MFH Awards $1.3 Million to Help Nonprofits Curb Tobacco Use and Fight Obesity in Missouri

Seven nonprofits across Missouri are the first recipients of a Social Innovation for Missouri (SIM) grant. The seven grants, which total $1.3 million, are a blend of MFH dollars and federal funding aimed at addressing health issues in underserved communities. Each nonprofit also is raising an equal amount of private funding to double the impact of the SIM grant in their respective communities. The newly funded programs will focus on reducing tobacco use and fighting obesity in Missouri by using best practices developed from two other successful MFH funding programs – Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative and Healthy & Active Communities. Read the press release

SIM Overview and Goals

SIM funding supports communities’ efforts to expand physical activity options, encourage healthier food choices, and reduce overall tobacco use.  Special emphasis is on helping low-income communities and underserved residents.

Because tobacco use and obesity are the most common preventable causes of death in Missouri, SIM’s goal is to reduce their effects in the state and improve the health of Missourians by encouraging community-wide change through organizations, nonprofits and local governments. 

SIM is building on successes already evident through other MFH funding efforts – Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Initiative (TPCI) and Healthy & Active Communities (H&AC).  SIM grantees will integrate two successful strategies – “Healthy, Active and Vibrant Communities,” developed by Trailnet, a nonprofit that promotes healthy lifestyles, and “Support for Local Tobacco Policy Change,” developed by Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, a nonprofit that focuses on reducing the use of tobacco products.  With this integrated approach, communities will maximize limited financial and human resources to address these critical health needs in Missouri.

 Measurable outcomes of SIM include:

• Increased healthy policy changes in targeted communities. 
• Increased access to services for community residents. 
• Decreased smoking rates and exposure to indoor tobacco smoke. 
• Increased physical activity. 
• Increased rates for consumption of five fruits and vegetables per day.