will eliminate fines for young people caught with tobacco and instead require them to attend an educational course on the harms of tobacco.
PUP laws were passed in the 1990s to reduce youth access to tobacco but the policies did not stop retailers from illegally selling tobacco products to children. The new law will eliminate fines for youth caught with tobacco and instead require them to attend a course about tobacco addiction through the Alcoholic Beverage Laws Enforcement (ABLE) Commission. The new law also requires parents to be notified.
“Penalizing children is not effective in reducing youth tobacco use,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “Interventions that provide young people with the tools they need to quit are much more effective. This new law restores the burden of responsibility to those who illegally sell tobacco products to children."
Store clerks who sell tobacco to those under 21 years old could still face a $100 fine for a first offense.
Tobacco 21 Turns Two
A recent study showed that increasing the minimum age of purchase for tobacco products is reducing rates of young people starting by as much as 25%. This study is released as Oklahoma celebrates the two year anniversary of Tobacco 21 being in law.
Numerous studies have shown that most tobacco users start before the age of 18, and nearly all start before the age of 26. Raising the minimum age of purchase for tobacco products is critical for combating nicotine addiction and saving lives.
“To combat the destructive impact of tobacco on our state’s health, we need to protect young people from becoming addicted to these deadly products,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “Restricting access for those under 21 furthers our efforts to achieve a culture where youth reject the dangers of tobacco. Over time, Tobacco 21 will reduce rates of tobacco use and improve overall health in Oklahoma.”
Federal and state Tobacco 21 laws may already be helping. The CDC has reported the number of middle and high school students who use any type of tobacco product decreased by more than 1.7 million from 2019 to 2020.
For teens who struggle with tobacco addiction, there are resources. Funded by TSET, My Life My, Quit guides Oklahoma teens through the process of quitting tobacco. The free program offers live text support, web chat and phone coaching for teens ages 13-17.
TSET Awards $112,000 to Communities Across Oklahoma
At their quarterly board meeting on May 5, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust Board of Directors approved $112,000 in grants to improve health in five Oklahoma communities.
“Local infrastructure and policies have a tremendous influence on our health as a state,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “TSET is proud to offer incentive grants to support communities that are working hard to provide an environment that promotes healthy living.”
TSET Healthy Community Incentive Grants are awarded to communities that have implemented health policies and practices encouraging tobacco-free, vape-free environments, access to healthy and nutritious foods and opportunities for physical activity.
TSET congratulates the following:
- Town of Stratford in Garvin County: $10,000
- Town of Westville in Adair County: $22,000
- Town of Luther in Oklahoma County: $36,000
- Town of Wright City in McCurtain County: $36,000
- City of Lindsay in Garvin County: $8,000
Click HERE for more information about TSET Healthy Community Incentive Grants or contact Laura Matlock, program officer, at lauram@tset.ok.gov or by calling 405-764-4668.
Perspective: Julie Bisbee in The Journal Record
How the built environment shapes health
Features such as sidewalks, streetlights and parks are sometimes viewed as "extras" when it comes to city design, yet they have a tremendous impact on our health, economy and quality of life.
TSET Better Health Podcast: A Vicious Cycle: Mental Health, Nicotine and Youth Resources
In episode 26 of the TSET Better Health Podcast, take a deep dive into how tobacco impacts mental health with three special guests: Tony Stelter from ODMHSAS talks about the toxic relationship between tobacco addiction and mental health and the vicious cycles that keep users coming back for more. Krysten Isaac of Rescue Agency and Dr. Thomas Ylioja of National Jewish Health talk about two innovative tobacco cessation programs aimed toward helping youth and young adults quit smoking or vaping.
"The top two reasons teens are using vape devices are to relax and get calm, and to deal with stress and anxiety in their lives," said Isaac, "but the reality is that nicotine can mess with neurotransmitters in their brain that affect their mood. So they're vaping because they think that it's having a positive impact, but in reality, it's actually having a negative impact and making their mental health problems worse."
Available on TSET's website and everywhere podcasts are listened to: Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, PodBean, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.