Tobacco Free Northeast PA and Burn Prevention Network: A New Partnership

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Burn Prevention Network | Tobacco Free Northeast

On October 1, 2010, two organizations joined together to improve the quality of life in our communities. Tobacco Free Northeast PA and Burn Prevention Network have missions that complement one another – both seek to educate youth and adults about important community issues. With the new partnership, the Network will seek opportunities to create organizational synergy. One example is that cigarettes and lighting materials are the single largest cause of residential fire deaths in the United States, causing more than 35% of all fire deaths. When you factor in health care costs associated with burn injuries or treating tobacco-related diseases, the costs translate into billions of dollars per year.

Burn Prevention Network, acknowledged as one of the nation's leaders in the development of burn safety programs and materials, currently provides prevention services in 21 Eastern counties of Pennsylvania and one county in New Jersey. Their focus is on segments of the population who are at highest risk: young children, older adults, and people with mobility challenges. The organization’s roots go back more than 25 years. Burn Prevention Network’s primary service area is Eastern Pennsylvania, however many programs and products are used worldwide. Their current territory includes the Pennsylvania counties of: Berks, Bradford, Bucks, Carbon, Columbia, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Lycoming, Monroe, Montour, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Tioga, Wayne, Wyoming, and Warren County, New Jersey.

The Northeast Health District of Pennsylvania, Tobacco Free Northeast PA service area, includes the counties of Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming. Tobacco Free Northeast PA oversees all tobacco prevention and cessation services in the Northeast District through a contract with PA Department of Health, Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control. District services include: tobacco treatment counseling and quit aids to adults and teens by local service providers, education and prevention programs with Power of 10, a teen advocacy initiative, tobacco merchant compliance, PA's 100% Tobacco Free Schools Toolkit for schools; and encouraging local tobacco free ordinances for park/recreation areas.

Dan Dillard, Executive Director, of Burn Prevention Network has served as the organization’s leader for nearly 24 years. Dan commented, “This is a natural partnership. We share target constituencies, operational philosophies and a deep commitment to effecting positive community change. This is a clear case of where two plus two equals much more than four!"

► Please send any comments or suggestions for this and future Newsletters to us here. Your input is valued and appreciated. Please feel free to distribute this Newsletter to others who may be interested. Tobacco Free Northeast PA at Burn Prevention Network is funded by a grant from the PA Department of Health Division of Tobacco Prevention and Control Program to manage tobacco programming in the 10 counties of the Northeast Health District which includes: Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh, Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming. Tobacco programming in the District is comprised of teen prevention and advocacy, tobacco free policies and tobacco treatment programs. Please visit our website at www.tobaccofreene.com or call 1-866-974-QUIT (7848) for minformation. Tobacco Free Northeast PA does not discriminate with regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry or place of birth, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, handicap or disability