The Claflin University Tobacco Free Alliance under the leadership of Dr. Tantiana D. Burns was recently awarded a 2018 Community Partnership Grant from the South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative to address the impact of tobacco use in local communities.

 

The South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative provides Community Partnership Grants to coalitions and organizations to develop programs and activities designed to address the toll of tobacco use in their communities. This competitive funding opportunity provides awards to local community-based organizations that support the mission of the South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative and are designed to invest in projects that address goals of the state plan, Ending the Epidemic: Plan for a Tobacco-Free South Carolina, 2015-2020.

 

"We look forward to working with local businesses to help protect employees from tobacco smoke while they are working" said Dr. Burns, assistant professor of environmental science. "We would like businesses in Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties to be aware of the benefits of a smoke-free workplace. We want to help them to put policies in place that will protect their employees. There are health and economic benefits to having smoke-free workplace policies and it will beneficial to the employees and employers."

 

According to the 2014-2015 SC Adult Tobacco Survey, 19% of South Carolina adults currently smoke cigarettes. Additionally, 22% of South Carolina adults report being exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace (Source: SC DHEC).

The South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative (SCTFC) is a statewide assembly of the leading health organizations, community coalitions, and businesses committed to eliminating the toll of tobacco use in South Carolina through prevention, policy and protection from secondhand smoke exposure. For more information, please visit www.sctobaccofree.org.

The mission of the Claflin University Tobacco Free Alliance is to educate the citizens of Orangeburg, Bamberg and Calhoun counties on the benefits of tobacco cessation and the effects (health, economic etc.) of tobacco use. With funding from the South Carolina Tobacco-Free Collaborative, the Alliance hope to raise awareness of the health risks of tobacco use and help tobacco users be successful in their efforts to quit.