PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Tobacco Control Program awarded $325,000 in grant funding to 13 community/school partnerships statewide.
Each partnership was granted $25,000 to improve tobacco prevention and control efforts in their communities. Coalition activities focus on one of the three tobacco control goal areas: preventing initiation of tobacco use among young people, promoting tobacco cessation among adults and youth, and eliminating nonsmokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke. This is the third year of community/school partnership grant funding.
“Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and South Dakota alike. The work that the coalitions accomplish through these partnership grants can help reduce tobacco’s impact on our communities,” said Colleen Winter, director of health and medical services for the South Dakota Department of Health.
Community/school partnerships carry out a variety of tobacco prevention activities throughout the year. Past efforts have included working with local school districts on tobacco-free buildings and grounds policies and evidence-based tobacco prevention curriculum, working with local parks and recreation departments to provide education on the importance of tobacco-free youth recreation, and disseminating information to housing managers and childcare providers about the dangers of secondhand smoke.
“The steps these communities are taking to prevent and control tobacco use have a positive influence on the lives of adults and children alike. Every step taken to reduce tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure throughout the state is a step in the right direction,” Winter said.
The Department of Health’s Tobacco Control Program coordinates state efforts to reduce death and disease caused by tobacco use. The program’s efforts include: providing technical assistance and support to individuals, businesses, healthcare providers, and educational institutions; offering funding and support to local entities; conducting statewide public education campaigns; operating the State’s tobacco QuitLine; and conducting surveillance and program evaluation.
Reducing tobacco use is a key objective of the department’s Health 2020 Initiative.
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See list of awarded partnerships below:
Partnership Name
| Communities Served | |
| Coalition for a Drug Free SD | Canton, Harrisburg, Sioux Falls |
| Rural Sioux Empire Coalition for Youth | Colton, Dell Rapids, Lennox, Hartford, Tea |
| Canli Coalition | Dewey and Ziebach Counties |
| EMPOWER Coalition of the Southern Hills, Inc. | Fall River County |
| Milbank Tobacco Coalition | Milbank |
| Mitchell Tobacco Prevention Coalition and Unfiltered Reality | Mitchell |
| SET-Free Coalition | Sioux Falls |
| Spearfish Community Coalition | Spearfish |
| Spink County Coalition | Spink County |
| Action for the Betterment of the Community Coalition | Sturgis |
| Watertown Tobacco Free Coalition | Watertown |
| Michael Glynn Memorial Coalition | White River |
| Yankton Tobacco Coalition | Yankton |