Formed by the Virginia General Assembly in 1999, VTSF leads the statewide effort to reduce and prevent youth tobacco use. VTSF promotes healthy living habits through classroom educational programs and our award-winning multimedia “Y” campaign.

In 2009, the Virginia General Assembly added the responsibility for childhood obesity prevention to our mission. Nearly a third of children in Virginia are overweight or obese, and VYOP is developing a comprehensive approach to raise awareness and promote community involvement.

Founded in 2003, our sister 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raises funds for VFHY’s youth prevention efforts. Prevention Connections also promotes smoking prevention and cessation among young adults.

About Us

Formerly known as the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation, the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth was established by the Virginia General Assembly to lead statewide efforts to reduce and prevent youth tobacco use and childhood obesity.

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, about 9,300 kids under the age of 18 become new smokers each year. Established in 1999 by the General Assembly, our Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (VTSF) division continues to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use through a multifaceted prevention approach. VTSF directly reaches more than 60,000 children across the Commonwealth each year with community based classroom programs, and it reaches hundreds of thousands more through its award-winning radio and TV ads and Web sites.

Also of concern to the health of children in Virginia is the growing childhood obesity epidemic nationwide. In Virginia alone, more than 30 percent of children and teens are considered overweight or obese. Our new Virginia Youth Obesity Prevention initiative will work to promote good nutrition and physical activity among the youth of Virginia. Learn More »


Mailing List

Please enter your email address to receive email announcements.



Funding Opportunities

Request for Proposals #852P012 now available for one-year grants for tobacco-use prevention and cessation programs. NOTE: OFFEROR'S CONFERENCES DATES HAVE CHANGED DUE TO WEATHER.


Announcements

Jan. 20, 2010
Virginia's new First Lady, Maureen McDonnell, will help us celebrate Virginia Healthy Youth Day at 10:30 a.m. on Jan. 20 at the Bell Tower on Capitol Square! (Press Release)

Nov. 19, 2009
Youth Survey: Majority of Virginians Want Smoke-Free Dining (Press Release)

Oct. 30, 2009

A Message from the State Health Commissioner Concerning Virginia's Restaurant Smoking Ban

Learn More about Virginia's Smoke-Free Restaurants Law

Oct. 1, 2009

Download materials and presentations from our 8th Annual Grantee Training Conference

April 15, 2009

VTSF changing name, adding childhood obesity prevention to its mission. Press Release

More News »