FPRC-TN Project The Florida Prevention Center tobacco Network (FPRC-TN), housed in the College of Public Health (COPH), University of South Florida (USF), provides a forum and network for university-based educators and researchers and key tobacco control persons within the state to collaborate in developing and implementing applied research. It also provides an opportunity to enhance university and state capacity to put research into practice. The primary goals of this project are to develop a university-based, multi-faceted workgroup with expertise in diverse areas, develop collaborative relationships with key tobacco control persons in the state, and to collaborate in a network of prevention research centers and community partners to promote applied tobacco research.

FPRC-TN accomplishments during year one:

• Established a university-based multifaceted workgroup with tobacco control expertise in diverse areas.
• Established a FPRC-TN Advisory Group.
• Collaborated with key tobacco control persons in Florida to determine how the FPRC-TN can best serve those working in the area of tobacco.
• Established an Endnotes Database that focuses on tobacco issues related to youth in grades K-12. This serves as a resource center on tobacco issues related to youth and school based activities.
• Collaborated with the COPH Departments of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, and Community & Family Health, to begin development of a tobacco prevention and control graduate level course.
• Developed a web page to disseminate information about the FPRC-TN. The purpose of the web page is to enhance the project's visibility and efforts within the university, state, and nationally (http://www.hsc.usf.edu/prc/tn-home.htm1).
• Maintained communication with FPRC-TN members via an electronic network and at FPRC- TN meetings.

FPRC-TN accomplishments during year two:

• Project staff met once with university colleagues conducting research and programs in the tobacco area and formed a working group. This group also identified others on campus who are implementing tobacco research and programs, project staff have followed up with them and requested they participate in the FPRC-TN.
• Members communicated by electronic mail several times during year 2 to discuss relevant issues pertaining to the network.
• Compiled a postal and email mailing list of all 67 Florida counties' tobacco coordinators. Provided by the Florida Department of Health, the list has been maintained and periodically updated which will allow us to provide information to these key tobacco control professionals electronically.
• Discussed the development of the graduate level tobacco course regarding the target population and plans for year 3. The FPRC-TN staff contacted other Prevention Research Center tobacco network members to see how they were structuring the course and to begin preparing for a course to be offered during Spring Semester 2002.
• Explored the option of holding this course as a series of lectures open to the entire community.
• Determined that this lecture series will be delivered on campus, and if successful can be broadened to include distance learning.
• Staff has maintained an Endnotes database on tobacco-related issues and youth. Specifically, a School-Based Tobacco Prevention K-12 database of tobacco and youth articles and reports is maintained.
• Staff copied and filed daily articles from Florida newspapers related to tobacco issues in Florida. They are available for dissemination to people interested in tobacco issues.
• Signed on to the Tobacco Network List-serve.
• Web page has been maintained and is linked to the FPRC's web page (http://www.hsc.usf.edu/prc/tn-home.htm1).

FPRC-TN accomplishments during year three:

• Developed and implemented a graduate level one-hour seminar on tobacco during Spring Semester 2002 titled: "Tobacco Prevention and Control: Interdisciplinary Approaches." Experts in various areas of tobacco research served as presenters for this seminar.
• The FPRC-TN compiled a comprehensive directory identifying tobacco researchers and research at USF. The directory is linked to this web page. The purpose of the directory is to provide:
  • a resource for investigators preparing projects or grant applications and seeking other tobacco-related expertise on campus;
  • a document that demonstrates the magnitude and range of tobacco-related research at USF;
  • a basis for a future "Center for Tobacco Research" at USF, funded by USF and/or by external agencies.
• The FPRC-TN web page is maintained and linked to the FPRC's web page (http://www.hsc.usf.edu/prc/tn-home.htm1).
• The Endnotes data base on tobacco and youth is maintained
• Florida newspaper articles on tobacco issues are downloaded from a tobacco list-serve and filed for dissemination upon request.
• The FPRC-TN Advisory Group met three times during the third year to discuss the process of the TN in reaching its goals and objectives.
• A postal and email mailing list of all 67 Florida counties' tobacco coordinators that has been provided by the Florida Department of Health has been maintained which will allow us to provide information to these key tobacco control professionals electronically.