Tar Wars, the tobacco-free education program adopted by the AAFP in 1997, is here to stay. That was the message sent to Academy members Oct. 2 when the Congress of Delegates voted to support and seek expansion of Tar Wars activities.
Delegates Focus on Children's Health, Reaffirm Support for Tar Wars
By Leslie Champlin
• Chicago
10/5/2007
The vote was part of a group of youth-related resolutions taken under consideration by the Reference Committee on Public Health and Science. Two other resolutions called on the Academy to endorse or promote school-based fitness and health programs; they were referred to the Board of Directors for further study.
Tar Wars "is the premier advocacy effort for our Academy," said Tennessee delegate Reid Blackwelder, M.D., of Kingsport during committee hearings. The program both educates young people about the dangers of tobacco use and provides a vehicle to recruit medical students into family medicine, fellow family physicians into advocacy for patient health and policy-makers into support for preventive care.
Expressing concern that the program was losing momentum, delegates called on the Academy to work "on ways to improve and expand the national poster contest to increase the visibility of Tar Wars in Washington, D.C., and with federal legislators."
The annual contest culminates with the announcement of a national winner during the National Tar Wars Conference. During the conference, contestants and their families can meet with their U.S. senators and representatives to urge more anti-tobacco legislative efforts
Tar Wars "is the premier advocacy effort for our Academy," said Tennessee delegate Reid Blackwelder, M.D., of Kingsport during committee hearings. The program both educates young people about the dangers of tobacco use and provides a vehicle to recruit medical students into family medicine, fellow family physicians into advocacy for patient health and policy-makers into support for preventive care.
Expressing concern that the program was losing momentum, delegates called on the Academy to work "on ways to improve and expand the national poster contest to increase the visibility of Tar Wars in Washington, D.C., and with federal legislators."
The annual contest culminates with the announcement of a national winner during the National Tar Wars Conference. During the conference, contestants and their families can meet with their U.S. senators and representatives to urge more anti-tobacco legislative efforts
AAFP Congress Aims to Help FPs Help Military Families
With long-term deployments, a growing number of "significant injuries" have had a serious impact on many American military families. Now, as a result of a resolution approved by the AAFP Congress of Delegates, America's family physicians will have more resources to help.
The resolution calls on the AAFP to offer educational opportunities that familiarize civilian family physicians with the "unique needs and stressors" faced by military families. The Academy also would provide information about support and outreach resources that are available to military families in need.
The resolution calls on the AAFP to offer educational opportunities that familiarize civilian family physicians with the "unique needs and stressors" faced by military families. The Academy also would provide information about support and outreach resources that are available to military families in need.
"Tar Wars yields many dividends," said Tennessee delegate Michael Hartsell, M.D., of Greeneville during reference committee hearings. "It provides a golden opportunity for public relations with our constituents and with our legislators."
Equally important to delegates were resolutions about initiatives to improve children's health through school-based programs. The first asked the Academy to endorse "Fitness Renaissance," a school-based awards program started by FP Thomas Newton, M.D., of Clinton, N.C., that was designed to improve adolescent fitness and reduce childhood obesity.
The second resolution directed the Academy to encourage members to learn about the CDC's coordinated school health program, CSHP and become involved in student health in local schools.
Noting the need to obtain more information about both programs and implications for implementing both resolutions, delegates agreed to refer the resolutions to the Board for more study.
Equally important to delegates were resolutions about initiatives to improve children's health through school-based programs. The first asked the Academy to endorse "Fitness Renaissance," a school-based awards program started by FP Thomas Newton, M.D., of Clinton, N.C., that was designed to improve adolescent fitness and reduce childhood obesity.
The second resolution directed the Academy to encourage members to learn about the CDC's coordinated school health program, CSHP and become involved in student health in local schools.
Noting the need to obtain more information about both programs and implications for implementing both resolutions, delegates agreed to refer the resolutions to the Board for more study.
