As part of the CDC Tips From Former Smokers Campaign, OSH has planned communications activities beginning next week in honor of Father’s Day. We hope the information provided will help inform how your organization can use the materials and resources below to honor and support fathers and families in your communities.We encourage you to share this e-mail with your tobacco control partners so that they, too, may use these products in their efforts.

CDC Feature Article – Keep Fathers Healthy for Their Families

On Monday, June 11^th, CDC.gov will release a feature article encouraging fathers to stay healthy for themselves and for their families. The article will feature two men, Roosevelt and James, who participated in the Tips ad campaign. They tell their stories about why they began smoking, how addiction impacted their lives and their families, and how they eventually quit smoking for good. Read and share this feature article starting Monday morning from CDC.gov and CDCTobaccoFree social media profiles.

Earned Media Outreach – Reaching African Americans with Tips Messages and Participants’ Personal Stories

OSH will be placing the Tips print ad featuring Roosevelt, a father who had a heart attack from smoking, in 11 African American newspapers in 8 different cities (Chicago; Philadelphia; Washington, D.C.; Detroit; Baltimore; Indianapolis; Columbus; and Memphis). An article featuring both Roosevelt and another participant from the Tips campaign, James, will also run during this time. James is featured in our cessation television ad and was greatly influenced by his father who smoked. James, who calls his dad his hero, feels that his dad’s influence was one of the main reasons why he started smoking.

Social Media Engagement – Like, Follow, and Subscribe!

To take advantage of all the activities we have planned on our social media profiles, you may wish to like and follow @CDCTobaccoFree on Facebook and Twitter and subscribe to the Smoking & Tobacco Use playlist on YouTube. This will enable you to receive and share status updates and profile updates as they are posted. The content we will be featuring next week includes the CDC Feature article and Roosevelt and James’ video back stories.

Digital Media – Tips From Former Smokers Web site

All Tips Web pages are now socially media optimized, so we encourage you to share your favorite pages on your social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. For Father’s Day content, check out new embedded videos on Roosevelt and James’ personal pages within the Tips site.