ClearWay Minnesota(SM) grants to fund research projects, local tobacco prevention advocacy

MINNEAPOLIS, March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Last week, the ClearWay Minnesota Board of Directors approved 14 grants to fund research and local policy advocacy around tobacco issues. An independent nonprofit organization created by Minnesota's tobacco settlement, ClearWay Minnesota makes grants to Minnesota organizations working to reduce tobacco's harm in the state.

The new research grants, totaling $625,000, will be awarded to the following organizations:

• Public Health Law Center for 24-month project titled "Tobacco Control Policies in Homeless Shelters: Targeting Front-Line Staff" ($125,000);
• The American Indian Cancer Foundation for a 24-month project titled "Impacts of Traditional Tobacco Messages on Prevention and Cessation" ($250,000);
• The University of Minnesota for a 24-month project titled "Developing Proactive Outreach Strategies for Asian Language-Speaking Smokers" ($125,000); and
• The University of Minnesota for a 24-month project titled "A Faith-Based Pilot Intervention to Reduce Tobacco Use Among Somali Male Smokers" ($125,000).

"ClearWay Minnesota's aim is to fund research that will impact policy and practice within Minnesota and nationally," said David J. Willoughby, Chief Executive Officer of the organization. "This research will help address smoking in populations with some of the highest tobacco disparities in the state."

Additionally, local policy grants will be awarded to eight Minnesota organizations working to raise the tobacco age and tobacco prices, to restrict flavored tobacco products and to increase funding for tobacco control and prevention. The organizations are:

• African American Leadership Forum
• American Lung Association in Minnesota – Northeast
• American Lung Association in Minnesota – Greater Mankato
• Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota
• City of Bloomington
• City of Minneapolis
• Clay County Public Health
• Horizon Public Health

In addition to the local policy grants, the American Lung Association in Minnesota – Greater Mankato and the Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota will receive grants to provide technical assistance to other organizations conducting tobacco advocacy work. All told, the grants total $1.26 million.

"Local organizations have the best knowledge and judgment about their communities' readiness for tobacco prevention policies," said Willoughby. "These organizations have track records of meaningful policy change to reduce youth tobacco initiation, and we believe they will accomplish even greater things with our help."

About ClearWay Minnesota^SM
ClearWay Minnesota is an independent nonprofit organization that improves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco. ClearWay Minnesota serves Minnesota through its grant-making program, QUITPLAN^® stop-smoking services and statewide outreach activities. It is funded with 3 percent of the state's 1998 tobacco settlement. For more information on ClearWay Minnesota or QUITPLAN Services, call 952-767-1400 or visit clearwaymn.org.

SOURCE ClearWay Minnesota

Related Links

http://www.clearwaymn.org