Spring - Indiana Academy of Family Physicians

Indiana – Update
Winter was a very productive
(and busy) time for Tar
Wars® in Indiana. Much of
our success so far is due in large part to
our collaboration with the Indiana
Tobacco Use Prevention and Cessation
Agency (ITPC) and all of its partners. Not
"Indiana is one of the nation’s
new leaders in protecting kids
from tobacco, but its ultimate
success depends on whether
Governor O’Bannon and the
Legislature continue to
properly fund and implement
the state’s tobacco prevention
program," said William V. Corr,
Executive Vice President of the
Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids. "The evidence is clear that
if Indiana invests in tobacco
prevention now, it will not only
reduce smoking and save lives,
but also save far more money
than it spends by reducing
smoking-caused health care
costs. States have difficult
budget choices to make, but it
is penny wise and pound
foolish for them to cut tobacco
prevention."
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only was the Tar Wars® grant awarded by
the agency, it has also provided us with
countless other resources, training
opportunities, and connections to Indiana
ITPC executive board member and
active Tar Wars® volunteer, Richard
Huber, MD, spoke with Rick Stoddard
during December’s ITPC Partner
Information X-Change in Indianapolis.
Stoddard became a spokesperson for
tobacco control after being featured in
what later became the first phase of
ITPC’s media campaign ads. The fourth
phase of ads, which feature Lorene
Sandifur, of Kokomo, and her late
husband, Gary, were debuted at the
close of the conference.
communities. ITPC has made tobacco
control a priority in Indiana – just as those
of us who are active in Tar Wars® believe
it should be. Let’s hope that ITPC can
keep control of its portion of the Tobacco
Settlement Funds so that all of our efforts
can continue.
Tar Wars® has hit the road, traveling all
over the state – from South Bend to
Jeffersonville, Terre Haute to Ohio County
– with visits to many places in between.
Thanks to the help of ITPC, we have had
the opportunity to visit a number of
"cluster meetings," which provide us with
direct contact with nearly all 92 counties.
With approximately 25% of the registered
schools being first-time participants, and
58 counties currently participating, it is
apparent that our promotion efforts have
been a great success. We have also
expanded to many youth groups, after
school programs, and community centers
in areas where the schools have not yet
registered. "Tar Wars® champions" are
popping up in every county in Indiana.
Many counties have even begun to plan
their own poster contests as a steppingstone
to the state and national contests. It
looks like our judges are going to have a
big job this year.
With the widespread Tar Wars®
participation this year, we are in serious
need of additional presenters. If you can
volunteer your time for a one-hour
presentation, please contact Missy Lewis,
CHES, at the IAFP. The curriculum
provides a presenter script to follow, so
preparation time is minimal, but the
benefits of your presentation will be vast.
You’ll have the chance to influence the
lives of Hoosier children.
Coming in June:
Tar Wars® Indiana Poster Celebration
at Victory Field!