News to Use: March 2025

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March 2025

Inside this issue

Communications Resources
Paid Media Campaign Updates
Office Hours
Upcoming Events

Communications Resources

State Budget + JFC Hearings

Earlier this week, Joint Committee on Finance (JFC) co-chairs Senator Howard Marklein and Representative Mark Born announced four public hearings related to the State Budget. Hearings will begin Wednesday, April 2 in Kaukauna, followed by hearings in West Allis (April 4), Hayward (April 28), and Wausau (April 29).

Please reference the materials below to help prepare for these meetings or other educational outreach and community conversations:

State budget education presentation (from March 26 movement call)
Statewide initiatives document
Educational Advocacy Toolkit (Tobwis) - includes the 2024-25 Education Packet and supplemental resources
Public Testimony resources (general & FACT)
Reports/Fact Sheets:
2025 Wisconsin Tobacco Facts: Adults
2024 Smoking Cigarettes During Pregnancy (English) | Spanish | Hmong | Full report

RELATED: Watch the recording of the recent UW Population Health Institute Wisconsin Discusses webinar “The Impact of the Wisconsin State Budget for Public Health" and view presentations slides (PDF).

Synar Survey News Release + Graphics

CTPTP is working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services communications team to distribute a news release about the 2024 Synar Survey results and the emerging trends in underage tobacco and vape sales in Wisconsin. We will share the news release, talking points, and graphics for social media, and/or digital publications once DHS publishes the story online (tentatively scheduled for the week of March 31).

RELATED: A refreshed Tobacco 21 paid media campaign is scheduled to launch in early April. The April issue of News to Use will include more details about this campaign and ways to incorporate messaging into your local communications efforts.

Paid Media Updates

CDC Tips Campaign

A new flight of CDC’s Tips from Former Smokers® launched nationwide at the end of February and is currently slated to run through September 2025. CTPTP is working to receive additional details about the Wisconsin-specific ad buy and will share that information when it is available. If you would like to share this campaign locally, please visit the Tips from Former Smokers® website to access free digital assets and downloadable content.

New Resources from CDC OSH

As part of the Empower Vape-Free Youth™ campaign, CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health recently published two new fact sheets about youth vaping for parents and caregivers and health care providers.

RELATED: A paid media campaign promoting the Live Vape Free Young Adult program (for 18 to 26-year-olds) is live and will run until early April. The ad flight highlights two weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy to eligible participants 18 and older. Refreshed Live Vape Free digital materials are available to share in local communities. Download social media/website graphics and videos . For more information, visit the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line website or LiveVapeFree.com.

A general Quit Line promotion campaign – including digital outdoor, broadcast TV, CTV, online video, and paid social – is also running now. The campaign repurposes previous assets and incorporates a new specialized menthol message. Individuals who smoke menthol can still receive additional NRT by contacting the Quit Line.

Paid Media Campaign Updates (2024-25)

Review the latest updates on current or upcoming paid media campaigns. We update this chart for you every month.

Office Hours

Wednesday, March 26 | 1 – 2pm

CTPTP Narrative Office Hours (Agenda)

Please bring questions, ideas and thoughts – or join us to listen in. Narrative Office Hours will be held biweekly, with additional sessions coming up on April 9 and 23. If you did not receive a calendar invitation or have questions before then, please reach out to Annie Rosemurgy or Claire Piehowski.

Thursday, March 27 | 10 – 11am

Neola School District Policy Update Office Hours

This time will be dedicated to discussing new and existing resources and offering tips to support coordinators when having conversations with Neola school districts about the policy updates. Please bring your questions. If you did not receive a calendar invitation or have questions before then, please reach out to Kim Larson.

Friday, April 11 | 10 - 11am

Policy Office Hours

A space to discuss policy, provide support, ask questions, and cover specific topics requested. These calls are optional and are held the 2nd Friday of the month. If you need the calendar invitation or have questions before then, please reach out to Kayleigh Day .

Upcoming Events

Wednesday, March 26 | noon – 3:45pm

Insights to Practice: A Conference to Inspire Public Health Communications

This free, half-day virtual conference hosted by the Public Health Communications Collaborative (PHCC) will bring together leading public health practitioners and professionals from across the country to explore the latest research and perspectives critical to advancing public health communications in the months and years ahead.

Topics include:

The State of Public Health Communications and Why It Matters Now
The Need for Public Health to be Visible More Than Ever Before
How to Communicate About Health Equity
Creating Compelling Stories from Complicated Data
How to Communicate to Build Understanding of Public Health
What Makes an Effective Public Health Messenger

April 7 – 8 | St. Paul RiverCentre

2025 Minnesota Commercial Tobacco Prevention and Control Conference

An opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn about the latest prevention and control strategies, and hear from community leaders working to create a commercial tobacco-free future for Minnesota. The theme for the conference is “Resilient Together: Adapting to the Evolving Landscape of Commercial Tobacco.” Annie Rosemurgy and Alan Talaga are presenting on using narrative to develop stronger talking points.

Tuesday, April 8 | 9 - 10am

PHIG Spotlight: Ho-Chunk Nation Public Health

The UW Population Health Institute’s PHIG Spotlight Series provides a space for public health departments to share experiences, lessons learned, and barriers encountered while implementing programs or policies. Spotlights include a virtual presentation, followed by a Q&A or collaborative brainstorming session. Join the April Spotlight to hear from Ho-Chunk Nation Public Health staff about their summer block parties.

Tuesday, April 10 | 9:30am - noon

UW PHI Immersions: Governmental Public Health and Community Partners Working Together to Advance Health Equity

This session will include a presentation on self-interest and core principles of community engagement, followed by panel discussion highlighting public health and community partnerships. Charmaine Swan is one of the featured panelists!

Participants in this Immersion will:

Gain a shared understanding of the principles of ethics, diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in designing, implementing, evaluating, and improving policies, programs, and services
Learn about ways governmental public health and community partners collaborate to identify systemic and structural barriers that perpetuate health inequities
Recognize how the power structure and dynamics within a community may impact public health.