History of the Tobacco Grant

History of the Tobacco Grant
November 1998 - Pennsylvania joined 45 other states in the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) with the five major tobacco manufacturers. Pennsylvania’s share of the MSA funds is approximately 11.4 billion dollars that will be paid in annual installments over 25 years.

August 2001 - a meeting of the Tobacco Prevention, Education and Cessation Coalitions in Indiana and Armstrong counties was convened to discuss their agency’s tobacco prevention and control initiatives.

September 2001 - a second meeting was held to review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Program and discuss how the nine components should be implemented in local communities.

October 2001 - a strategic plan to build a comprehensive tobacco control program was drafted in preparation for the November release of the request for proposals by the PA Department of Health to identify lead agencies (primary contractors) in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

Armstrong-Indiana Drug & Alcohol Commission
December 2001 - the Tobacco Proposal was written by a committee of representatives from agencies serving on the original Coalition committee: Matt Kruluts, Leechburg School District, Dr. Christine Black, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Kathy Monko, ARIN Intermediate Unit 28, Kay Owen, ARC Manor, Charlene Givens, AIDAC, Kami Anderson, AIDAC.

March 2002 - the Armstrong/Indiana Drug & Alcohol Commission was selected by the PA Department of Health as the primary contractor for the grant funds. Armstrong County was awarded $167,361 and Indiana County was awarded $207,155 annually for three years.

May 2002 - Libby Valeski was hired as the Tobacco Free Program Manager responsible for the program and coordinating all of the agencies involved and included in the proposal.

2005 - AIDAC was awarded continuation of the grant through September 2007

2007-2010 - "Tobacco" Grant became Regionalized with Washington County Health Partners (WCHP) taking the lead role as Primary contractor and AIDAC becoming Subcontractor for Armstrong and Indiana Counties. Other regional partners: Beaver, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Somerset, Westmoreland, and Washington Counties.