News and Events

The QuitDoc Foundation will be Continuing its Tobacco Prevention Efforts in Dixie County through 2030
September 9, 2021

In June 2021 the State of Florida Department of Health awarded the Tobacco Free Florida Grant, in Dixie County, to the QuitDoc Foundation.  This grant provides tobacco awareness and the prevention program in Dixie County. The program is designed to reduce the number of youth who start tobacco and nicotine each year, to decrease the number of tobacco related deaths, and to provide information on appropriate methods to cessation. Over the past twelve years in Dixie County, the TFP and SWAT, under the leadership of Quit Doc, have recruited the help of local organizations, business leaders, and decision makers to address these issues.  

The advocacy efforts of the TFP and the SWAT Chapter, under the leadership of Quit Doc Foundation, has resulted in several local policy changes. This will continue to be an ongoing commitment of Quit Doc Foundation and under the leadership the community-based support they have built in Dixie County around tobacco free social norms that has the potential de-normalize tobacco use in our community.

The Dixie County Tobacco Prevention program will continue to be managed by Melanie Anderson, the county’s Tobacco Prevention Specialist since 2009.  Melanie Anderson will continue to be a part of the Tobacco Free Partnership of Dixie County, which is coalition of community leaders that will be working together on tobacco issues that affect the residents of Dixie County. The Partnership will be working on several initiatives to reduce youth access to tobacco and nicotine products, to reduce illnesses and exposure to secondhand smoke, and to promote tobacco cessation services throughout the county.

QuitDoc Foundation would like to thank the many community organizations, community members and youth that has supported the Tobacco Free Partnership and the SWAT Chapter for the past 12 years.  These organizations include the Dixie County Chamber of Commerce, the Dixie Anti-Drug Coalition, the Suwannee Chamber of Commerce, the Dixie Horseman’s Association, the Dixie Department of Health, the Dixie Rotary, the Dixie County Little League, the Dixie County Schools, and many more. 

For more information on the program and its goals, contact Melanie Anderson at MAnderson@QuitDoc.com.