The Georgia Healthy Family Alliance (GHFA) is grateful to have such amazing supporters of the Middle Georgia Tar Wars Strike Force ⎼ a tobacco, nicotine and vape prevention education program. The Strike Force has an impact in Bibb, Houston, Laurens, Wilkinson, Monroe, Jones, Twiggs, Baldwin, Crawford, Peach, Bleckley, Dodge, Washington, Johnson, and Treutlen counties.
GHFA, a team of physicians, and local community leaders and organizations are combining efforts on a mission to raise $250,000 to bring Tar Wars, a youth anti-tobacco, anti-vaping education and awareness program to approximately 20,000 4th and 5th grade students at no cost to schools.
Community leaders from Middle Georgia had this to say about the regional Tar Wars Strike Force:
“Recognizing that vaping is a public health crisis among youth nationwide, the Navicent Health Foundation found this program worthy of philanthropic support. We applaud Georgia Healthy Family Alliance and the Tar Wars Middle Georgia Strike Force for the work they are doing in central Georgia.” ⎼ Ellen Johnson, President & CEO of the Navicent Health Foundation.
“We know that Georgia’s Family Physicians and the Georgia Healthy Family Alliance will be great stewards of these funds to support these counties with this program to prevent future health concerns in rural Georgia communities.” ⎼ Dennis White, President & CEO of Alliant Health Solutions
“While we won’t know until years down the road the impact of this education, we can hope and pray it will improve lives. All we can do is try and educate this generation and those to follow on the dangers of smoking and vaping. My thanks to GHFA for its efforts.” ⎼ Don Avery, CEO of HCA Fairview Park Hospital
About Tar Wars
Presented in collaboration with Georgia’s schools, the Tar Wars tobacco and vape prevention curriculum is an evidence-based, effective, and interactive educational program that has impacted the lives of more than 10 million children worldwide since its development by family physicians in 1988.
Tar Wars seeks to equip 4th and 5th grade students with the knowledge necessary to make healthier choices. If we can stop Georgia’s children from using tobacco, e-cigarettes and vape products, the long-term impact will be lower smoking and vaping rates, which in turn can dramatically decrease the current proportion of cancer deaths in Georgia attributable to smoking (29%). If Georgia’s youth never start smoking or vaping, then they never have to quit.
Tar Wars has been designated as one of the CDC’s “Programs that Work” for tobacco, nicotine and vape prevention. Additionally, the Georgia Department of Education has highlighted Tar Wars throughout the state as a suggested resource.
To find out how you can support the Tar Wars program in Georgia, please contact Alexis Klima at aklima@gafp.org or 478-714-3760.