October 27, 2005

Marquette County Health Department has been awarded $5,000 for its effective local media campaigns to reduce smoking rates in the Upper Peninsula. The Michigan Department of Community Health Director’s Award, given for innovation and excellence in public health, was presented at the Inaugural Premier Public Health Conference at the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids on October 11.

“Marquette County’s program is a fabulous example of what collaboration can do to reduce regional tobacco use rates,” said Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. “Local public health departments are the backbone of Michigan’s public health system and deserve to be recognized for their continuing efforts to improve the health of those within their communities.”

The Marquette County Health Department documented a 30 percent decrease in youth tobacco use and a 25 percent decrease among adults in the two years since initiating the campaign. The media campaign raised $169,000 in external funds and $300,000 of donated media support and reached 64,000 Upper Peninsula residents a minimum of 21 times every three months during the four year span of the project.

“The proposals represented are an impressive array of applications from both rural and urban Michigan communities,” said Jean Chabut, Deputy Director of Public Health Administration for the Michigan Department of Community Health. “It is important that we continue to recognize the outstanding accomplishments of Michigan’s public health workforce.”

All local public health departments were eligible to receive the award, which was reinstated following a two-year hiatus. Also recognized was the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department, which received the second place award of $3,000 for its leadership in establishing the Medical Care Access Coalition. For their Baby’s Own Bed Program and Early-On of Delta County Program, respectively, Berrien County Health Department and Public Health Delta-Menominee Counties tied for third place and each received $1,500.