2005 -- H 6451

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LC03223

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2005

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H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N

CONGRATULATING BRENDA BELL CAFFEE ON HER OUTSTANDING EFFORTS WITH

AFRICAN AMERICAN TOBACCO EDUCATION NETWORK OF CALIFORNIA

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Slater, Almeida, Williams, and Lima

     Date Introduced: May 03, 2005

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Mother's Day 1999 marks the anniversary when women signed a pledge to

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not allow smoking in their house or car. The African American Tobacco Education Network of

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California under the direction of Brenda Bell Caffee (CEO and founder of Caffee, Caffee and

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Associates PHF, Inc.) saw a need to create a campaign addressing the need to educate the

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community regarding ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke); and

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     WHEREAS, African American households, according to census data, are female headed

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so the message was directed to mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and sisters, hence the title of the

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campaign "Not in Mama's Kitchen". This educational campaign was created in collaboration with

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churches, schools, CBO's, and the community. The results of that first trial where women pledged

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to not smoke in the presence of children was so successful that a staggering 96% of respondents

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stated that they continue to maintain a smoke free home and car; and

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     WHEREAS, Researchers have estimated that "second-hand smoke" is responsible for

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between 40-60% of cases of asthma, bronchitis, and wheezing among young children. According

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to the Pierce report, African Americans in California are more likely than other racial groups to

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smoke in the home. Recent studies indicate that approximately, only 75.3% of African American

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children and adolescents live in smoke free homes as compared to over 90% for Hispanics and

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Asians." These staggering percentages are the reason why Brenda Bell Caffee felt that a

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campaign was essential for the well being of African American children; and

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     WHEREAS, Brenda's work with the "Not in Mama's Kitchen" ETS program has been

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such a success that it has gained national recognition. Model community initiatives have been

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formed as a result of Brenda's work. Organizations such as the Environmental Protection Agency

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(EPA) have partially funded the "Not in Mama's Kitchen" program and the list of influential

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organizations continue to grow; and

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     WHEREAS, Splinter groups have formed throughout the United States as a result of

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Brenda's efforts in creating tobacco control networks. Minnesota Partnership Against Tobacco in

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conjunction with Minnesota Blue Cross and Blue Shield and several states have worked to create

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culturally competent health programs. She has also assisted in the planning of events for the

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World Health Organization and the National Association of African Americans for Positive

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Imagery to eliminate X brand cigarettes. She currently serves as an advisor for the National

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Healthy Aging Research Project and the American Legacy Foundations committee; now,

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therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

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Providence Plantations hereby congratulates this extraordinary individual for her dedicated efforts

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on behalf of the "Not in Mama's Kitchen" ETS Program. She is to be commended on the creation

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of a program which educates communities about the dangers of ETS exposure in the home, and

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above all keeping children free of second-hand smoke; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Brenda Bell Caffee.

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LC03223

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