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MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 01, 2017 -- ClearWay Minnesota recently approved a new project to help African American and American Indian communities access free support to quit smoking, called QUITPLAN Services Ambassadors. The Ambassador Project will provide in-person engagement with community members to increase use of the free cessation tools and coaching provided by QUITPLAN Services.
An independent nonprofit organization created by Minnesota’s tobacco settlement, ClearWay Minnesota makes grants to Minnesota organizations working to reduce tobacco’s harm in the state. Funding for the QUITPLAN Services Ambassadors project was approved by the ClearWay Minnesota Board of Directors on July 19, 2017, to the Stairstep Foundation and the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches/Division of Indian Work.
“At ClearWay Minnesota, we’re committed to providing free support for all smokers who want to quit,” said David Willoughby, ClearWay Minnesota’s Chief Executive Officer. “This Ambassador Project will help address commercial tobacco use among communities that have long been disproportionately targeted by the tobacco industry and have some of the highest cigarette-smoking rates.”
The Stairstep Foundation, formed in 1992, has worked to close health disparities in the African American community and improve access to affordable healthcare. The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches/Division of Indian Work has a mission to empower urban American Indians through culturally-based education, counseling, advocacy and leadership development.
According to the latest Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey, 14.4 percent of the adult population in Minnesota smokes, but Minnesota’s diverse communities often smoke at higher rates and have greater disease burdens than the general population in Minnesota.
“Local organizations have the best knowledge and judgment about their communities’ needs,” said Willoughby. “These organizations have track records of improving the health and wellness of their communities, and we believe they will help even more people quit commercial tobacco with our help.”
About ClearWay MinnesotaSM
ClearWay Minnesota is an independent, nonprofit organization that improves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco. ClearWay Minnesota serves Minnesota through its grant-making program, QUITPLAN® stop-smoking services and statewide outreach activities. It is funded with 3 percent of the state’s 1998 tobacco settlement.
For more information on ClearWay Minnesota or QUITPLAN Services, call 952-767-1400 or visit www.clearwaymn.org.
Contact: Mike Sheldon Senior Communications Manager (952) 767-1425 [email protected]
