Indiana

Thanks to our lobbying and media advocacy efforts-and backed by tremendous support from our grassroots advocates and the Indianapolis board of directors-residents in Indianapolis have what is being hailed as the safest and most walkable community in the country! Indianapolis ranked No. 1 among the 488 communities that have adopted Complete Streets policies, which encourage and provide safe access to destinations for everyone, regardless of age, ability, income, ethnicity or how they travel.

Other Midwest communities ranking in the top 10 are Northfield, MN and Oak Park, IL. Read more here .

It's a sad day for Hoosiers.  The legislature cut the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program from $8 million to $5 million, giving more than 1,500 Indiana children and early death sentence from tobacco related diseases.  Read more about the funding cut in the Op-Ed piece submitted to newspapers across the state from the Tobacco Free Coalition.  And, make sure your legislators hear how disappointed you are with this funding cut by emailing them and taking action here.

More than 1,500 Hoosier children just received an early death sentence from the Indiana Legislature. By slashing the state budget for tobacco prevention and cessation by 38 percent, our lawmakers told us that the health and future of our children isn’t important.

According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the loss of $3 million in funding will result in an additional 4,450 Hoosier children growing up to be addicted adult smokers. More than 1,500 of those will die prematurely due to smoking related illnesses.

It doesn’t have to be that way. In 1998, the federal government ordered tobacco companies to pay states billions of dollars for tobacco prevention as part of the Master Settlement Agreement. That agreement is still in effect, and Indiana will reap more than $120 million from that agreement this year alone.

Somehow the politicians have justified skimming $115 million of that money to use for other purposes and allotted a paltry $5 million for tobacco prevention and cessation.

Hard decisions must now be made across the state by those who are helping people quit tobacco and reaching out to our kids to prevent their addiction. Can the free Indiana Quit Line continue to offer its full array of services while there is record demand? Which kids will hear about the dangers of tobacco addiction and which kids won’t?

Sadly, the threat to Hoosier children isn’t the only short-sighted outcome of this budget cut. Studies consistently show that states that aggressively fund tobacco prevention and cessation save money on healthcare costs.

In fact, California saved $56 in healthcare costs for every dollar it invested in tobacco prevention and cessation.

By cutting $3 million from the TPC budget, the state will incur an extra $77.8 million in future healthcare costs, including $12.7 million in Medicaid costs. That’s not a win-win situation.

If a program is funded by outside sources, saves lives and saves money, it should be a no-brainer.

We can’t let this happen again. The lives of our children are too important.

Greetings!  Danielle wanted me to share this great news from the Statehouse.  The Shared-Use Agreements bill HB 1159, Liabilities for Use of School Facilities passed the House today on 3^rd reading 91 – 3!  We are very excited that this bill has momentum and is moving forward.  We are one hurdle closer to opening doors to end obesity in Indiana.  As a reminder, shared-use agreements allow schools to share their physical activity facilities at their discretion with the community for recreation and exercise opportunities. This would make it easier for more people to have access to a safe, friendly place to get active and would help us combat a leading cause of heart disease and stroke—obesity.  Now the bill moves on to the Senate!

On Wednesday, Feb. 13, the House Committee on Ways and Means accepted public testimony on House Bill 1001 State Budget. Interested parties were able to comment on various aspects of the bill. You're the Cure advocate Sheri Fulkerson, testified on behalf of the AHA, urging the committee to protect funding for the tobacco prevention and cessation program and minority health initiatives. Great job Sheri!

On Tuesday, February 5, 2013, Indiana held their annual Legislative Screenings Day and Day at the Statehouse.  The day started with heart-health screenings for legislators, staff and the public followed by a heart-healthy breakfast.  Nearly 50 advocates from across the state participated in an advocacy training and issue briefing before they met with their lawmakers to ask for support of shared-use agreements, complete streets in Indiana and to protect funding for the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation and Minority Health Initiatives programs.  The day was even promoted on the local CBS station, view the clip here.  Check out photos from the day on our Facebook page here.

We are so excited to share the great news!  Earlier this week the City of Columbus passed a strong smoke-free law that is set to take effect June 1, 2013. The new ordinance will make all workplaces in Columbus smoke-free, including bars and private clubs.  Read more about the new law here.  Way to go Columbus!

…from the Indianapolis Star, Friday, November 9, 2012

Smoking less: Nearly 44 million U.S. adults, or 19%, still smoke, but those who do are lighting up fewer cigarettes in a day, continuing a trend seen in recent years, says the latest report from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Another positive sign: Smoking among young adults, ages 18 to 24, has dropped from 24% to 19% since 2005. (HealthDay)

The opportunity to choose a President comes only once every four years, but the opportunity to choose a healthier lifestyle comes every day.

Wednesday, Nov. 7 is National Eating Healthy Day, a call out by the American Heart Association to raise awareness for the importance of good nutrition and making the best eating decisions.

While Americans will be analyzing the results of the election, it will be a good time for them to commit to leading a healthier lifestyle.

“We’re at a critical time in the health of our nation and our state,” said Margie Fougeron, a registered dietician who is a member of the American Heart Association’s Indianapolis board of directors. “Recent reports suggest that more than half of us will be obese by the year 2030. We can’t let that happen to us or to our children.”

Obesity contributes to a number of leading risk factors of heart disease, including higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure and increased risk for diabetes.

“Heart disease is the leading killer of Hoosiers,” Fougeron said. “Fortunately, many of the risk factors for heart disease are things that we can control. Improving our diet and becoming physically active are two ways we can improve our heart health.”

The American Heart Association recommends a diet that:

• Is rich in fruits and vegetables
• Contains whole-grain, high-fiber foods
• Includes fish twice a week, especially oily fish like salmon or albacore tuna
• Includes lean meats
• Includes fat-free (skim) or low-fat (1%) dairy products
• Minimizes beverages and foods with added sugars
• Has little or no added salt
• Limits alcohol intake

You can join the Start Eating Healthy movement by visiting www.heart.org/starteatinghealthyday to register and receive tools that will help you share the message that eating healthy leads to longer, happier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. And of course, you can help the American Heart Association ask Congress to protect the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program in schools by clicking here!

As a You’re the Cure advocate, you have taken numerous actions on important heart and stroke policy issues over the year, but today, we have a single priority action for you: GO VOTE!

 
From the President and Members of Congress to state and local legislators, our elected officials make key decisions that impact our health, so having your say at the ballot box is critical as a You’re the Cure advocate.  
 
Not sure where to vote?  Find your polling place here. 

PS- Show your “I voted” sticker off proudly by posting a picture to our You’re the Cure Facebook page on Election Day!

Today is World Stroke Day and a great day to remind yourself of the risks and warning signs of stroke.  Visit the American Stroke Association website for a wealth of information about stroke. (Link: www.strokeassociation.org).  Then, let us know what you’re doing “Because you care” about stroke. www.strokeassociation.org/worldstrokeday.   Show us why you care about stroke through our World Stroke Day, “Because I Care About Stroke...” photo campaign.  We need stroke survivors, caregivers, family members and friends to share inspiring Instagram photos to help us increase stroke awareness. Post a photo with a sign that completes the thought, “Because I Care About Stroke.”  The photos can be submitted through Oct. 29 and can include individuals, couples or groups. Make sure to tag your photo with #WorldStrokeDay to be included in our Instagram widget.