Tobacco Settlement Revenue - Investments in Youth

This initiative provides key state decision makers and opinion leaders with the information and tools necessary to consider how tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) revenues can support initiatives that promote the positive development of youth, including the prevention of smoking and the adoption of healthy behaviors. Search our state profiles, promising practices, and publications and participate in quarterly audio conferences to assess options and develop strategies for making informed decisions regarding the investment of MSA dollars.

Please note The Finance Project is not an advocacy organization. Our staff does not advocate or lobby for or against any federal or state legislative initiatives or MSA appropriations. We provide leaders with information and tools that highlight relevant considerations associated with a broad array of innovative financing ideas, strategies and practices. The Finance Project does not receive or distribute MSA revenue. Unrestricted annual payments are made from the tobacco manufacturers to the 46 states party to the agreement. States have set up various structures and priorities for managing and investing these funds which are highlighted in our state profiles.

STATE PROFILES

State Profiles present key data on how each state has used MSA revenues in recent years. This data includes

• Total revenues received annually;
• Information on how funds are allocated and to what type of programs, as well as pending legislation impacting allocations; and
• Examples of how MSA funds are supporting programs and initiatives for youth.

Click on any state to access a state profile. Check back soon if a profile is not yet available for your state.

State Profile Tables

• Total MSA Revenue Received, 2000-Present
• Allocations of MSA Revenue, 2000-Present (coming soon)
• Interactive Data Tool
  Use this tool to develop your own data reports comparing state allocations of MSA revenues.

PROMISING PRACTICES

Learn about innovative state and local uses of MSA funds for programs and services for youth.

Youth Smoking Prevention Profiles

Healthy Maine Partnerships
Healthy Maine Partnerships is a network of communities, schools, hospitals, businesses, and volunteers working together at the State and local level to establish policies and environments that reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related chronic disease.  Healthy Maine Partnerships serve 96 percent of the population and have implemented the first smoke-free ski resort policy in the country as well as tobacco-free policies in over 74 schools and 58 community recreation fields across the state.

North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund
North Carolina's Health and Wellness Trust Fund advocates for the health needs for poor and underserved groups in the state and supports smoking prevention and cessation programming in middle schools, high schools, and other recreational areas attended by youth. The initial programming developed by the HWTF to address teen smoking in schools was, in fact, the very first effort of its kind in the state.

American Lung Association of Idaho
The American Lung Association of Idaho (ALAI) operates statewide anti-smoking initiatives and has used MSA funds to launch two nationally recognized ALAI program models for young people- the Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U) tobacco control intervention program and the Not on Tobacco (N-O-T) teen tobacco cessation program.

PUBLICATIONS

Download strategy briefs, tools and other resources for state and local decision-makers looking to access MSA funds to support initiatives for youth.

Tobacco Settlement Revenue - Recent State Actions and Opportunities for Youth Programs (April 2008)

QUARTERLY AUDIO CONFERENCES

Participate in quarterly audio conferences highlighting how states are using MSA funds to support programs and services for youth.

Contact The Finance Project at tobacco@financeproject.org with questions or requests for additional information.