The Douglas County Community Health Improvement Project received a $132,000 grant to assist in educating the public on the effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke.

As part of its tobacco use prevention task force, CHIP’s main focus is to deter young people from smoking, which is done primarily through educational presentations to school-age children. The presentation includes AprilAge, a unique computer program that ages a student’s picture to show how they will look in later years as a smoker and a non-smoker. An annual workshop also trains older youth to give the presentations to their younger peers.

Last year, CHIP set a goal to reach 35 percent of Douglas County students in third through seventh grades. The program exceeded that target, reaching 36 percent of students.

While most of the funds from the grant will go toward tobacco initiatives, a small percentage of the Chronic Disease Risk Reduction Grant from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment also will focus on physical activity.