Get the Word Out Mini-Grants are available to Massachusetts youth groups to help implement projects, campaigns, and policies that prevent or reduce tobacco use among young people. For the 2005-2006 grant cycle, The Medical Foundation and Massachusetts Tobacco Control Program awarded a total of 6 Level II grants ($10,000) and 36 Level I grants ($1,400) to community based organizations, faith based organizations, and school based clubs all across the state.

Grantees all are invited to a Youth Summit to be held this year in April, are invited to attend regional trainings offered specifically for grantees on policy advocacy and media advocacy, and are part of this growing youth movement across the state and country to Get the Word Out about tobacco.

Congratulations to all of you!

Level II Grantees ($10,000 grants): Policy Promotion Youth Action Projects
These projects are focused on changing or strengthening policies in the towns and cities where these youth live and work. Some of the groups are focused on strengthening the youth access regulations and others are working to create smoke free playgrounds and playing fields. The following is a list of the groups and the names of their projects.

Group: B.O.L.D. Teens against Tobacco at Codman Square Health Center (Boston)
Project: “Advocating for a Community-Based Tobacco Permit Limitation Policy”

Group: Boston Tobacco Advocacy Project (BTAP) at Sociedad Latina (Boston)
Project: “Boston Tobacco Advocacy Project”

Group: HOPE Coalition Peer Leadership Program
Project: “Youth Action Research Project to Promote Enforcement and Strengthening of Zoning Regulations”

Group: Teen Advocates Sharing Knowledge about Tobacco (TASK) at the Malden YWCA
Project: “Teen Advocates Sharing Knowledge about Tobacco”

Group: Teens Against Drug Abuse (TADA) at Stanley Street Treatment and Resources, Inc. (Fall River)
Project: “Local Playground Ordinance”

Group: Teens Against Tobacco at the Urban League of Springfield
Project: “No Tobacco Sales to Minors”

Level I Grantees ($1,400 grants): Community Mobilization and Education Youth Action Projects
These projects have been categorized into three main groups:

1. countering the tobacco industry’s marketing
2. working on restricting youth access to tobacco sales
3. curbing secondhand smoke exposure at schools, school sporting events, and in homes

The following is a list of the organizations and clubs which received grants in the respective categories.

1) Countering the Tobacco Industry’s Marketing
Research has shown that media campaigns that disseminate messages countering advertisements by the tobacco industry are effective in preventing initiation of smoking. These projects involve activities such as designing posters, stickers, and public service announcements and other creative advocacy messages.

Cabot Manor at Valley Opportunity Council—Chicopee
Castle Square Youth Enrichment Program—Boston
Frisoli Youth Center Teen Advisory Board—Cambridge
Future Nurses and Healthcare Workers Club at Brockton High School—Brockton
Getting Involved for Teen Safety at LUK Crisis Center—Fitchburg
Greenfield High School Unity Group—Greenfield
Junior Health Shop at the Pathfinder Regional VoTech High School-- Palmer
North Shore Alliance of Gay and Lesbian Youth—Wakefield
Peer Mediators at Wilmington Middle School—Wilmington
SADD at Taunton High School—Taunton
SADD at the REACH Community Health Foundation—North Adams
Teens Against Destructive Actions at Hopkins Academy—Hadley
Teens Reach Out at Greenwood Family Life Center—Boston
Youth Development Program at the Vietnamese American Civic Association—Boston
Youth Effects at the Family Health Center of Worcester—Worcester
Youth Leaders in Action at the Gandara Center—Springfield
Youth Ventures at North Central Charter Essential School—Fitchburg

2) Restricting Youth Access to Tobacco Sales
Merchant education and enforcement of youth access regulations are an important part of preventing youth from initiation of smoking. These projects include activities to educate retailers on the regulations and doing StoreAlerts.

Allston-Brighton Teen Health Initiative at Allston-Brighton Healthy Boston Coalition—Boston
Amesbury High School Peer Leaders—Amesbury
Dunbar PRIDE, Teen Support Program at the Dunbar Community Center—Springfield
St. John the Evangelist Youth Ministry at St. John the Evangelist Church—Bourne
South Boston Action Center Peer Leaders at South Boston Action Council, Inc.—Boston
SADD at Milford High School—Milford
Team TAD (Teens Against Drugs) at Medford Health Matters—Medford
Young at Arts Youth Ambassadors at South Boston Community Health Center—Boston

3) Curbing Secondhand Smoke
Environmental, or secondhand, tobacco smoke has been shown to have negative and lasting effects on nonsmokers. These projects include efforts to eliminate secondhand smoke on school grounds, in homes, and in other spaces.

B.O.L.D. Teens Against Tobacco at Codman Square Health Center—Boston
Community Service Club at Nashoba Regional High School—Bolton
National Junior Honor Society at Ford Middle School—Acushnet
Peer Educators at Arlington High School—Arlington
Peer Leader Program at Nazzaro Community Center—Boston
Provincetown High School Student Athletes with Outer Cape Health Services—Provincetown
Reduce Tobacco Use Youth Group at Fall River Youth Services—Fall River
SADD at Chicopee Public Schools—Chicopee
Teens Helping Other Teens Survive at Mennechaug Regional High School—Wilbraham
Tobacco Education Can Help at Cape Cod Regional Technical High School—Harwich
YouthZone Peer Leaders at MGH Community Health Associates—Revere

FOR GRANTEES:

Please click on the links below to download forms that are related to the grants:

• The original grant application PDF (45K) Word (142K)
• Sample press release (for $1,400 grantees) Word (31K)
• List of grantees and contact information PDF (35K)
• Progress report (due March 3, 2006) Word (41K)
• List of trainings available in different regions PDF (8K)

Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to open the application and the sample scoresheet. Click here to download Acrobat Reader for free.