FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Kristin Derlunas
Northern Virginia Family Service
Community/Media Relations
703-219-2123, kderlunas@nvfs.org

Andrea Zych, Program Coordinator (703) 219-2139
Brigitte Jones, Project Coordinator (703) 219-2160

Whitman Students Say, “NO!” to Tobacco.

Northern Virginia Family Service and Walt Whitman Middle School come together to celebrate World No Tobacco Day.

Oakton, Va., May. 20, 2006–On June 2, 2004 Northern Virginia Family Service will be at Walt Whitman Middle School in Alexandria to celebrate World No Tobacco Day. Approximately 70 students from 7th and 8th grades will take part in this event.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 22.9% of high school students in America smoked regularly in 2002. Nationally, 1 out of every 3 children who tries smoking a cigarette becomes a regular smoker before leaving high school. Tobacco use among high school students declined from 34.5% in 2002 to 28.4% in 2002. Unfortunately, the overall tobacco use among the middle school students remains at 13.3%.

In July 2002, Northern Virginia Family Service received a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation. During the 2002 –2003 program period, Northern Virginia Family Service’s Tobacco Use Prevention Program for Youth provided tobacco use prevention education to 983 youth in Northern Virginia. In 2003, VTSF renewed funding for an additional year. Since November 2003, Northern Virginia Family Service has provided tobacco use prevention education to 948 students.

Northern Virginia Family Service has partnered with the Arlington County Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools’ Alternative School Program called Summit, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board’s Girl Power Programs, and Fairfax County community and recreational centers to deliver services to the youth.

Established in 1924, Northern Virginia Family Service is a private, non-profit community service resource dedicated to helping individuals and families find new paths to self-reliance and brighter futures. Each year, NVFS helps more than 20,000 people find affordable housing, counseling and child care; access to low-cost medical and dental services; foster and respite care, job training; trauma recovery; and much more. For more information, visit www.nvfs.org.

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