Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Partners Earn Top Honors for Statewide Program to Prevent Teen Tobacco Use
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DETROIT, October 24, 2008 - The Michigan Cancer Consortium is bestowing its highest honor, a Spirit of Collaboration Award, to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s tobacco prevention program for youth.
Shoma Pal, BCBSM Health Policy and Social Mission project leader, will accept the award on behalf of the Blues and its partners – schools, local health departments, Tobacco-Free Michigan, the American Lung Association, and the Michigan Department of Community Health’s Tobacco Section – at MCC ceremonies today at 12:30 p.m. at the Lansing Center in downtown Lansing.
The partners reached 16,000 students in high schools in upper and lower Michigan. Awareness of the dangers of second hand smoke significantly increased. Some 250 students became leaders in ALAM’s Teens Against Tobacco Use project, training peers on consequences and other aspects related to the issue of tobacco use. The program also included counter-marketing media campaigns, leading to an increase in smoke-free policies and calls to the MDCH Quitline.
“Our aim was to encourage teens to live tobacco free to avoid serious health conditions later on in their lives,” explained Pal. She led the statewide program, supported by Blues grants of up to $50,000 each to local organizations plus required matching funds.
MCC gives its Spirit of Collaboration Award to MCC member organizations for producing superior and collaborative work to push forth significant cancer control policies and activities. For details go to michigancancer.org.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to 4.7 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue Incentives PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue Living; Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue products in the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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